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Queens' School 11+ Guide 2026

Choosing a grammar school is an important step in your child's education. This independent guide by Rurera explains how entry to Queens' School works, what the 11+ assessment involves. In addition, it provides students with structured practice, expert guidance, and progress tracking to improve exam readiness.

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60-SECOND SUMMERY

  1. Type: Queens' School is a selective Mixed Boys and Girls in Hertfordshire with 270 places per year.
  2. Exam: Admission is based on the 11+ covering Maths, No, and No.
  3. Registration: Opens Monday, 31 March 2025 and closes Thursday, 5 June 2025.
  4. Catchment: Yes areas may get priority for admission (check the admissions policy).
  5. Offers: Depend on scores and oversubscription rules.
  6. Test date: Friday, 5 September 2025; results: Monday, 7 September 2026.
  7. CAF deadline: Submit school preferences by Thursday, 30 October 2025 through the CAF system.
  8. Preparation: Rurera provides mock tests, practice papers, and progress tracking.
  9. Ofsted: Rated Outstanding on Tuesday, 18 March 2025.
  10. Tip: Start early to build confidence and reduce exam stress.

Queens' School Overview

Queens' School Hertfordshire is a partially selective, co-educational academy in Bushey, Hertfordshire, rated Outstanding by Ofsted, with a strong reputation for academic and extracurricular excellence.

The school offers a challenging curriculum alongside rich opportunities in music, sport and community involvement, supported by excellent pastoral care.

Each year, 270 pupils are admitted to Year 7 through a combination of academic, music and distance-based places, making entry highly competitive.

Local authority
Hertfordshire
Catchment area
Yes
Fees
State-funded
School type
Day School
Types
Mixed Boys and Girls
Places per year
270
Ofsted rating
Outstanding
Admission type
Selective
Exam format
GL Assessment

Grammar Schools in Same Consortium

Queens' School Contact Information

School address

Queens' School

Queens' School, Aldenham Rd, Bushey WD23 2TY, United Kingdom

Key Dates for Your Calendar

Keeping track of admission dates and deadlines can be challenging. The timeline below highlights the key milestones to help you plan ahead and ensure nothing is missed.

  • Registration window opens:
  • Registration window closes:
  • 11+ assessment takes place:
  • Results shared with parents:
  • Kent Test (Out-of-County Schools):
  • Application deadline (CAF):
  • National offer day:

Queens' School Admissions Process

Applying to Queens' School for Year 7 is a clear, step-by-step process. Following each stage carefully ensures your child's application is complete and considered on time. Being familiar with the process helps parents plan ahead and avoid missing key deadlines.

Admissions Policy 2026

It is important to read the Queens' School Admissions Policy PDF carefully. The document explains the eligibility criteria and provides full details of the admission process.

Read Policy

Register for the entrance assessment

Parents must complete registration for the entrance assessment within the published registration window. This registration is handled separately from the local council application. Making sure all information is correct will secure your child's place for the assessment.

Register Now

Submit your secondary school preferences

If your child meets the required standard, you must list Queens' School on your Common Application Form (CAF) before Thursday, 30 October 2025.

What to Expect in the Queens' School 11+ exam?

The Queens' School 11 Plus exam is administered by FSCE and takes place in early autumn of Year 6. All test papers are completed in one day at the school. The exam includes a mix of multiple-choice and written response questions, designed to assess reasoning and core academic skills.

Children are tested on Key Stage 2-level content, focusing on knowledge taught up to the end of Year 5, so no unfamiliar curriculum content is included.

Exam papers typically include:

English

The English paper consists of reading comprehension and creative writing tasks. It tests students' ability to understand written texts and answer questions accurately. Pupils are also assessed on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary. The creative writing section evaluates imagination, structure, and clarity of expression. Strong reading and writing skills are essential for success in this paper.

Maths

The Mathematics paper is based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum, covering topics from Year 5 and Year 6. It includes questions on arithmetic, fractions, decimals, percentages, and problem-solving. Students are expected to show clear working and logical thinking. Accuracy and time management are important throughout the test. This paper measures both mathematical understanding and reasoning ability.

Verbal Reasoning

The Verbal Reasoning paper usually lasts around 30 minutes and begins with a short practice session. It tests students' understanding of words and language patterns. Questions involve synonyms, codes, sequences, and relationships. Logical thinking and reading skills are essential. A strong vocabulary greatly supports performance.

