About George Heriot's School
George Heriot's School sets its own entrance assessment and interview for entry. The assessment is age-appropriate and covers English, Mathematics and reasoning. Academic scholarships and means-tested bursaries may be available.
George Heriot's School offers an outstanding education with excellent academic standards, small class sizes and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities.
About the George Heriot's School Entrance Assessment
George Heriot’s School is a co-educational independent school in Edinburgh, Scotland, for pupils aged 3 to 18. Entry is by the school’s own entrance assessment and interview — Scotland does not use the English 11+ system, so there is no GL or CEM selection test.
The assessment is age-appropriate and typically covers English and Mathematics with reasoning, alongside an interview and a report from the current school. The school sets its own standards.
Registration windows, assessment dates and open mornings are published on the school’s own admissions pages. George Heriot’s also offers means-tested “Foundationer” bursary places as part of its charitable foundation.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for George Heriot's School
George Heriot's School Admissions Criteria
George Heriot's School sets its own entrance assessment and interview for entry. The assessment is age-appropriate and covers English, Mathematics and reasoning. Academic scholarships and means-tested bursaries may be available.
- ✓Register with George Heriot's School via the school's admissions office or website.
- ✓A reference is requested from the child's current school ahead of the assessment.
- ✓Sit the CEM 11+ entrance examination at the school: two written papers — English/Comprehension and Mathematics/Reasoning.
- ✓All questions are multiple-choice. Papers cover English Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning, Mathematical Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
- ✓Attend an interview or informal assessment day at the school.
- ✓No fixed pass mark — selection is based on the overall entrance assessment and interview.
- ✓Offers typically made within 1–2 weeks of the assessment.
- ✓Academic, Music, Sport and other Scholarships may be available.
- ✓Means-tested Bursaries available for eligible families — contact the school's bursar.
- ✓Open Days held each term — book via the school website.
George Heriot's School Oversubscription Criteria
For 2026 Year 7 entry, George Heriot's School ranks applicants by performance in the CEM-style entrance assessment. The following selection priorities are typically applied:
- Children who meet the academic standard in George Heriot's School's entrance assessment (CEM-style)
- Children with siblings currently attending the school
- Children of former pupils (alumni connections)
- Children with strong references from current primary head
- Children of staff members (where applicable)
- Distance from school / catchment priority (some independents)
- Children ranked by performance in the assessment up to George Heriot's School's places available
- Tiebreak: interview performance, references, or other school-specific criteria
Key Dates & Deadlines — George Heriot's School 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | Varies by school (typically open Sept/Oct of Year 5) |
| 📌 Registration closes | Typically November-December of Year 5 (varies) |
| 📌 CEM-style 11+ Entrance Test | January of Year 6 (Independent school entrance exam, CEM-style format) |
| 📌 Test results released | February of Year 6 |
| 📌 Offers issued by school | February-March (varies by school) |
How to Apply to George Heriot's School Directly
Step 1 — Attend an Open Day at George Heriot's School
Visit during Year 5 to meet staff, tour the school and assess fit. Independent school open days are usually in Sept-Nov.
Step 2 — Register your child with George Heriot's School
Complete the registration form on the school's website. Registration closes Typically November-December of Year 5 (varies). A registration fee usually applies.
Step 3 — Sit the school's entrance assessment
George Heriot's School's entrance exam (CEM-style format) is typically held in January of Year 6. Covers English, Mathematics, Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning, plus interview.
Step 4 — Provide school references
Your child's current Head Teacher will be asked to submit a confidential reference. Strong references are particularly important for independent schools.
Step 5 — Attend an interview
Most independent schools interview shortlisted candidates. Interviews assess motivation, character and academic potential.
Step 6 — Receive your offer
Offers issued by George Heriot's School in February-March (varies by school). Compare with offers from any other independent schools applied to.
Step 7 — Accept your place and pay deposit
Accept your offer in writing and pay the acceptance deposit (typically £500-£2,000, deducted from first-term fees) by the school's deadline.
