About Henrietta Barnett School (HBS)
The Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) is one of the top-performing girls' grammar schools in England, located in Hampstead Garden Suburb, London. It uses a two-stage entrance process — both stages use GL Assessment papers. Applications for 2027 entry open now and close 1st July 2026. Stage 1 takes place in early September 2026. The top-performing girls are invited to Stage 2 in October 2026. 104 places are available per year.
Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 97.2%. A-Level A*–B: 86%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Henrietta Barnett School (HBS)
Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) is a girls state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 104 Year 7 pupils each September, and applications must be made through your home Local Authority via the Common Application Form (CAF) — never directly to the school.
The GL Assessment 11+ is one of two main 11+ test providers in England (the other being CEM, now retired in many regions). The London test typically consists of multiple papers covering English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Scores are standardised against the cohort age distribution, so younger pupils are not disadvantaged. Each school sets its own qualifying mark (pass mark).
For 2027 entry, the GL Assessment test is sat in Mid-September 2026 and results are released to parents on Mid-October 2026 — crucially, before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026, giving parents time to consider results before listing school preferences. National Offers Day is Monday 1 March 2027, when Local Authorities issue Year 7 secondary school offers.
Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) is academically selective — pupils must achieve the qualifying mark in the 11+ test to be eligible for a place. If applications exceed the published admission number (104 places), the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places. This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, key dates and oversubscription rules.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Henrietta Barnett School (HBS)
Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) Admissions Criteria
The Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) is one of the top-performing girls' grammar schools in England, located in Hampstead Garden Suburb, London. It uses a two-stage entrance process — both stages use GL Assessment papers. Applications for 2027 entry open now and close 1st July 2026. Stage 1 takes place in early September 2026. The top-performing girls are invited to Stage 2 in October 2026. 104 places are available per year.
- ✓Submit a SIF (Supplementary Information Form) registration via the HBS website — open now, closes 1st July 2026 at 5pm.
- ✓Stage 1 (early September 2026): GL Assessment multiple-choice papers. All registered girls are invited. Top-performing candidates are invited to Stage 2.
- ✓Stage 2 (October 2026): Further GL Assessment and school-set papers.
- ✓No fixed pass mark — places offered in rank order of combined Stage 1 + Stage 2 score.
- ✓HBS does not have a formal catchment area — applications from any location are welcomed.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Girls ranked in order of combined test score from both stages.
- ✓Distance from school as tie-breaker.
- ✓Apply via your Local Authority CAF by 31st October 2026.
Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 104 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 Henrietta Barnett School (HBS))
- 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 — Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2026 via individual school portals |
| 📌 Registration closes | late June 2026 (varies by consortium) |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | Mid-September 2026 (varies — Sutton, Kingston, Wallington consortiums have different dates) |
| 📌 Test results released | Mid-October 2026 |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2026 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 1 March 2027 |
How to Apply to Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. London) when registration opens. Closes late June 2026 (varies by consortium). There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Henrietta Barnett School (HBS)
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 Mid-September 2026. 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 Mid-October 2026, 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 Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) 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 2026. 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 1 March 2027. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Henrietta Barnett School (HBS)'s waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Henrietta Barnett School (HBS)
The Henrietta Barnett School selects through a two-stage entrance examination — a GL Assessment round one, then school-set written papers at round two — with all components age-standardised and combined into a ranked list.
- Round 1 (GL Assessment): multiple-choice English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.
- Round 2 (school-set): written English (comprehension and creative writing) and mathematics (problem-solving), for the top-scoring candidates.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Henrietta Barnett School (HBS)
Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) uses the GL Assessment 11+ format. Our practice papers closely mirror the actual test structure — 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 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 11.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
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- 10.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
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- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
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- 10 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) 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 The Henrietta Barnett School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
The Henrietta Barnett School is one of the highest-performing state schools in the country, regularly topping national league tables. In summer 2024 around 90% of GCSE grades were 8 or 9, and at A-Level roughly 81% of grades were A*–A (about 95% A*–B); in January 2025 its students received 34 Oxbridge offers, reflecting exceptionally strong progression to leading universities.
- GCSE: around 90% of grades at 8–9 in 2024.
- Sixth form: a strong sixth form with outstanding university progression.
- Enrichment: over 50 clubs and societies, many student-led.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for The Henrietta Barnett School
Admission to Year 7 is by a two-stage entrance examination. Round one is a GL Assessment multiple-choice test covering English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning; the highest-scoring candidates (around the top 300) are then invited to round two, which consists of school-set written papers in English (comprehension and creative writing) and mathematics (problem-solving). Scores from both rounds are combined into a ranked list, and all components are age-standardised.
The school is extraordinarily competitive — well over 2,000 girls apply each year for around 104 Year 7 places. There is no catchment for sitting the test (any girl may apply), but in the final allocation, after looked-after children and those with an EHCP naming the school, priority is given to qualified girls living within about three miles of the school, with distance used thereafter. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
The Henrietta Barnett School is a selective girls' grammar for ages 11–18 at Central Square in Hampstead Garden Suburb, North London (NW11 7BN, in the Borough of Barnet), with around 750 pupils. Founded in 1911 by the social reformer Dame Henrietta Barnett to widen access to a high-quality education, it is a non-denominational academy set in a Grade II* listed building within a conservation area.
The school offers a broad, forward-thinking curriculum and an outstanding enrichment programme, with more than 50 clubs and societies (many student-led) alongside modern science, arts and social spaces. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Henrietta Barnett School
How do I apply to Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) for Year 7?
Applications to Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) are made through your home Local Authority Common Application Form (CAF) — not directly to the school. Your child must sit the GL Assessment 11+ test (registration closes late June 2026 (varies by consortium)), then list Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test for Year 7 admission, taken in Mid-September 2026 (varies — Sutton, Kingston, Wallington consortiums have different dates). The test covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised age-adjusted scores.
What is the pass mark / qualifying score for Henrietta Barnett School (HBS)?
Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) sets its own qualifying mark each year. Pupils must score at or above the qualifying mark to be eligible for a place. Final ranking is by total standardised score (highest first) up to the admission number of 104 places.
How many Year 7 places does Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) have?
Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) admits 104 Year 7 pupils each September. Demand for places typically exceeds supply, so the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places fairly.
When are GL Assessment results released in 2026?
For 2027 Year 7 entry, GL Assessment test results are released on Mid-October 2026 — before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2026. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
When is National Offers Day for Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) in 2027?
National Offers Day for Year 7 secondary school places in England is Monday 1 March 2027. Offers are issued by your home Local Authority — not directly by the school. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Henrietta Barnett School (HBS)'s waiting list.
Is Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) a state school or fee-paying?
Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) is a state-funded grammar school — there are no tuition fees. As a state grammar, it is academically selective via the GL Assessment 11+ test, but pupils who pass the test do not pay to attend.
How can my child prepare for the Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) 11+ test?
ExamTutor offers a complete GL Assessment 11+ preparation programme including tutor-led practice papers, full video explanations for every question (covering all GL topic areas — English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning), and downloadable resources. Most parents start preparation 12-18 months before the September 11+ test.
Where can I find Henrietta Barnett School (HBS)'s official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) 2027 entry is published on the school's official website. Always check the school's website for the most up-to-date oversubscription criteria, qualifying mark, supplementary forms (if any), and any school-specific application requirements.