About St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School
St Michael's Catholic Grammar School is a selective girls' grammar school in North Finchley, London Borough of Barnet, admitting 128 girls per year. It is a Catholic voluntary aided grammar school and uses GL Assessment for its entrance exam covering English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Girls who are practising Catholics are given priority. The exam takes place in mid-September 2026.
St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 90%. A-Level A*–B: 85-90%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School
St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School 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 128 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.
St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School 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 (128 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 St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School
St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School Admissions Criteria
St Michael's Catholic Grammar School is a selective girls' grammar school in North Finchley, London Borough of Barnet, admitting 128 girls per year. It is a Catholic voluntary aided grammar school and uses GL Assessment for its entrance exam covering English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Girls who are practising Catholics are given priority. The exam takes place in mid-September 2026.
- ✓Register with St Michael's via their website — registration opens spring term and closes early July (Year 5).
- ✓Sit the GL Assessment entrance exam — four papers covering English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning (mid-September 2026).
- ✓Achieve the qualifying standard (age-standardised).
- ✓Complete the Supplementary Information Form (SIF) confirming Catholic practice.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after Catholic girls (highest priority).
- ✓Catholic girls who achieve the qualifying score, ranked by Catholic practice priority (weekly Mass attendance, etc.).
- ✓Non-Catholic girls who achieve the qualifying score, ranked by score then distance.
- ✓Apply via your Local Authority CAF by 31st October 2026.
St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 128 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 St. Michael's Catholic Grammar 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 — St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School 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 St. Michael's Catholic Grammar 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. 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 St. Michael's Catholic Grammar 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 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 St. Michael's Catholic Grammar 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 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 St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School
St Michael's selects through the GL Assessment 11+ (as used by Barnet's grammar schools) — an age-standardised, multiple-choice test sat on a single day.
- English: comprehension and literacy at Key Stage 2 level.
- Mathematics: Key Stage 2 arithmetic and problem-solving.
- Verbal & non-verbal reasoning: word-based logic and visual problem-solving.
GL Assessment Practice Papers for St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School
St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School 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
- 200 video explanations
- 10.5 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
- 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 St. Michael's Catholic Grammar 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 St Michael's Catholic Grammar School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
St Michael's Catholic Grammar School is a high-performing girls' grammar in North Finchley with excellent GCSE and A-Level results and strong progression to leading universities, set within a close-knit Catholic community.
- GCSE: around 99% of pupils achieving grade 5 or above in a recent year.
- Sixth form: a co-educational sixth form (Years 7–11 are girls only).
- Ofsted: rated Outstanding.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for St Michael's Catholic Grammar School
Admission to Year 7 is by the school's GL Assessment 11+, in line with the other Barnet grammar schools: a multiple-choice test sat on a single day covering English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, with age-standardised scores. There is no fixed pass mark — qualified applicants are ranked by score — and families also submit a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) to confirm faith.
The school admits around 128 girls to Year 7 and has no catchment area; as a Catholic school it prioritises faith. After looked-after children, priority runs through baptised practising Catholic girls (evidenced by a Certificate of Catholic Practice and First Holy Communion), then other Catholic and Christian applicants, then others, with distance used only as a tie-break when scores and criteria are equal. Demand is high, at roughly ten applicants per place. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
St Michael's Catholic Grammar School is a selective Catholic girls' grammar for ages 11–18, with a co-educational sixth form, on Nether Street in North Finchley, in the London Borough of Barnet (N12 7NJ). Founded in 1908, the school moved to its present North Finchley site in 1978 and is rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
Relatively small compared with other London grammars, it is known for a calm, community-centred atmosphere that combines academic rigour with a strong Catholic ethos and a broad enrichment programme of drama, music, debating and sport. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about St Michael's Catholic Grammar School
How do I apply to St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School for Year 7?
Applications to St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School 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 St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School on the CAF. The CAF deadline is Friday 31 October 2026.
Does St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School use the GL Assessment 11+ test?
Yes — St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School 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 St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School?
St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School 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 128 places.
How many Year 7 places does St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School have?
St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School admits 128 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 St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School 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 St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School's waiting list.
Is St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School a state school or fee-paying?
St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School 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 St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School 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 St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School's official admissions policy?
The full Admissions Policy for St. Michael's Catholic Grammar School 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.