About St. Olave's Grammar School
St Olave's Grammar School is a selective boys' grammar school in Orpington, London Borough of Bromley, consistently ranking in the top 10 grammar schools nationally. It admits 124 boys per year and uses a two-stage entrance process. Stage 1 (18th September 2026): school's own Selective Eligibility Test (SET) — 60 multiple-choice questions in Logic, Mathematics and English (1 hour). The top 450 boys are invited to Stage 2. Stage 2 (13th November 2026): two one-hour written papers. No catchment area.
St. Olave's Grammar School provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 89.7%. A-Level A*–B: 95.1%.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for St. Olave's Grammar School
St. Olave's Grammar School Admissions Criteria
St Olave's Grammar School is a selective boys' grammar school in Orpington, London Borough of Bromley, consistently ranking in the top 10 grammar schools nationally. It admits 124 boys per year and uses a two-stage entrance process. Stage 1 (18th September 2026): school's own Selective Eligibility Test (SET) — 60 multiple-choice questions in Logic, Mathematics and English (1 hour). The top 450 boys are invited to Stage 2. Stage 2 (13th November 2026): two one-hour written papers. No catchment area.
- ✓Register with St Olave's via their website — complete the SIF (Supplementary Information Form). Registration typically opens in May/June (Year 5).
- ✓Stage 1 (18th September 2026): Sit the school's own SET — approx. 60 multiple-choice questions across Logic, Mathematics and English. Time limit: 1 hour.
- ✓Top 450 boys by Stage 1 score are invited to Stage 2.
- ✓Stage 2 (13th November 2026): Two one-hour papers (English and Mathematics) at the school.
- ✓No fixed pass mark — places offered in rank order of combined Stage 1 + Stage 2 score.
- ✓St Olave's has no catchment area — applications from any location are welcomed.
- ✓Looked-after and previously looked-after children (highest priority).
- ✓Boys ranked in order of their combined test score.
- ✓Distance as final tie-breaker.
- ✓Apply via your Local Authority CAF by 31st October 2026.
St. Olave's Grammar School Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 124 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 Independent 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. Olave's 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. Olave's Grammar School 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | early July 2026 |
| 📌 Registration closes | early July 2026 |
| 📌 Independent 11+ Entrance Test | Thursday 11 September 2026 (in-school for state primary pupils); Saturday 13 September 2026 (for independent/out-of-county pupils) |
| 📌 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. Olave's Grammar School via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the Independent 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. Kent) when registration opens. Closes early July 2026. There is no fee to sit the Independent 11+ test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at St. Olave's 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 Independent 11+ Entrance Test
Your child sits the Independent 11+ in Thursday 11 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. Olave's 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. Olave's Grammar School's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
Independent 11+ Subjects Tested at St. Olave's Grammar School
St Olave's selects through its own two-stage Selective Eligibility Test (SET) — age-standardised throughout, with no fixed pass mark.
- Stage 1 (multiple-choice): English comprehension, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.
- Stage 2 (written): English and mathematics papers for the highest Stage 1 scorers.
Final ranking aggregates Stage 1 and Stage 2 scores; passing both stages does not guarantee a place.
Independent 11+ Practice Papers for St. Olave's Grammar School
St. Olave's Grammar School uses the Independent 11+ format. Our Practice Papers is a great way to practice for the exam — with full video explanations for every question.
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How to Prepare for the St. Olave's 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.
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Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
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Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
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Academic Performance at St Olave's Grammar School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
St Olave's Grammar School is one of the highest-achieving state schools in the country, with outstanding GCSE and A-Level results and exceptional university progression, including more than 100 Oxbridge places over the last five years.
- GCSE: around 91% of grades at 9–7 in a recent year.
- Sixth form: around 96% of A-Level grades at A*–B, with a co-educational sixth form (girls admitted since 1998).
- Recognition: regularly among the top three state schools in national league tables.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school's website.
Catchment Area for St Olave's Grammar School
Admission to Year 7 is by the school's own two-stage Selective Eligibility Test (SET). Stage 1 is a one-hour multiple-choice test covering English comprehension, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning; the highest-scoring candidates (around the top 450) are invited to Stage 2, written English and mathematics papers. Stage 1 and Stage 2 scores are then standardised and aggregated to produce a final ranking. There is no fixed pass mark, and the school is heavily oversubscribed, at up to twelve applicants per place.
The school admits around 124 boys to Year 7 and has no catchment area — it does not consider where a candidate lives, ranking purely on test performance. After boys with an EHCP naming the school and looked-after children, places are offered in SET rank order. Families register through the school's Supplementary Information Form, with Stage 1 results issued in mid-October. Always confirm the current arrangements in the school's admissions booklet.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
St Olave's Grammar School (formally St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School, a Church of England foundation) is a highly selective boys' grammar for ages 11–18, with a co-educational sixth form, on Goddington Lane in Orpington, in the London Borough of Bromley (BR6 9SH). Founded by royal charter in 1571, it occupied sites in Southwark before moving to Orpington in 1968 and has admitted girls to its sixth form since 1998.
The school combines a long history with a rigorous academic culture, particular strengths in STEM and the humanities, and a wide co-curriculum. For the full list of activities and pastoral arrangements, see the school's own website.
St Olave's Grammar School — Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply to St Olave's Grammar School for Year 7?
Complete the school's Supplementary Information Form (SIF) to register for its first-stage test, usually from June 2026. Sit Stage 1 in September 2026 and, if invited, the written Stage 2 in November. Name St Olave's on your Local Authority Common Application Form (CAF) by 31 October 2026.
What entrance test does St Olave's use?
Its own two-stage test, not a shared consortium test. Stage 1 is a one-hour multiple-choice paper covering English comprehension, Mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning; Stage 2 (for the highest scorers) is two written papers in English and Mathematics.
Is St Olave's selective, and is it free?
Yes. St Olave's is a selective state grammar school for boys and, as a state-funded school, charges no fees.
When does the entrance test take place?
For September 2027 entry, Stage 1 is in September 2026 and Stage 2 in November 2026.
When are the results released?
Stage 1 results are emailed in mid-October 2026, before the Common Application Form deadline; final outcomes are confirmed on National Offers Day.
When is National Offers Day in 2027?
National Offers Day is 1 March 2027, when Local Authorities tell families which secondary school place their child has been allocated.
Does St Olave's have a catchment area?
No. St Olave's has no catchment area; places are offered purely by rank of the combined Stage 1 and Stage 2 score, after children with an EHCP naming the school, looked-after children and up to 10 Pupil Premium places.
How many Year 7 places does St Olave's offer?
124 places.
How can my child prepare for the St Olave's entrance test?
Practise multiple-choice English, Maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning for Stage 1, and timed written English (comprehension and creative writing) and Maths for Stage 2. ExamTutor offers practice papers with full video explanations to build accuracy and exam technique.