Admissions
Slough Consortium 11+ Test provider from September 2023 (updated February 2023)
Letter concerning a change to the Test provider from September 2023
Most students enter St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School in Year 7 through the 11+ academic selection process. There are occasional vacancies for places in other year groups. A further group of students will join in the Sixth Form at the start of Year 12.
Year 7
Boys and girls are considered for admission to St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School if they meet the required standard in the 11+ examination, which is designed to identify pupils with the ability and aptitude for a grammar school education. The school is part of an 11+ testing consortium with Herschel Grammar School, Langley Grammar School, and Upton Court Grammar School.
The school holds an Open Evening in September which provides prospective students and their parents the opportunity to find out more about the school and to look around the site and to gather information from teaching staff.
We invite all new pupils to an induction and orientation day in July in preparation for their admission in September. On this day, they will meet with their new form tutor and other members of their tutor group.
There is also a new Parents’ Evening in September, when you will have the opportunity to meet your child’s form tutor.
For general Information about the school’s admission arrangements for 2024 entry, please go to the 2024 Admission page.
Free 11+ Familiarisation
Promoting Equality of Opportunity
The Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools is committed to ensuring that the four grammar schools in Slough are open to pupils from all backgrounds. However, we recognise that not all pupils who have the potential for a grammar school education will have equal access to additional support at home to help their academic development. We also realise that this inequality may apply to pupils of all abilities. To help bridge this gap and support general skill development, confidence, and subject knowledge, the Slough Consortium grammar schools are partnering with Atom Learning, a leading platform for learning for ages 7-11. You can view more information at the link below:-
Admissions to St Bernard's
Admission to any of the four grammar schools in Slough is based on reaching an eligibility score in the consortium 11+ examination. Any child reaching a score of 111 on a standardised scale (this score represents approximately the top third of the 11+ examination outcome range) is deemed potentially suitable for a grammar school place and is eligible for consideration for admission. However, each of the four schools have different criteria for admission and you should refer to the Admissions Policy for each school.
In-Year Admissions Years 7-11
As previously mentioned, most students join St Bernard's at the start of Year 7 having successfully achieved the eligibility score in the 11+ entrance examination. We are aware however, that there may be reasons why you wish us to consider admission for your child beyond this point. For example, you may have moved to the area, or you would like your son or daughter to benefit from the high quality education that we offer.
St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School is over-subscribed, which means that we do not usually have places available. However, places do occasionally become available which means we will consider new applicants for admission.
Sixth Form
The vast majority of Year 11 students at St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School stay on to the Sixth Form, and we also welcome a number of students transferring from other schools providing they meet the entry requirements.
For further information about entry to the Sixth Form go to the Sixth Form Admissions page below
