St Michael's Catholic Grammar School 11+

Crucial 11+ info, past 11+ papers and practice 11+ papers for St Michael's Catholic Grammar School.

How to get into St Michael's Catholic Grammar School

St Michael's Catholic Grammar School is a selective secondary school in Barnet, London. To get into St Michael's Catholic Grammar School children need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Here is the step-by-step guide to getting your child into St Michael's Catholic Grammar School with all the important information you need to know.

Admission Requirements

Children born between 1st September 2013 and 31st August 2014 are eligible for Year 7 entry in September 2025 (see key dates). The school offers 128 places annually for Year 7 students with priority given to Catholic girls [1].

St Michael's Catholic Grammar School is a girls-only grammar school located in North Finchley, Barnet, London with strong Catholic values. Families must demonstrate academic ability through the 11+ examination and commitment to Catholic education to gain admission.

  • Girl must be eligible for Year 7 entry (age 11) in September 2025
  • Must demonstrate academic ability through St Michael's Catholic Grammar School 11+ examination
  • Preferential consideration for Baptised Catholic girls from practising Catholic families who have received First Holy Communion
  • All families must support the school's Catholic ethos and values unreservedly

Application Process

Families must register for the entrance examination by Tuesday 8th July 2025 (see key dates) through the school's online system. The St Michael's Catholic Grammar School 11+ examination takes place on Friday 12th September 2025 (see key dates).

All images © St Michael's Catholic Grammar School.
All images © St Michael's Catholic Grammar School.

Results are released in mid-October 2025 (see key dates) to allow families time to decide before the national deadline. Families must also submit the Common Application Form to their local authority by 31st October 2025 (see key dates) naming St Michael's as a preferred choice.

  • Complete the school's online registration form for entrance examination by the July deadline
  • Submit Supplementary Information Form (SIF) with the application
  • Practising Catholics must provide Certificate of Catholic Practice (CCP) from their Parish Priest
  • Evidence of First Holy Communion required for Catholic applicants as proof of faith commitment
  • Complete Common Application Form through local authority before October deadline
  • Contact the school information section for specific application guidance

Examination Details

The St Michael's Catholic Grammar School 11+ examination consists of four test papers administered by GL Assessment using multiple-choice format. The examination is held on Friday 12th September 2025 (see key dates) for September 2026 entry.

All questions are multiple-choice with children recording answers on separate answer sheets for electronic marking. Places are allocated based on performance ranking with the highest scoring students receiving priority in admission decisions.

All images © St Michael's Catholic Grammar School.
All images © St Michael's Catholic Grammar School.
  • English: Based on Key Stage 2 curriculum content including reading comprehension tasks
  • Mathematics: Covers Key Stage 2 content including number, measurement, geometry and statistics taught up to Year 6
  • Verbal Reasoning: Tests ability to analyse written information using letters, words, symbols and numbers
  • Non-Verbal Reasoning: Assesses problem-solving with visual information not taught in national curriculum
  • In case of tied scores, verbal reasoning results take precedence over non-verbal reasoning

Admissions Priority

St Michael's Catholic Grammar School uses a Catholic-first admissions policy with clear priority criteria for the 128 available places in Year 7. All applicants must achieve qualifying scores in the St Michael's Catholic Grammar School 11+ examination before admissions criteria apply.

Priority is given to Baptised Catholic girls from practising Catholic families who have received First Holy Communion with appropriate documentation. The school allocates places strictly according to rank order of examination performance within each priority category.

  • Highest Priority:Looked after or previously looked after Catholic girls ranked in top 200 examination scores including internationally adopted children
  • Second Priority:Catholic girls receiving Pupil Premium ranked in top 200 scores with maximum 32 places (25% of total)
  • Third Priority:Baptised Catholic girls from practising families in rank order by examination score
  • Fourth Priority:Other Baptised Catholic girls in examination rank order
  • Fifth Priority:Girls of other Christian denominations in examination rank order

Preparation Guidance

Effective preparation should begin approximately one year before the examination date to cover all Key Stage 2 curriculum objectives. Children aiming for St Michael's should consistently achieve 80-85% or higher in practice tests as a strong indicator of readiness.

All images © St Michael's Catholic Grammar School.
All images © St Michael's Catholic Grammar School.

The school provides familiarisation papers on their website for mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning but does not provide English familiarisation materials for the creative writing component. Regular practice with GL Assessment style papers builds confidence and exam technique.

