About Howell's School, Llandaff
Howell's School, Llandaff is a girls independent day school in Llandaff, Cardiff. Entry to Year 7 (11+) is via the GDST 11+ entrance assessment, part of the Girls' Day School Trust family, covering English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, and may include an interview. The school offers a comprehensive education with a wide range of academic, sporting, musical, dramatic and artistic opportunities.
Howell's School, Llandaff is committed to providing an outstanding educational experience for every pupil, with excellent academic results, strong pastoral care and a thriving extracurricular programme. Scholarships and bursaries are available to support pupils with talent and financial need. Ranked #262 in The Sunday Times Parent Power. GCSE 9-7: 57.5%.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Howell's School, Llandaff
Howell's School, Llandaff Admissions Criteria
Howell's School, Llandaff is a girls independent day school in Llandaff, Cardiff. Entry to Year 7 (11+) is via the GDST 11+ entrance assessment, part of the Girls' Day School Trust family, covering English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, and may include an interview. The school offers a comprehensive education with a wide range of academic, sporting, musical, dramatic and artistic opportunities.
- ✓Step 1 — Initial enquiry: Contact the Admissions Team at Howell's School, Llandaff to register your interest and request a prospectus. Visit the school on an Open Day or arrange a private tour to experience the school environment first-hand.
- ✓Step 2 — Submit registration: Complete the online (or paper) registration form and pay the registration fee to formally apply for a Year 7 place at Howell's School, Llandaff. Early registration is recommended — many independent schools have rolling admissions and limited Year 7 places.
- ✓Step 3 — Reference from current school: The school will request an academic and pastoral reference from your child's current school. This provides insight into your child's academic progress, character and suitability.
- ✓Step 4 — GDST entrance assessment: Your daughter will sit the GDST 11+ entrance assessment covering English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. The assessment is consistent across the GDST family of schools and designed to identify academic ability and potential.
- ✓Step 5 — Interview (where applicable): Many independent schools include an interview as part of the selection process — this is a friendly conversation to learn about her interests, motivations and aspirations.
- ✓Step 6 — Written decision: Following the assessment, parents are notified in writing whether her child has been offered a place at Howell's School, Llandaff.
- ✓Step 7 — Accept the place: To accept an offer, parents complete an acceptance form and pay a deposit to secure the place. The deposit is typically credited against future school fees.
- ✓Academic Scholarships: Awarded to applicants demonstrating exceptional academic ability in the entrance assessment.
- ✓Music Scholarships: For pupils with proven musical ability — supported by an audition.
- ✓Art & Drama Scholarships: For pupils with strong creative and performance ability, supported by a portfolio or audition.
- ✓Sport Scholarships: For pupils with talent and achievement in sport at a competitive level.
- ✓Bursary Awards: Means-tested financial support for families who require help with school fees at Howell's School, Llandaff. Awards are typically assessed annually.
- ✓Sibling Discount: Available at many independent schools for families with multiple children attending.
Howell's School, Llandaff Oversubscription Criteria
- Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- Children who achieve the highest scores in the 11+ entrance test.
- Children living within the school's priority catchment area.
- Children with siblings currently attending Howell's School, Llandaff.
- All other qualifying children ranked by distance from the school.
Key Dates & Deadlines — Howell's School, Llandaff 2026
| 📌 Open Events | Throughout the year — check school website to register |
| 📌 Application Window | Rolling admissions — apply early to secure assessment slot |
| 📌 Entrance Assessment | Arranged after registration submitted |
| 📌 Decision Notification | Following assessment, by written letter from the Head |
| 📌 Acceptance & Deposit | Deposit required to secure offered place |
How to Apply to Howell's School, Llandaff
Step 1 — Visit Howell's School, Llandaff
Visit Howell's School, Llandaff — Wales' only Girls' Day School Trust (GDST) member
Step 2 — Complete the online registration form
Complete the online registration form on the school's admissions portal
Step 3 — Pay the registration fee at the time of application
Pay the registration fee at the time of application (GDST schools typically £60-150 depending on overseas status)
Step 4 — The school requests a confidential reference from your
The school requests a confidential reference from your daughter's current school
Step 5 — Your daughter sits the 11+ entrance assessment
Your daughter sits the 11+ entrance assessment — English and Mathematics
Step 6 — Attend an interview as part of the GDST shared assessment
Attend an interview as part of the GDST shared assessment approach
Step 7 — Following assessment, offers are communicated
Following assessment, offers are communicated
Step 8 — On acceptance, pay the GDST acceptance deposit
On acceptance, pay the GDST acceptance deposit
Independent Subjects Tested at Howell's School, Llandaff
Scholarships & Bursaries at Howell's School, Llandaff
Available scholarships and bursaries: Academic, Music, Art, Sport, Drama Scholarships. Means-tested bursaries via GDST.
