The Henrietta Barnett School 11+
Crucial 11+ info, past 11+ papers and practice 11+ papers for The Henrietta Barnett School.
How to get into The Henrietta Barnett School
The Henrietta Barnett School is a selective secondary school in Barnet, London. To get into The Henrietta Barnett School children need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Here is the step-by-step guide to getting your child into The Henrietta Barnett School with all the important information you need to know.
About The Henrietta Barnett School
The Henrietta Barnett School is a non-denominational grammar school for girls aged 11-18 [1]. The school is located in Central Square, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London NW11 7BN. Founded in 1911 by Dame Henrietta Barnett, the school has ranked among the top schools in the country and is recognised as the top overall state school according to recent rankings.
The school offers outstanding enrichment opportunities for students with over 50 clubs and societies – many of which are student-led. The community is described as "diverse, inclusive, high-performing, friendly and supportive". Recent facilities include eight science labs, a new music and drama school, and an art and design centre.
Admission Requirements
Admission to The Henrietta Barnett School for Year 7 is by academic selection [1]. The school increased its Published Admission Number to 120 for September 2026 entry (see key dates). For September 2025 entry, there are 120 places available in Year 7.
The school operates under a two-stage entrance examination system. The Henrietta Barnett School does not have a catchment area. Anyone can apply and sit the first round test. However, after the second round of the exam, they consider the distance from the school when deciding on offering a place. The school will prioritize applicants residing within 3 miles for admission over others.
- Open to girls only for Year 7 entry (ages 11-12)
- No catchment area restrictions - families from any location can apply
- Priority given to families living within 3 miles of the school after Round Two testing
- Must complete both school's Entrance Test Entry Form and local authority's Common Application Form
Application Process and Key Dates
For September 2026 entry, applications for the Entrance Examination will open on 1st April 2025 and close on Friday 11th July 2025 (see key dates). Families must complete two separate applications:
- Submit the Henrietta Barnett School Entrance Test Entry Form by 11th July 2025 (see key dates)
- Complete the Common Application Form (CAF) through the local authority by 31st October 2025 (see key dates)
- Name The Henrietta Barnett School as one of the preferred schools on the CAF
- Applications are processed through Barnet Local Authority coordination
The school holds an Open Day on Thursday 3rd July 2025 (see key dates) [1]. Due to capacity constraints, this will be open to Current Year 5 students and their parents/guardians only. Bookings are now closed, and the waiting list is at capacity. The school notes that they are unable to offer individual tours at any point.
The Examination System
The Henrietta Barnett 11+ consists of two rounds of testing. Girls applying to The Henrietta Barnett School take a first round entrance exam in early September. Children with the top 300 scores are invited to a second round exam in early October.
Round One (Early September): The first round entrance exam consists of 11 plus papers provided by GL Assessment. All of the questions are multiple-choice. Your child will have a question booklet and separate answer sheets. This round tests:
- English: Questions based on the national curriculum content your daughter will be learning at school. This often includes a reading comprehension task
- Verbal Reasoning: This subject is not taught at school. Verbal reasoning assesses your child's ability to analyse and solve problems with written information, like letters, words, symbols and numbers
- Non-Verbal Reasoning: Like verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning isn't taught on the national curriculum. This tests your child's ability to solve problems with visual information, such as shapes, diagrams and pictures
Round Two (Early October): Top 300 candidates invited for Round Two based on Round One performance. Round Two assesses English and Mathematics skills. Children invited back for the second round exam take two test papers created by staff at The Henrietta Barnett School. One paper assesses English comprehension and creative writing. The other paper assesses maths. These papers are not multiple-choice.
The content is likely to include both Year 5 and Year 6 national curriculum objectives. Your child will need to apply their skills and knowledge to new situations.
Selection and Oversubscription Criteria
After the second round test, children's results are standardised and combined with the results from the first round test. They are then placed in rank order, from highest to lowest overall score, and submitted to the local authority.
If the school receives more qualified applicants than places available, priority is given in the following order:
- Priority for admission given to 'looked after children' or 'previously looked after children' capable of following school education, ranked in top 300 in Round One test
- Candidates eligible for Pupil Premium funding prioritized, ranked in top 300 in Round One test (up to 20 candidates only)
- Candidates living within 3 miles of school prioritized, confirmed through Round Two test if places exceed candidates
- Remaining candidates considered in rank score order; proximity used for equally ranked candidates
Preparation Guidance
Effective preparation requires a structured approach spanning several months before the examination. It's important to build a good knowledge base before the 11 plus. Using a 'little and often' approach when learning is key – our brains encode new information more effectively when dealing with smaller 'chunks' of information. For children aged 10–11, child psychologists recommend regular study sessions of 20–30 minutes.
The school provides GL Assessment familiarisation booklets for the First Round Entrance Test which include packs of free materials [1]. However, the school does not release any past papers or offer any resources for Round Two.
