About Holme Grange School
Holme Grange School is a co-educational independent day school in Wokingham, Berkshire (ages 3–16), which sets its own age-appropriate assessment for entry. Academic scholarships and bursaries may be available — contact the school.
Holme Grange School offers an outstanding education with excellent academic standards, small class sizes and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities.
About the Holme Grange School Entrance Assessment
Holme Grange School is a co-educational independent day school in Wokingham, Berkshire (ages 3–16). Entry is by the school’s own assessment and a taster day, with applications made directly to the school — not through the Local Authority.
Assessment is age-appropriate and informal, looking at English and Mathematics alongside how a child settles into the school day. As an independent school it sets its own assessment and standards; fees apply, with some scholarships and bursaries available.
Registration, assessment dates and open mornings are published on the school’s own admissions pages each year.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Holme Grange School
Holme Grange School Admissions Criteria
Holme Grange School is a co-educational independent day school in Wokingham, Berkshire (ages 3–16), which sets its own age-appropriate assessment for entry. Academic scholarships and bursaries may be available — contact the school.
- ✓Attend an Open Day or arranged visit to Holme Grange School — check the school website for dates.
- ✓Complete the Registration Form on the school website and pay the registration fee.
- ✓A reference is requested from the child's current school. Based on a satisfactory report, the candidate is invited to sit the assessment.
- ✓Sit the CEM Select online assessment at the school (approximately 60 minutes): three sections covering Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
- ✓Attend a short interview with a member of the admissions team, focusing on interests, motivation and personal qualities.
- ✓No fixed pass mark — selection is based on overall performance in the assessment, interview and school reference.
- ✓An offer is usually made within 1–2 weeks of the interview and assessment.
- ✓Academic, Music, Sport, Art and All-Rounder Scholarships may be available — contact the school for details.
- ✓Means-tested Bursaries may be available for financially eligible families.
- ✓Confirm the place by completing an Acceptance Form and paying the required deposit.
Holme Grange School Oversubscription Criteria
For 2026 Year 7 entry, Holme Grange 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 Holme Grange 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 Holme Grange School's places available
- Tiebreak: interview performance, references, or other school-specific criteria
Key Dates & Deadlines — Holme Grange 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 Holme Grange School Directly
Step 1 — Attend an Open Day at Holme Grange 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 Holme Grange 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
Holme Grange 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 Holme Grange 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 Select Subjects Tested at Holme Grange School
Practice Papers for Holme Grange School
Holme Grange School uses the CEM Select 11+ format. Our Practice Papers is a great way to practice for the exam — with full video explanations for every question.
- 3 × Maths, Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning tests
- 450 video explanations
- 24 hours of video content
- 3 × Maths, Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning tests
- 450 video explanations
- 22.5 hours of video content
- 3 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × Maths, Verbal & NVR
- 150 video explanations
- 8.5 hrs video content
- 3 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × Maths, Verbal & NVR
- 150 video explanations
- 8.0 hrs video content
- 3 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × Maths, Verbal & NVR
- 150 video explanations
- 7.5 hrs video content
- 3 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × Maths, Verbal & NVR
- 150 video explanations
- 7.0 hrs video content
- 3 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × Maths, Verbal & NVR
- 150 video explanations
- 6.5 hrs video content
- 3 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × Maths, Verbal & NVR
- 150 video explanations
- 6.0 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the Holme Grange 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 Holme Grange School (GCSE Results)
Holme Grange is an all-through co-educational school to age 16 (its senior school is known as Eaton Grange) and is rated ‘Excellent’ by the ISI. As the school finishes at GCSE it has no sixth form, so pupils take their GCSEs at Holme Grange and then move on to sixth-form colleges or other schools at 16.
For current GCSE outcomes and leaver destinations, see the school’s own website.
Catchment Area for Holme Grange School
Holme Grange School is an independent school and does not operate a catchment area. Places are open to families from across Wokingham, Bracknell and the surrounding Berkshire area and beyond, and are allocated on the basis of the entrance assessment rather than where a family lives.
The school sits in 21 acres of Wokingham countryside; pupils travel from across the local area, with entry by taster days and assessment rather than catchment.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Holme Grange is a warm, family-oriented Church of England school (welcoming all faiths) known for strong pastoral care and a distinctive outdoor and experiential approach to learning, with extensive woodland Forest School areas across its 21-acre site.
There are wide opportunities in sport, drama, music and clubs. For the full list of activities, see the school’s own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Holme Grange School
How do I apply to Holme Grange School for Year 7?
Applications to Holme Grange 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 Holme Grange School use the CEM 11+ test?
Holme Grange 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 Holme Grange School have?
Holme Grange 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 Holme Grange School?
For 2026 entry, Holme Grange 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 Holme Grange School?
Holme Grange 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 Holme Grange School a state school or fee-paying?
Holme Grange 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 Holme Grange 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 Holme Grange School's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for Holme Grange 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.