About Durham High School for Girls
Durham High School for Girls is an independent girls' school (with co-educational Sixth Form) in Durham. As an independent school, fees apply. Entry is via the school's own entrance assessment.
Durham High School for Girls provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 70%. A-Level A*–B: 60%.
About the Durham High School for Girls Entrance Assessment
Durham High School for Girls is an independent girls’ day school (with a co-educational Sixth Form) in Durham. Entry to Year 7 is by the school’s own entrance assessment, and applications are made directly to the school — not through the Local Authority.
The assessment typically covers English and Mathematics, usually with a taster day and an interview or reference. As an independent school, Durham High sets its own assessment and standards; fees apply, with scholarships and bursaries available.
Registration, assessment dates and open events are published on the school’s own admissions pages each year. Because Durham High is independent, you apply to and are offered a place by the school directly, on its own timetable.
Durham High is academically selective: places are offered on the basis of the entrance assessment, interview and school reference. This page is updated with the school’s latest published admissions information.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Durham High School for Girls
Durham High School for Girls Admissions Criteria
Durham High School for Girls is an independent girls' school (with co-educational Sixth Form) in Durham. As an independent school, fees apply. Entry is via the school's own entrance assessment.
- ✓Register with Durham High School via their admissions office.
- ✓Sit the Year 7 entrance assessment.
- ✓Scholarships and means-tested bursaries available.
Durham High School for Girls Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the None Year 7 admission number, the Board of Governors / Trust applies the following criteria in priority order. Final ranking uses the standardised score achieved in the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test.
- Looked-after / previously looked-after children (highest priority by law)
- Children who achieve the qualifying mark in the entrance test (above the qualifying standard set by Durham High School for Girls)
- Children eligible for Pupil Premium / Free School Meals Entitlement (FSME)
- Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school
- Children with sibling(s) currently attending the school
- Children of staff (where staff member has worked at the school for 2+ years)
- Children ranked by total standardised score (highest first) up to the published admission number
- Tiebreak: distance from home to school (straight-line measurement) for children with equal scores
Key Dates & Deadlines — Durham High School for Girls 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2025 |
| 📌 Registration closes | Mid-July 2025 (varies by school) |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | September 2025 (English + Maths + Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning) |
| 📌 Test results released | Mid-October 2025 |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2025 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 2 March 2026 |
How to Apply to Durham High School for Girls
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Default) when registration opens. Closes Mid-July 2025 (varies by school). There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Durham High School for Girls
Visit during Year 5 or early Year 6 to meet staff and pupils and decide whether to list this school on your CAF.
Step 3 — Sit the GL Assessment Entrance Test
Your child sits the GL Assessment in September 2025. The test typically covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised scores age-adjusted.
Step 4 — Receive your standardised test results
Test results are released to parents in line with the school’s own admissions timetable. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
Step 5 — Complete the school’s application form
List Durham High School for Girls as one of your preferences on the CAF submitted via your home Local Authority (not the school's LA, unless they are the same). You can usually list 3-6 preferences depending on your LA.
Step 6 — Submit the CAF by the deadline
Submit your CAF by Friday 31 October 2025. Late applications are processed only after all on-time applications have been allocated, dramatically reducing your chance of a place.
Step 7 — Receive your school offer on National Offers Day
Offers are issued via your Local Authority on Monday 2 March 2026. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Durham High School for Girls's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Durham High School for Girls
Practice Papers for Durham High School for Girls
Durham High School for Girls uses the GL Assessment 11+ format. Our Practice Papers is a great way to practice for the exam — 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
Academic Performance at Durham High School for Girls
Durham High School for Girls has a strong academic record at GCSE and A‑Level for a small independent school, with leavers progressing to a range of universities. As an independent it sets its own academic standards through the entrance assessment.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Co‑curricular at Durham High School for Girls
- ✓Pastoral: a small, supportive girls’ school where pupils are known individually.
- ✓Co‑curricular: a broad programme of clubs, music, drama and societies.
- ✓Sixth Form: co-educational, with a wide A‑Level offer.
Frequently Asked Questions about Durham High School for Girls
How do I apply to Durham High School for Girls for Year 7?
You apply directly to the school. Entry is by the school's own entrance assessment, an interview and a reference; registration details are on the school's admissions pages.
Does Durham High School for Girls use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
No. As an independent school, Durham High sets its own entrance assessment - it is not part of the state GL 11+ system.
Is Durham High School for Girls a state school or fee-paying?
It is an independent (fee-paying) girls' school, with a co-educational Sixth Form. Scholarships and bursaries are available.
What does the entrance assessment involve?
Typically English and Mathematics, usually with a taster day and an interview or reference. The school sets its own standards.
How can my child prepare for the Durham High entrance assessment?
Build confidence with English, Mathematics and reasoning question types, and follow the school's own guidance and sample materials.
Where can I find Durham High School for Girls's official admissions policy?
On the school's own website admissions section, which carries the current registration dates, fees, scholarships and bursary information.
How to Prepare for the Durham High School for Girls 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.