  • Start preparation 12 months before the examination date for comprehensive coverage
  • Use little and often approach with 20-30 minute sessions recommended by child psychologists
  • Focus on Key Stage 2 curriculum mastery for English and Mathematics components
  • Download official familiarisation papers from the school website
  • Practice time management skills under exam conditions to improve technique
  • Consider professional tutoring support for structured preparation
  • Aim for consistent 80-85%+ scores in practice tests as readiness indicator

Practical Advice

Examination day preparation should focus on confidence building and stress management techniques. Children should arrive well-rested having practiced under timed conditions to improve both time management and exam technique.

Families should understand that passing the entrance examination does not guarantee admission as many grammar schools are oversubscribed with qualified candidates. Having realistic backup options in Barnet ensures families have suitable secondary school choices regardless of 11+ outcomes.

St Michael's Catholic Grammar School 11+ Information

In order to get into St Michael's Catholic Grammar School, children need to pass the St Michael's Catholic Grammar School 11+. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.

St Michael's Catholic Grammar School 11+ Subjects & Structure

The St Michael's Catholic Grammar School 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:

  • English
  • Maths
  • Verbal Reasoning
  • Non-verbal Reasoning

The 11 plus entrance exam for St Michael's Catholic Grammar School is a multiple-choice assessment that covers a range of subjects. The exam is designed to evaluate the academic potential of girls seeking admission to the school.

The English section assesses the candidate's understanding of the national curriculum content, often including a reading comprehension task. The Maths portion covers Key Stage 2 content, focusing on aspects of number, measurement, geometry, and statistics. Both Verbal and Non-verbal Reasoning sections are not taught in the national curriculum but aim to test the candidate's ability to analyze and solve problems using written information and visual cues, respectively.

The 11 plus exam is a crucial step in the admissions process for St Michael's Catholic Grammar School, helping to identify students with the necessary academic skills and potential to thrive in the school's educational environment.

St Michael's Catholic Grammar School 11+ Marking Process

The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as St Michael's Catholic Grammar School is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.

Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.

Most 11+ tests are multiple-choice and marked electronically but still some remain that are marked by teachers or examiners.
Most 11+ tests are multiple-choice and marked electronically but still some remain that are marked by teachers or examiners.

Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.

It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!

St Michael's Catholic Grammar School 11+ Pass Mark

The pass mark for the St Michael's Catholic Grammar School 11+ changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).

Stop worrying! Once the 11+ marking has started the admissions process is out of your control.
Stop worrying! Once the 11+ marking has started the admissions process is out of your control.

Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at St Michael's Catholic Grammar School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.

Key Dates for the St Michael's Catholic Grammar School 11+ Entrance Tests

Here are all the important dates for the 11+ tests (to get into St Michael's Catholic Grammar School) as well as other relevant dates.

DateEventCalendar Link
23/04/2025Registration Opens For The Entrance Exam At St Michael's Catholic Grammar School
08/07/2025Entrance Exam Registration Closes
12/09/2025St Michael's Catholic Grammar School 11+ Entrance Exam
Late OctoberNational Deadline To Apply For Secondary School Places
02/03/2026National School Offers Day

Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with St Michael's Catholic Grammar School as they may well change.

11+ Tutor for St Michael's Catholic Grammar School

As the St Michael's Catholic Grammar School 11+ entrance process is particularly gruelling, we would highly recommend using an 11+ private tutor.

Why use a private 11+ tutor?

Personal tutors have the experience and expertise to help children pass their 11+ exams. They know the requirements of the GL Assessment 11+ tests inside-out and can provide tailored support to give children the best possible chance of success. It's also important to bear in mind that plenty of other children will be using private tutors too.

11+ tutors don't need to be face-to-face, plenty of children use online 11+ tutors.

11+ tutors help ensure preparation work gets done!
11+ tutors help ensure preparation work gets done!

11+ tutors can also provide regular progress reports and feedback, helping parents to monitor their child's progress and make any necessary adjustments to their preparation.

Most importantly, using an 11+ tutor helps ensure that the preparation work gets done!

Private 11+ Tutors for the St Michael's Catholic Grammar School 11+ Tests

We have a range of private tutors who specialise in preparing children for the St Michael's Catholic Grammar School 11+ entrance tests. Please click here to be put in touch with a range of excellent 11+ private tutors from our friends at exams.courses.

11+ Past Papers for St Michael's Catholic Grammar School

Unfortunately, St Michael's Catholic Grammar School has not made any of their 11+ past papers publicly available. However, you can use However, you can use 11+ practice papers from other exam boards (such as GL Assessment, CEM and CSSE) to help your child prepare.

11+ Practice Papers for St Michael's Catholic Grammar School

Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the St Michael's Catholic Grammar School 11+ Ensure you double-check with St Michael's Catholic Grammar School which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.

This is just a sample of our extensive collection of 11+ practice papers. Please click here to see the full collection.