CEM Subjects Tested at George Heriot's School
Practice Papers for George Heriot's School
George Heriot's School uses the CEM 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
How to Prepare for the George Heriot's 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.
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Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.
Academic Performance at George Heriot's School (National 5, Highers & Advanced Highers)
George Heriot’s is one of Scotland’s leading independent schools, with strong attainment in Scottish national qualifications.
- National 5 & Highers: consistently strong results across a broad curriculum.
- Advanced Highers: a wide senior offer supporting competitive university applications.
- Progression: leavers progress to selective universities in Scotland and beyond.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school’s website.
Catchment Area for George Heriot's School
George Heriot’s is an independent day school and does not operate a catchment area; pupils come from across Edinburgh and the surrounding districts, with places allocated on the basis of an entrance assessment rather than where a family lives.
In the Scottish system the age-11 intake is into Senior 1 (S1) rather than ‘Year 7’, with the main entry points at Primary 1, Primary 6, Primary 7 and S1; the S1 assessment is usually held in January for entry the following August.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Founded in 1628 by the royal goldsmith George Heriot as a charitable school for the city’s ‘faitherless bairns’, Heriot’s retains a strong charitable ethos through its Foundation, which supports children who have lost a parent. It became co-educational in 1979 and is housed in a landmark Renaissance building in Edinburgh’s Old Town.
A house system, Combined Cadet Force, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and a very wide range of sports and clubs support a full co-curricular life. For the full list, see the school’s own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about George Heriot's School
How do I apply to George Heriot's School for Year 7?
Applications to George Heriot's School are made directly to the school. Register on the school's website (registration closes Typically November-December of Year 5 (varies)), pay the registration fee, sit the entrance exam, and attend an interview if shortlisted.
Does George Heriot's School use the CEM 11+ test?
George Heriot's School historically used the CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring) 11+ entrance test. Since CEM 11+ was retired in 2022, many schools have transitioned to GL Assessment or developed bespoke entrance tests. Practice papers in the CEM-style format remain valuable preparation as the topic areas (English, Maths, Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning) are still tested in most formats.
What's the difference between CEM and GL Assessment?
Both test similar subjects (English, Maths, Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning) but differ in style: CEM was designed to be less coachable with broader vocabulary and varied question types per paper; GL Assessment has more structured, predictable papers per subject area. Many former CEM schools now use GL Assessment after CEM 11+ was retired in 2022.
How many Year 7 places does George Heriot's School have?
George Heriot's School admits a limited number of Year 7 pupils each September. Demand for places typically exceeds supply, so the school applies its oversubscription criteria to allocate places fairly.
When is the 11+ test for George Heriot's School?
For 2026 entry, George Heriot's School's 11+ entrance assessment is held in January of Year 6 (Independent school entrance exam, CEM-style format). Registration closes Typically November-December of Year 5 (varies).
What's the pass mark / qualifying score for George Heriot's School?
George Heriot's School sets its own qualifying mark each year based on the standardised score distribution of applicants. Pupils must score at or above the qualifying mark to be eligible for a place. Final ranking is by total standardised score (highest first) according to performance in the entrance assessment.
Is George Heriot's School a state school or fee-paying?
George Heriot's School is an independent fee-paying school. Registration fees, entrance exam fees, and tuition fees apply. Bursaries and scholarships are typically available for academically able pupils from lower-income families — check the school's website for details.
How can my child prepare for the George Heriot's School 11+ test?
ExamTutor offers a complete CEM-style 11+ preparation programme including tutor-led practice papers, full video explanations for every question, and downloadable resources covering English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Most parents start preparation 12-18 months before the test for best results.
Where can I find George Heriot's School's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for George Heriot's School 2026 entry is published on the school's official website. Always check the school's website for the most up-to-date oversubscription criteria, current test format, qualifying mark, supplementary forms, and any school-specific application requirements.