About Gad's Hill School
Gad's Hill School is an independent co-educational day school in Higham, Kent, founded in 1924. As an independent school, fees apply. The school was once the home of Charles Dickens. Entry is via the school's own assessment process.
Gad's Hill School provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum.
About the Gad's Hill School Entrance Assessment
Gad’s Hill School is a co-educational independent day school in Higham, Kent (once the home of Charles Dickens). 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, Mathematics and reasoning, usually with a taster day and an interview. As an independent school, Gad’s Hill 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 Gad’s Hill is independent, you apply to and are offered a place by the school directly.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Gad's Hill School
Gad's Hill School Admissions Criteria
Gad's Hill School is an independent co-educational day school in Higham, Kent, founded in 1924. As an independent school, fees apply. The school was once the home of Charles Dickens. Entry is via the school's own assessment process.
- ✓Register with Gad's Hill School via their admissions office.
- ✓Sit the school's own entrance assessment.
- ✓Scholarships and bursaries available.
Gad's Hill School 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 Gad's Hill School)
- 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 — Gad's Hill School 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | Tuesday 1 July 2025 |
| 📌 Registration closes | Friday 4 July 2025 |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | Thursday 11 September 2025 (in-school for state primary pupils); Saturday 13 September 2025 (for independent/out-of-county pupils) |
| 📌 Test results released | Friday 17 October 2025 |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2025 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 2 March 2026 |
How to Apply to Gad's Hill School via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Kent) when registration opens. Closes Friday 4 July 2025. There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Gad's Hill School
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 Thursday 11 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 on Friday 17 October 2025, BEFORE the Common Application Form deadline. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
Step 5 — Complete your Common Application Form (CAF)
List Gad's Hill School 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 Gad's Hill School's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Gad's Hill School
Practice Papers for Gad's Hill School
Gad's Hill School 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 Gad’s Hill School
Gad’s Hill is a smaller independent school with a personalised, all-through (3–16) approach; it sets its own academic standards through its entrance assessment.
Pastoral Care & Co‑curricular at Gad’s Hill
- ✓Pastoral: a small, close community where pupils are known individually.
- ✓Co‑curricular: drama, music, sport and a strong Dickens heritage.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gad’s Hill School
Is Gad's Hill a state or independent school?
Gad's Hill School is a co-educational independent day school in Higham, Kent - it is fee-paying, not a state grammar.
How do I apply to Gad's Hill for Year 7?
You apply directly to the school. Entry is by the school's own entrance assessment, a taster day and an interview.
Does Gad's Hill use the GL Assessment 11+?
No. As an independent school it sets its own entrance assessment - it is not part of the state GL 11+ system.
Are there scholarships and bursaries?
Yes - scholarships and means-tested bursaries are available; contact the school.
How to Prepare for the Gad's Hill 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.