11+ Practice Papers for St Michael's Catholic Grammar School by Bond

These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by Bond and cover and cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. As such they are very helpful for children hoping to pass the St Michael's Catholic Grammar School 11+ to get into St Michael's Catholic Grammar School.

Exam BoardSubjectQuestion BookletAnswers
GL AssessmentEnglish
GL AssessmentMaths
GL AssessmentNon-Verbal Reasoning
GL AssessmentVerbal Reasoning
GL AssessmentMixed

11+ Practice Papers for St Michael's Catholic Grammar School by GL Assessment

These Free GL 11+ Practice Papers were published by GL Assessment themselves. As with the Bond papers, they cover all the main 11+ subjects: English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. They remain useful and we encourage parents to download and use them with their children to help them get into St Michael's Catholic Grammar School.

Exam BoardSubjectAnswer SheetQuestion BookletAnswers
GL AssessmentEnglish
GL AssessmentMaths
GL AssessmentNon-Verbal Reasoning
GL AssessmentVerbal Reasoning
GL AssessmentMixed

11+ Practice Papers for St Michael's Catholic Grammar School by Exam Ninja

These Free 11+ Practice Tests by Exam Ninja are extremely useful. They are straight-forward 10-question tests in Maths and English, following the same GL Assessment style (and multiple-choice format) as the St Michael's Catholic Grammar School 11+.

Exam BoardSubjectQuestion BookletAnswers
GL AssessmentMaths
GL AssessmentEnglish

11+ Practice Papers for St Michael's Catholic Grammar School by Owl Tutors

These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by Owl Tutors. These too are written in a GL Assessment style and make useful practice for children hoping to get into St Michael's Catholic Grammar School.

Exam BoardSubjectQuestion BookletAnswers
GL AssessmentEnglish
GL AssessmentWriting
GL AssessmentMaths
GL AssessmentVerbal Reasoning

11+ Practice Papers for St Michael's Catholic Grammar School by CGP

These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. As with the Bond, GL Assessment and Exam Ninja papers, they're written for the GL Assessment style, in multiple-choice format and are helpful for children hoping to pass their 11+ tests and get into St Michael's Catholic Grammar School.

Exam BoardSubjectAnswer SheetQuestion BookletAnswers
GL AssessmentMaths
GL AssessmentEnglish
GL AssessmentVerbal Reasoning
GL AssessmentNon-Verbal Reasoning

These Free CEM 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. If St Michael's Catholic Grammar School ever used them then they don't anymore as grammar schools no longer use CEM for any of their 11+ entrance tests. However, as a general practice tool these 11+ tests remain useful.

Exam BoardSubjectAnswer SheetQuestion BookletAnswers
CEMMaths
CEMVerbal Reasoning
CEMNon-Verbal Reasoning

11+ Practice Papers for St Michael's Catholic Grammar School by 11+ For You

These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "11+ For You".

Exam BoardSubjectQuestion BookletAnswers
GL AssessmentVerbal Reasoning

11+ Practice Papers for St Michael's Catholic Grammar School by Independent Junction

These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by Independent Junction.

Exam BoardSubjectQuestion BookletAnswers
GL AssessmentVerbal Reasoning

11+ Practice Papers for St Michael's Catholic Grammar School by IPS

These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by IPS (Internet Primary School Ltd).

Exam BoardSubjectAnswer SheetQuestion BookletAnswers
GL AssessmentVerbal Reasoning
GL AssessmentMaths

11+ Practice Papers for St Michael's Catholic Grammar School by Schofield & Sims

These 11+ practice papers were published by Schofield & Sims, a large UK educational publisher.

Exam BoardSubjectQuestion BookletAnswers
GL AssessmentVerbal Reasoning
GL AssessmentMaths

School Information

Below you will find further information about St Michael's Catholic Grammar School together with their admissions contact details.

St Michael's Catholic Grammar School is a girls-only grammar school.
St Michael's Catholic Grammar School is a girls-only grammar school.
Address
St Michael's Catholic Grammar School,
Nether Street, North Finchley,
London,
N12 7NJ
School Website
Telephone02084462256
Email Addressoffice@st-michaels.barnet.sch.uk
GenderGirls only
Total Year 7 Places128
Total Pupils (Girls/Boys)849 (809 Girls / 40 Boys)
Headteacher Mr Michael Stimpson

St Michael's Catholic Grammar School is a girls only school. It is also a local authority maintained school, meaning the local authority oversee the funding, admissions, and overall performance of the school.

In total 849 pupils attend St Michael's Catholic Grammar School and it's led by the Headteacher, Mr Michael Stimpson.

St Michael's Catholic Grammar School Location

Below you will find a map showing the school's location:

Ofsted Information

St Michael's Catholic Grammar School was last inspected by Ofsted on 09/11/2022 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 29/12/2022, declaring that the school was 'Outstanding'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.