Non Verbal Reasoning

The Non-Verbal Reasoning section is divided into shorter, timed parts. It focuses on visual problem-solving and spatial awareness. Students analyse shapes, diagrams, and sequences. Questions require logical thinking without the use of words. Careful observation and pattern recognition are key skills.

AD1

The creative writing task usually lasts around 40 minutes and includes time for planning. Students are asked to produce an imaginative and structured piece of writing. They organise ideas clearly with an introduction, middle, and ending. Spelling, grammar, and vocabulary are carefully assessed. Creativity, originality, and clarity are also important.

AD2

The first stage takes place after school on Monday 8th September 2025 and lasts around 45 minutes. It is a written test with 60 recorded questions played on a CD, assessing musical aptitude rather than prior musical knowledge. Children are tested on pitch (recognising higher, lower or identical sounds), melody (identifying changes in short tunes), rhythm (spotting differences in four-beat patterns) and texture (deciding how many notes are in a chord). No music theory is required.

AD3

Pupils who pass the first round are invited to a second stage between Monday 22nd and Friday 26th September 2025. In this round, children perform or sing a piece of their choice for a panel of examiners, including current and former Directors of Music from South West Herts Consortium schools. Performances are marked on accuracy, musicality, and musical communication, with up to 15 marks in each area. The standard of the piece does not affect scoring, and marks are not age-standardised.

In addition to subject knowledge, the assessment considers verbal and non-verbal reasoning skills. There is no fixed pass mark; instead, pupils must meet the required standard, with final offers determined by scores, available places, and oversubscription criteria.

Take control of your child's 11+ preparation.

Rurera Dashboard Worksheet

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How does place allocation work at Queens' School?

If there are more applications than places available, Queens' School applies oversubscription criteria. Priority may be given to children who meet one or more of the following criteria:

  1. Children whose Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans name the school.
  2. Children who have a sibling living at the same address who currently attends the school.
  3. Looked After Children and previously Looked After Children.
  4. Children who are eligible for pupil premium funding (free school meals).
  5. Children who have been eligible for pupil premium funding (free school meals) at any point in the last six years.
  6. Children who have a parent who is a member of staff at the school.
  7. Children with health or special access reasons that require attendance at the school.
  8. Other children, ranked in order of distance from the school, measured in a straight line.

Queens' School [does not] operate a catchment area. This means that children are not prioritised based on how close they live to the school.

Preparing for the 11+ Entrance Exam with Rurera

The 11 Plus is a competitive entrance exam for grammar schools, testing skills in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Rurera is designed to help pupils prepare effectively for these core areas, with structured practice that reflects the demands of real 11 Plus exams.

Why Rurera Is Good for Learning

Rurera is a powerful learning platform designed to support students from early learning through advanced academic preparation. By combining child-friendly design, interactive learning, structured academic resources, and strong progress tracking, Rurera offers a complete learning experience for both children and parents.

Age-Appropriate and Learner-Centred Design

Rurera is built with age-appropriate design principles that match a child's language level and cognitive development. The platform uses simple navigation, clear instructions, and structured layouts to ensure learners can focus on learning without distractions. As students progress to higher levels, Rurera adapts by offering more structured academic content and exam-focused layouts.

Interactive and Gamified Learning Experience

Rurera integrates interactive tools, games, animations, and engaging activities to make learning enjoyable. These features help younger learners stay motivated while reinforcing key concepts. Gamified elements encourage regular practice and help students develop confidence through continuous engagement.

Rurera delivers an interactive and gamified learning experience by integrating engaging tools, games, animations, and activities that make learning enjoyable and motivating for younger learners, while reinforcing key concepts and building confidence through regular practice. Alongside this, Rurera offers a high-quality, exam-focused curriculum with a wide range of structured resources, including practice and past papers with detailed step-by-step solutions, time management guidance, hints, and exam techniques, as well as subject-specific materials for Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning, complemented by Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar (SPaG) and vocabulary-building resources to help learners master core concepts and develop strong exam skills.

Early Preparation and Structured Learning Pathways

Rurera supports early academic preparation by offering learning materials from Year 3 onwards, including age-specific practice papers for younger learners. This allows students to build familiarity with exam-style questions gradually, reducing pressure and improving performance over time.