Outcome announced: Academic and specialist scholarships awarded; means-tested bursaries via GDST
Additional notes: Howell's School Llandaff is Wales' only Girls' Day School Trust (GDST) member — an independent day school for girls in Llandaff, Cardiff (founded 1860 with bequest from Thomas Howell, a Welsh merchant). Co-educational from Sixth Form (since September 2005). Features include swimming pool, tennis courts and all-weather sports pitch.
Independent Practice Papers for Howell's School, Llandaff
Howell's School, Llandaff uses GDST 11+ Entrance Assessment 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 Howell's School, Llandaff 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 Howell's School, Llandaff (GCSE & A-Level Results)
Howell’s has a strong reputation for academic excellence — it is the only Welsh independent school to have achieved the top Estyn inspection grade across all seven key areas.
- GCSE: a strong record across a broad curriculum.
- A-Level: strong results in Howell’s Co-ed College, with pupils progressing to a range of universities.
- Progression: pupils progress to a wide range of universities.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school’s website.
Catchment Area for Howell's School, Llandaff
Howell’s School, Llandaff is an independent school and does not operate a catchment area. As a day school, places are open to families from across Cardiff and the surrounding area, with selective entry by the school’s own assessment rather than where a family lives.
The school sits beside parkland in Llandaff in northern Cardiff; entry runs from the Nursery (housed in Roald Dahl’s childhood home) and Junior School through 11+ into the senior school (girls 11–16) and the co-educational Sixth Form.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Founded in 1860 through the endowment of the Welsh merchant Thomas Howell, Howell’s School, Llandaff is one of Wales’s leading independent schools and a member of the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST). It is a girls’ day school from age 3 to 16, with a co-educational Sixth Form (Howell’s Co-ed College) admitting boys as well as girls from 16, in a warm, nurturing all-through community on a spacious Cardiff site. Its house system and ‘Golden Ducat’ traditions reflect a heritage stretching back to Howell’s original 16th-century bequest.
Alongside academic strength, it offers a wide co-curricular programme across sport, music, drama and the creative arts. For the full list, see the school’s own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Howell's School, Llandaff
How do I get into Howell's School, Llandaff?
To gain entry to Howell's School, Llandaff Year 7, parents register their child with the Admissions Team, submit a registration fee and arrange for the child to sit the 11+ entrance assessment covering English and Mathematics. A reference from the current school is required. Following the assessment and any interview, parents are notified in writing of the outcome.
Is Howell's School, Llandaff a GDST school?
Yes. Howell's School, Llandaff is a member of the Girls' Day School Trust (GDST), a family of 23 independent girls' schools across the UK. GDST schools share an entrance assessment approach at 11+ covering English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with results used to determine offers of places at any of the GDST schools applied to.
What is the 11+ exam at Howell's School, Llandaff?
Howell's School, Llandaff uses its own 11+ entrance assessment for Year 7 entry. The assessment covers English and Mathematics, designed to identify both current ability and future academic potential. An interview with the Head or Deputy Head may also form part of the selection process.
Are there scholarships at Howell's School, Llandaff?
Yes. Howell's School, Llandaff offers Academic, Music, Art, Drama and Sport scholarships. Means-tested Bursary Awards are also available to support families requiring financial assistance with school fees. Contact the Admissions Office for current scholarship and bursary information.
When should I apply to Howell's School, Llandaff?
Most independent schools including Howell's School, Llandaff accept applications throughout the year, but Year 7 places are often offered 12-18 months in advance. Register early — ideally by Year 5 (age 9-10) — to secure assessment slots and avoid disappointment.
Are there free Independent 11+ practice papers for Howell's School, Llandaff?
Yes. ExamTutor offers a free Independent 11+ Practice Test Paper and free Tutor Video Explanations. The practice paper matches the format of independent school 11+ entrance exams covering English and Mathematics — the subjects typically tested at Howell's School, Llandaff. No registration required.
When is the Howell's School, Llandaff 11+ registration deadline?
The registration deadline at Howell's School, Llandaff is See school website for current deadlines. The registration fee is Payable at registration — see GDST fee schedule. Always check the school's official admissions page for current details.
When are Howell's School, Llandaff 11+ results announced?
At Howell's School, Llandaff, 11+ assessment results are After assessment. The deadline to accept a place is As specified in offer letter.
What is the acceptance deposit at Howell's School, Llandaff?
The acceptance deposit at Howell's School, Llandaff is GDST acceptance deposit (refundable after pupil leaves, less any outstanding amounts). This is payable on acceptance of a place.