About The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School
The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School is a Roman Catholic voluntary-aided comprehensive school for boys aged 11–18, with a co-educational Sixth Form, in Holland Park, west London. It is a state-funded school — not an independent, fee-paying school — founded in 1914 as a memorial to Cardinal Herbert Vaughan, with the motto ‘Amare et servire’ (to love and to serve).
Although a former grammar school, it has been all-ability since 1977: there is no academic entrance exam and no fees. Admission is faith-based, with priority to practising Catholic boys (and a small number of places offered on music aptitude). The Vaughan is renowned for its choral and instrumental music and for results that far exceed national averages, sending pupils to Oxbridge each year.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School
The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School Admissions Criteria
The Cardinal Vaughan is a Catholic comprehensive, so it does not select on academic ability and charges no fees. Year 7 admission is coordinated by your home Local Authority, with priority to practising Catholic boys (evidenced by a Certificate of Catholic Practice). A small number of places (up to 12) are offered on music aptitude. You complete the school’s Supplementary Information Form alongside naming the school on your Local Authority’s Common Application Form.
- ✓Step 1 — Visit: Look round at an Open Day or arranged tour to get a feel for the school. This is not part of any selection process.
- ✓Step 2 — Apply through your Local Authority: List the school on your child’s secondary Common Application Form (CAF) through your home Local Authority by the national deadline of 31 October in Year 6. You do not register or pay a fee directly to the school.
- ✓Step 3 — Complete the SIF and Certificate of Catholic Practice: For faith priority, complete the school’s Supplementary Information Form and obtain a Certificate of Catholic Practice from your parish priest. If you would like a music aptitude place, register your son for the school’s music aptitude test.
- ✓Step 4 — Offers: Your Local Authority sends offers on National Offer Day (1 March of Year 6). Places are allocated against the published oversubscription criteria below.
- ✓Step 5 — Accept your place: Accept the offer through your Local Authority by the date given. There is no acceptance deposit — it is a state-funded school.
As a state-funded school there are no tuition fees. Support such as free school meals and pupil premium funding is available to eligible families — contact the school for details.
How Places Are Allocated at The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School
- Boys with an Education, Health and Care Plan that names the school.
- Catholic looked-after and previously looked-after boys.
- Catholic boys with a Certificate of Catholic Practice, in order: up to 12 music-aptitude places, then brothers of pupils, then staff children, then other practising Catholic boys.
- Then other Catholic boys, then other looked-after children, then any other boys.
- Within each group a random allocation is used as the tie-breaker. There are around 128 Year 7 places.
Admissions & Catchment for The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School
The Vaughan is non-selective on academic ability and faith-based, so admission is by the published Catholic criteria (with a small music-aptitude route) rather than a test or fee.
Admission is heavily oversubscribed, so confirm the current criteria, parishes and music-aptitude arrangements in the school’s admissions policy before applying.
Academic Performance at The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School (GCSE & A-Level Results)
The Vaughan achieves outstanding results that far exceed national averages, despite being all-ability, and sends pupils to Oxbridge each year.
- GCSE: excellent results across a broad curriculum.
- A-Level: excellent results in a co-educational Sixth Form, with strong Oxbridge progression.
- Music: a national reputation for choral and instrumental music, with many musicians progressing to leading universities and conservatoires.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school’s website.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Founded in 1914 as a memorial to Cardinal Herbert Vaughan, The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School is a Catholic voluntary-aided comprehensive for boys (with a co-educational Sixth Form) in Holland Park, west London, with a strong Catholic ethos (motto ‘Amare et servire’, school song ‘To Be a Pilgrim’) and houses named after English martyrs (More, Fisher, Campion and Mayne). Catholic Social Teaching and service underpin its pastoral care.
Co-curricular life is wide-ranging, with a celebrated choral and instrumental music tradition at its heart, alongside sport (including the Vaughan Boat Club), drama and many clubs. For the full list, see the school’s own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School
How do I apply to The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School for Year 7?
Name the school on your home Local Authority’s Common Application Form by 31 October and complete the school’s Supplementary Information Form with a Certificate of Catholic Practice. For a music aptitude place, also register for the music aptitude test.
Is there an entrance exam at the Vaughan?
There is no academic entrance exam — the school has been all-ability since 1977. A small number of places (up to 12) are offered on music aptitude, which involves a music test.
Do you have to be Catholic to get in?
The school prioritises practising Catholic boys (evidenced by a Certificate of Catholic Practice) in its oversubscription criteria; it is heavily oversubscribed, so faith practice matters for a place.
What is the music aptitude route?
Up to 12 Year 7 places are offered to boys who do well in the school’s music aptitude test, within the Catholic faith criteria — reflecting the school’s strong musical tradition.
Is the Sixth Form co-educational?
Yes. The school admits boys from Year 7, and the Sixth Form is co-educational, with girls and boys joining at 16.
Are there fees at the Vaughan?
No. It is a state-funded Catholic school, so there are no tuition fees.
Building 11+ Skills for The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School (General Practice)
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 secondary transfer. 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.
Independent 11+ Practice Papers and Quest Software for The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School
The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School uses the Independent 11+ 11+ format. Our practice papers mirror that exact format, with a short tutor video explaining every question. Quest, our interactive practice software, comes in a Independent 11+ edition too: 4,600 questions across English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning in short tests with medals to win, an Exam Hall of timed mocks, official-format sitting papers, flashcards, a daily five, a Weekly Challenge set by a friendly Guardian and a hero your child unlocks by learning, with a working-out board under every question and My Corrections — plus a Skills Report and a week-by-week plan for parents. Start with the free samples, then choose a pack when you're ready.
When you're readyPractice-paper packs from £19 · all papers £69 · Quest £59 a year · Quest + all papers £89. One-off purchases with 12 months' access — no subscription, nothing renews.
View Independent 11+ practice papers →Start preparing for the The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School 11+
Try the free Independent 11+ samples first — a real paper, a tutor video and the Quest demo, no sign-up. Then choose a pack when you're ready.