Rurera supports early academic preparation by offering structured learning materials from Year 3 onwards, including age-specific practice papers that help younger learners gradually build familiarity with exam-style questions, reduce pressure, and improve performance over time. Its learning content is organised into clear, well-defined modules such as past paper-based learning, revision-focused courses, beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, as well as dedicated scholarship and exam preparation pathways, making it easy for parents and educators to identify and select the most appropriate support for each learner.

Parental Involvement and Monitoring Tools

Rurera encourages strong parental involvement by providing tools that allow parents to monitor learning progress, lesson completion, and performance trends. Parents can stay informed about what their child is learning and provide additional support at home, creating a strong partnership between learners, parents, and educators.

Measuring Progress and Learning Outcomes

Rurera includes robust tracking and assessment tools to measure student progress accurately. Features such as diagnostic assessments, mock exams, quiz scores, lesson completion rates, and time spent on tasks allow educators to understand each learner's strengths and areas for improvement. This data-driven approach helps personalise learning and ensures students receive the right level of support.

Expert Guidance and Personalised Support

Rurera offers personalised tuition and online tutoring supported by expert educators. Learners benefit from tailored teaching strategies based on performance data, ensuring continuous improvement and targeted support.

Get your free 11+ learning plan and topic list

Find out exactly what your child needs to study for their target grammar school. Simply enter the school, and Rurera will generate a personalised 11+ learning plan and topic list aligned to that school's exams so you can focus on what really matters.

Try Rurera for free

Queens' School Ofsted Report

Queens' School was last inspected by Ofsted on Tuesday, 18 March 2025. The inspection lasted one day, and the published report rated the school as Outstanding. A summary of the inspection outcomes is shown below, along with a link to the full Ofsted report.

The quality of education Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding
Personal development Outstanding
Leadership and management Outstanding
Sixth-form provision Outstanding

Ofseted Report Summary

Queens' School was judged Outstanding in all areas at its March 2025 Ofsted inspection, reflecting exceptionally high standards of education, behaviour and leadership.

Pupils thrive in an ambitious, values-driven environment, supported by expert teaching, a richly designed curriculum and extensive opportunities for personal development and enrichment.

Strong leadership, excellent safeguarding and outstanding sixth-form provision ensure pupils are exceptionally well prepared for further study, employment and life beyond school.

Grammar Schools Near Queens' School

Croxley Danes School

Baldwins Ln, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth WD3 3LR, United Kingdom

3 miles away

Rickmansworth School

Scots Hill, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth WD3 3AQ, United Kingdom

4 miles away

These distances are calculated in a straight line. The actual route and distance may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

The 11+ exam assesses English comprehension, vocabulary and spelling, Maths based on KS2 topics, and creative writing. It evaluates understanding, problem-solving, and communication skills rather than memorisation of advanced material.

You must register your child during the official registration window (often May-June). Registration is completed directly with the school and is separate from the local authority secondary school application. Check the school website for the registration link, deadlines, and eligibility rules.

No. Passing the test usually means your child has met the required standard, but places are allocated using the school's oversubscription criteria (for example: score ranking, catchment, distance, or priority groups) when there are more qualified applicants than available places.

Some schools apply a catchment area or priority zones, which can affect allocation after eligibility is met. Many grammar schools primarily rank by entrance exam performance, then apply rules like catchment or distance. Always check the school's latest admissions policy for the exact criteria.

Rurera provides structured study plans, practice papers, and guided revision to match the 11+ format. Regular short exercises build consistency, improve comprehension and problem-solving, and help children feel confident and prepared for exam day.

Many schools hold the 11+ in September, with results released before the secondary school application deadline. Exact dates vary by school and year, so check the school's admissions page for confirmed test and results dates.

Most 11+ entrance exams include English and Maths, and may include Verbal Reasoning and/or Non-Verbal Reasoning. Some schools also assess writing. The focus is usually on applying KS2-level skills accurately under time pressure.

Preparation works best with consistent practice: reading comprehension, vocabulary, timed Maths questions, and full mock papers. Build familiarity with the exam format, review mistakes, and keep a balanced routine with breaks and sleep to support performance.

Most schools do not allow retakes in the same academic year. Exceptions may be considered for documented illness or special circumstances, depending on the school's policy. Check the admissions guidance for rules on exceptional cases.

The required score varies by school and year, and some schools use standardised scoring. Many do not publish a fixed pass mark. The most accurate guidance is the school's admissions information, which may explain how scores are calculated and how offers are ranked.

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