About Blackheath High School
Blackheath High School is a leading independent girls' school (GDST) in Blackheath, London, from ages 3 to 18. As a GDST school, fees apply but significant means-tested bursary support is available. Entry to Year 7 (11+) is via the school's own entrance examination and interview. The school achieves consistently excellent GCSE and A-Level results.
Blackheath High School provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 76%. A-Level A*–B: 84%.
About Admission to Blackheath High School
Blackheath High School is a selective independent (fee‑paying) day school for girls aged 3 to 18, part of the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST). Founded in 1880 as the first purpose‑built GDST school, it has a Junior School in Blackheath Village and a Senior School at Vanbrugh Park, on the edge of Greenwich Park in south‑east London. Entry is by the school’s own assessment and you apply directly to the school — there is no GL Assessment, no local‑authority Common Application Form and no National Offers Day.
The main senior entry point is 11+ (Year 7), where applicants sit the school’s own papers in English, Mathematics and Reasoning followed by a personal interview. There are also entry points at Nursery (3), Reception (4+), Year 3 (7+), Year 9 (13+) and Sixth Form (16+), with age‑appropriate assessment. Scholarships (including the ‘Girl emPowered’ programme) and means‑tested bursaries are available.
This guide explains how entry works, the key steps and dates, results and school life. Always confirm the latest details on the school’s official admissions pages before applying.
Blackheath High School Admissions Guide (11+ & Other Entry)
How Blackheath High Selects Pupils
Entry is selective by the school’s own assessment, which looks at academic ability and potential alongside each girl’s strengths and personality. There is no exam‑board qualifying mark and no statutory oversubscription criteria.
- ✓11+ (Year 7): the school’s own papers in English, Mathematics and Reasoning, plus a personal interview.
- ✓7+ (Year 3): assessment in English and Mathematics with an interview.
- ✓4+ (Reception) & Nursery: play‑based assessment and taster sessions.
- ✓13+ and Sixth Form (16+): assessment/interview, with Sixth Form entry based on strong GCSE grades.
- ✓Scholarships (‘Girl emPowered’) and means‑tested bursaries are available — ask the admissions team.
Key Dates & How It Works
| 📌 Open events | Through the autumn and spring terms |
| 📌 Registration | Ahead of assessment (typically autumn of Year 6 for 11+) |
| 📌 11+ assessment & interview | Autumn/winter term |
| 📌 Outcome | Offers follow assessment |
How to Apply to Blackheath High
Step 1 — Register & visit
Register your daughter with the admissions team and visit at an open event or private tour.
Step 2 — Assessment & interview
For 11+, your daughter sits the school’s English, Maths and Reasoning papers and attends an interview.
Step 3 — Offer & acceptance
Offers follow the assessment; scholarship and bursary outcomes are confirmed alongside.
What the 11+ Assessment Covers
The English and Mathematics papers and the reasoning element assess academic potential; the interview helps the school get to know each girl as an individual.
11+ Practice Papers (English, Maths & Reasoning)
Blackheath High sets its own 11+ papers in English, Mathematics and Reasoning. These practice papers build exactly those core skills — with full video explanations for every question.
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 31.5 hours of video content
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 28.5 hours of video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 11.5 hrs video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 11 hrs video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 10 hrs video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the Blackheath High School 11+ Exam
ExamTutor practice papers with tutor explanations for every question offers an affordable substitute for private tuition for a fraction of the cost.
📋 Take a Diagnostic Test
Start with a timed practice test to identify strengths and areas needing improvement.
📅 Build a Study Plan
Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
🎥 Review with Video Explanations
Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
⏱️ Develop Exam Technique
Practice under timed conditions to build stamina and learn to manage difficult questions.
📈 Track Progress
Monitor scores over time to see genuine improvement and identify remaining weak spots.
🚀 Build Confidence
Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Academic Performance at Blackheath High School (GCSE & A‑Level Results)
Blackheath High is rated “Excellent” in all areas by the ISI and celebrated its best‑ever results in 2024, as a Finalist for Independent Girls’ School of the Year.
| 📈 GCSE 2024 — grades 9–7 | 77% (60% at 8–9; 34% at 9) |
| 🎓 A‑Level 2024 — A*–B | 83% |
| 📚 Subject range | incl. GCSE Astronomy, Statistics, Psychology & Classical Greek |
Girls progress to leading universities across a wide range of subjects. (Figures are the school’s published results and vary year to year.)
Pastoral Care, Wellbeing & Co‑curricular Life
As part of the Girls’ Day School Trust, Blackheath High puts wellbeing at the centre of a holistic, ambitious education — in its words, “every subject is a girls’ subject.”
Co‑curricular life
A vibrant programme spans the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, STEM and Eco clubs, Rock Band, Fashion Society, public speaking and trips from Iceland to the Alps.
Facilities
A recent £18‑million campus redevelopment added a state‑of‑the‑art library and fitness suite, with an extensive sports campus at Kidbrooke Grove and a Forest School for the Early Years.
A wider network
As a GDST school, Blackheath High pupils benefit from the Trust’s national network, bursaries and alumnae connections.
Blackheath High School Admissions — FAQ
How do I apply to Blackheath High School?
You apply directly to the school — there is no Local Authority Common Application Form. Register with the admissions team; entry points include Nursery, Reception (4+), Year 3 (7+), Year 7 (11+), Year 9 (13+) and Sixth Form (16+).
Does Blackheath High use the GL Assessment or an 11+ grammar test?
No. It is an independent GDST school with its own assessment — English, Mathematics and Reasoning papers plus an interview at 11+. There is no GL Assessment, CAF or National Offers Day.
Is it a girls’ school, and what ages does it take?
Yes — it is an all‑through school for girls aged 3 to 18, from Nursery through to Sixth Form.
What does the 11+ assessment involve?
The school’s own papers in English, Mathematics and Reasoning, followed by a personal interview. The school considers academic potential alongside each girl’s strengths.
How good are the results?
The school is rated “Excellent” in all areas by the ISI. In 2024, 77% of GCSE grades were 9–7 and 83% of A‑Level results were A*–B, and the school was a Finalist for Independent Girls’ School of the Year 2024.
Are scholarships or bursaries available?
Yes — academic and other scholarships (including the ‘Girl emPowered’ programme) plus means‑tested bursaries. Contact the admissions team for details.
Where is the school?
The Junior School is in Blackheath Village and the Senior School is at Vanbrugh Park, on the edge of Greenwich Park in south‑east London.
How can my daughter prepare?
Build confidence in English, Maths and reasoning, practise timed questions, and visit at an open event so she feels at ease on assessment day.