For comprehensive preparation resources, families should explore practice 11-plus papers and consider professional support through 11-plus tutoring. There is no specific pass mark, but pupils who are able to score 90%+ consistently in 11+ practice tests should be on track to pass Stage 1.
Practical Advice for Exam Day
The Henrietta Barnett School is one of the most popular state schools in London, so competition for places is high. In 2024, the school secured around 4 applications per place. A total of 396 applications were received and the school made 102 offers.
Families should prepare children for the examination environment and ensure they understand the format and timing. Remember – passing the entrance exams doesn't guarantee that your child will be allocated a place at your preferred school due to high competition levels.
For exam day preparation, consider:
- Familiarising children with multiple-choice answer sheets for Round One
- Practising written response format for Round Two examinations
- Building confidence through regular timed practice sessions
- Managing exam stress through consistent preparation routines
- Understanding that strong performance in both rounds is essential for success
Alternative Options and Waiting Lists
Vacancies are rare. The Local Authority holds the waiting lists for the school [1]. The school is small and selective, so vacancies are infrequent. The Local Authority manages waiting lists for Years 8 to 11.
Families should research other selective schools in the Barnet and North London area as backup options. The competitive nature of admission means having multiple school preferences on the Common Application Form is essential for securing a grammar school place.
For specific queries about the application process, waiting lists, or special considerations, families should contact the school information section for current contact details and guidance.
Henrietta Barnett 11+ Information
In order to get into The Henrietta Barnett School, children need to pass the Henrietta Barnett 11+. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.
Henrietta Barnett 11+ Subjects & Structure
The Henrietta Barnett 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:
- English
- Verbal Reasoning
- Non-verbal Reasoning
- English Comprehension
- Creative Writing
- Maths
The admissions process for The Henrietta Barnett School involves a two-stage entrance examination. The initial round consists of an 11 plus assessment provided by GL Assessment, covering English, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning. These multiple-choice tests evaluate the candidate's proficiency in the national curriculum, as well as their ability to analyze and solve problems using written and visual information.
Candidates who excel in the first round are invited to participate in the second round, which comprises two papers created by the school's staff. These papers assess the candidate's skills in English comprehension, creative writing, and mathematics. The questions in this stage are not multiple-choice and may include content from both Year 5 and Year 6 national curriculum objectives, requiring the applicant to demonstrate their ability to apply their knowledge to new situations.
The top 300 performers from the first round are selected to progress to the second round of the entrance examination. This rigorous two-stage process ensures that The Henrietta Barnett School identifies and admits the most academically capable students.
Henrietta Barnett 11+ Marking Process
The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as The Henrietta Barnett 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.
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!
Henrietta Barnett 11+ Pass Mark
The pass mark for the Henrietta Barnett 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).
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 The Henrietta Barnett School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.
11+ Tutor for The Henrietta Barnett School
As the Henrietta Barnett 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 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 The Henrietta Barnett School 11+ Tests
We have a range of private tutors who specialise in preparing children for the The Henrietta Barnett 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 The Henrietta Barnett School
Unfortunately, The Henrietta Barnett 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 The Henrietta Barnett School
Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the Henrietta Barnett 11+ Ensure you double-check with The Henrietta Barnett 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 The Henrietta Barnett 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 Henrietta Barnett 11+ to get into The Henrietta Barnett School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for The Henrietta Barnett 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 The Henrietta Barnett School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | |||
| GL Assessment | Maths | |||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Mixed |
11+ Practice Papers for The Henrietta Barnett 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 Henrietta Barnett 11+.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | English |
11+ Practice Papers for The Henrietta Barnett 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 The Henrietta Barnett School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | English | ||
| GL Assessment | Writing | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths | ||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for The Henrietta Barnett 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 The Henrietta Barnett School.
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Maths | |||
| GL Assessment | English | |||
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
These Free CEM 11+ Practice Papers were published by CGP and we thank them for granting us permission to distribute them. If The Henrietta Barnett 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 Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEM | Maths | |||
| CEM | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| CEM | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for The Henrietta Barnett School by 11+ For You
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "11+ For You".
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for The Henrietta Barnett School by Examberry
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by "Examberry".
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Non-Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for The Henrietta Barnett School by Independent Junction
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by Independent Junction.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning |
11+ Practice Papers for The Henrietta Barnett School by IPS
These Free 11+ Practice Papers were published some time ago by IPS (Internet Primary School Ltd).
| Exam Board | Subject | Answer Sheet | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | |||
| GL Assessment | Maths |
11+ Practice Papers for The Henrietta Barnett School by Schofield & Sims
These 11+ practice papers were published by Schofield & Sims, a large UK educational publisher.
| Exam Board | Subject | Question Booklet | Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Assessment | Verbal Reasoning | ||
| GL Assessment | Maths |
School Information
Below you will find further information about The Henrietta Barnett School together with their admissions contact details.
| Address | The Henrietta Barnett School, Central Square, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, NW11 7BN |
|---|---|
| School Website | https://www.hbschool.org.uk/ |
| Telephone | 02084588999 |
| Email Address | admissions@hbschool.org.uk |
| Gender | Girls only |
| Total Year 7 Places | 104 |
| Total Pupils (Girls/Boys) | 795 (795 Girls / 0 Boys) |
| Head | Mrs Mandy Watts |
The Henrietta Barnett School is a girls only school. It is also an academy, meaning the school is run independently by a trust or sponsor and is directly funded by the central government (not the local authority).