St Michael's Catholic Grammar School obtained <strong>Outstanding</strong> in their last Ofsted inspection in 2022.
St Michael's Catholic Grammar School obtained Outstanding in their last Ofsted inspection in 2022.

Last Ofsted Report Data

Date InspectedInspection Duration (Days)Reporting DateRatingFull Report
09/11/2022129/12/2022OutstandingFull Report

Ofsted Report Summary

St Michael's Catholic Grammar School was inspected by Ofsted on 9 November 2022 and received an Outstanding rating in all areas. The school demonstrated exceptional performance in the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth form provision.

The inspection report highlights the school's outstanding achievements across all key areas. St Michael's Catholic Grammar School has shown excellence in providing a high-quality education, fostering positive behaviour and attitudes among students, promoting personal development, and demonstrating effective leadership and management.

The sixth form provision at St Michael's Catholic Grammar School was also rated as Outstanding, indicating that the school provides an exceptional learning environment and support for students in their post-16 education.

GCSE & A-Level Subjects

Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at St Michael's Catholic Grammar School for the 2022-23 academic year.

GCSE Subjects Offered
  • English Language (96 pupils)
  • English Literature (96 pupils)
  • Mathematics (96 pupils)
  • Religious Studies (96 pupils)
  • Geography (62 pupils)
  • Biology (55 pupils)
  • Chemistry (55 pupils)
  • Physics (55 pupils)
  • History (47 pupils)
  • Science: Double Award (41 pupils)
  • Spanish (36 pupils)
  • French (33 pupils)
  • Design & Technology (32 pupils)
  • Music (19 pupils)
  • Art & Design (18 pupils)
  • Latin (18 pupils)
  • Drama & Theatre Studies (18 pupils)
  • Physical Education/Sports Studies (16 pupils)
  • Italian (15 pupils)
  • D&T Food Technology (14 pupils)
A-Level Subjects Offered
  • Biology (66 pupils)
  • Chemistry (66 pupils)
  • Mathematics (65 pupils)
  • Psychology (47 pupils)
  • Physics (30 pupils)
  • English Literature (25 pupils)
  • Geography (23 pupils)
  • Economics (21 pupils)
  • Government and Politics (13 pupils)
  • History (11 pupils)
  • Art and Design (9 pupils)
  • Italian (9 pupils)
  • Mathematics (Further) (9 pupils)
  • Spanish (8 pupils)
  • French (7 pupils)

GCSE & A-Level Performance

Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for St Michael's Catholic Grammar School per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.

GCSE Results Information (2022-23)

SubjectTotal Pupils Grades Achieved
U123456789
Art & Design18------3276
Biology55----11871919
Chemistry55----1-1141722
Design & Technology32------24719
English Language96----1119252921
English Literature96----3214263021
D&T Food Technology14-------473
French33----1155119
Geography62---1-37182112
History47-----157925
Italian15------1454
Latin18---2132361
Mathematics96-----15194130
Music19--1--14562
Physics55----126111520
Religious Studies96----2-6121957
Spanish36----3329127
Drama & Theatre Studies18---1114641
Physical Education/Sports Studies16-----1366-
Science: Double Award41----------

A-Level Results Information (2022-23)

SubjectTotal Pupils Grades Achieved
UEDCBAA*
Art and Design9---1251
Biology66-3510191712
Chemistry66-35817257
Economics21-133662
English Literature25--213118
French7----223
Geography23--15557
Government and Politics13--2-452
History11--11252
Italian9-----27
Mathematics65---252533
Mathematics (Further)9-----27
Physics30--431093
Psychology47-56613116
Spanish8----143

FAQ

Is St Michael's Catholic Grammar School hard to get into?

Yes, St Michael's Catholic Grammar School is hard to get into! Children need to pass their challenging 11+ entrance test (with a high pass mark) and there's tough competition with many other children trying to get a place for Year 7.

Is St Michael's Catholic Grammar School a private school?

No, St Michael's Catholic Grammar School is one of the few remaining academically selective, state-funded grammar schools left in England.

Is St Michael's Catholic Grammar School free?

Yes, St Michael's Catholic Grammar School is free, there are no school fees. Thus, sending your child to St Michael's Catholic Grammar School won't cost you any money.

How do I get my child into St Michael's Catholic Grammar School?

You need to apply to take the school's 11+ test. Contact St Michael's Catholic Grammar School for how up to date information on how to apply (it may be automatic or it may require some forms to be filled in). More information on their 11+ entrance test can be found here.

Is St Michael's Catholic Grammar School a girls-only school?

Yes, St Michael's Catholic Grammar School is a girls-only school.

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