In total 795 pupils attend The Henrietta Barnett School and it's led by the Head, Mrs Mandy Watts.
The Henrietta Barnett School Location
Below you will find a map showing the school's location:
Ofsted Information
The Henrietta Barnett School was last inspected by Ofsted on 04/05/2022 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 21/09/2022, declaring that the school was 'Good'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.
Last Ofsted Report Data
| Date Inspected | Inspection Duration (Days) | Reporting Date | Rating | Full Report | 04/05/2022 | 1 | 21/09/2022 | Good | Full Report |
|---|
Ofsted Report Summary
The Henrietta Barnett School was inspected by Ofsted on 21/09/2022 and received an overall rating of Good. The school demonstrated a good quality of education, outstanding behaviour and attitudes, good personal development, good leadership and management, and good sixth form provision.
The inspection highlighted the school's strengths in providing a well-rounded education to its students. The outstanding behaviour and attitudes of the students were particularly noteworthy, indicating a positive learning environment and a strong sense of community within the school.
The Henrietta Barnett School's leadership and management were also deemed good, suggesting that the school is well-run and has effective strategies in place to support student learning and development. The good sixth form provision indicates that the school is successfully preparing its students for higher education and future careers.
GCSE & A-Level Subjects
Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at The Henrietta Barnett School for the 2022-23 academic year.
| GCSE Subjects Offered |
|
|---|---|
| A-Level Subjects Offered |
|
GCSE & A-Level Performance
Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for The Henrietta Barnett 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)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Art & Design (Fine Art) | 26 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 11 |
| Biology | 104 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 4 | 14 | 84 |
| Chemistry | 104 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | 20 | 79 |
| Classical Civilisation | 22 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Computer Studies/Computing | 46 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | 10 | 17 | 14 |
| Design & Technology | 23 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 19 |
| English Language | 104 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 11 | 28 | 64 |
| English Literature | 104 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 10 | 21 | 73 |
| French | 38 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | 11 | 24 |
| Geography | 71 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | 8 | 59 |
| German | 38 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | 4 | 8 | 23 |
| Classical Greek | 13 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| History | 51 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 4 | 10 | 36 |
| Latin | 29 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 26 |
| Mathematics | 104 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 29 | 73 |
| Music | 24 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 13 |
| Physics | 104 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 17 | 83 |
| Religious Studies | 35 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | 9 | 22 |
| Spanish | 41 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | 4 | 14 | 20 |
| Drama & Theatre Studies | 60 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 9 | 17 | 32 |
A-Level Results Information (2022-23)
| Subject | Total Pupils | Grades Achieved | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | E | D | C | B | A | A* | |||||
| Biology | 54 | - | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 24 | 19 | |||
| Chemistry | 69 | - | 2 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 30 | 19 | |||
| Classical Civilisation | 10 | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | |||
| Economics | 49 | - | - | 2 | 2 | 8 | 17 | 20 | |||
| English Literature | 30 | - | - | - | 1 | 6 | 14 | 9 | |||
| French | 18 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 8 | 9 | |||
| Geography | 9 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 4 | 2 | |||
| German | 7 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 2 | 2 | |||
| Government and Politics | 29 | - | - | - | 4 | 4 | 9 | 12 | |||
| History | 29 | - | - | - | 2 | 6 | 9 | 12 | |||
| Latin | 10 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 4 | 5 | |||
| Mathematics | 104 | - | 2 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 40 | 42 | |||
| Mathematics (Further) | 33 | - | - | - | 6 | 3 | 10 | 13 | |||
| Music | 6 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 4 | |||
| Physics | 23 | - | - | - | 1 | 4 | 8 | 10 | |||
| Spanish | 13 | - | - | - | 1 | 5 | 4 | 3 | |||
FAQ
Is The Henrietta Barnett School hard to get into?
Yes, The Henrietta Barnett 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 The Henrietta Barnett School a private school?
No, The Henrietta Barnett School is one of the few remaining academically selective, state-funded grammar schools left in England.
Is The Henrietta Barnett School free?
Yes, The Henrietta Barnett School is free, there are no school fees. Thus, sending your child to The Henrietta Barnett School won't cost you any money.
How do I get my child into The Henrietta Barnett School?
You need to apply to take the school's 11+ test. Contact The Henrietta Barnett 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 The Henrietta Barnett School a girls-only school?
Yes, The Henrietta Barnett School is a girls-only school.
