Alleyn’s School 11+ for Families Living Abroad, 2027 Entry

Alleyn’s School is a co-educational independent day school in Dulwich, London, and its 2026-27 Senior School Admissions Policy says: “Candidates who are living abroad at the time of the entrance assessments may sit the assessments at another approved test centre by prior arrangement.” For September 2027 Year 7 entry, Alleyn’s lists Entrance Examinations for overseas candidates on Thursday 7 January 2027, and registration closes at midday on Friday 13 November 2026.

This page covers one school and one route: Year 7 entry in September 2027. Test format, places, bursary figures and the registration fee sit on our Alleyn’s School 11+ page, the other London schools are in the London independent schools hub, and the wider picture is in our 11+ from overseas guide.

What are Alleyn’s key dates for September 2027 entry?

Alleyn’s lists its key dates for September 2027 entry on its 11+ page. The rows below are the general route and the academic scholarship workshops, in date order. Rows dated before Friday 9 October 2026 are in the past tense.

Source: Alleyn’s 11+ page, Key Dates for September 2027 Entry, read on Friday 9 October 2026.

What does Alleyn’s ask for by the registration deadline and the closing date?

These items sit in different Alleyn’s documents. The table puts them in one list, in Alleyn’s own words.

The Closing Date paragraph of the policy reads: “It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the properly completed registration form and registration fee are received on or before the published deadline as late applications will not be accepted. All applications are normally acknowledged by email within two working days of receipt and it is the responsibility of the applicant to confirm safe receipt of their application if such acknowledgement is not forthcoming.”

The 11+ page FAQ says: “Registration forms submitted after the registration deadline, for whatever reason, will not be accepted.” The Late Applications paragraph of the policy reads: “In special circumstances and at the discretion of the Head, candidates who apply after the entrance assessments have been held may still be considered on the basis of assessment, interviews and school reference if the possibility of a place is still available.”

The 11+ page also says: “You can register your child for 11+ entry when they commence Year 6.” “We do not accept early applications and everyone who is registered is invited to sit the entrance examinations.” The policy adds: “Under normal circumstances candidates may go through the 11+ admissions process only once.”

The Apply here page and the School Fees and Help With Fees pages give different overseas registration fee amounts, so confirm the amount with the Registrar in writing before you pay.

When and where do overseas candidates sit the Entrance Examinations?

The 11+ page lists Entrance Examinations on Friday 8 January 2027 and Entrance Examinations for overseas candidates on Thursday 7 January 2027. Its FAQ answers the question for a family living abroad: “We live overseas at the moment. Must my child sit the entrance examinations at Alleyn’s? Candidates who are living abroad at the time of the entrance assessments may sit the assessments at another approved test centre by prior arrangement (please note this is usually only applicable to overseas applicants).”

On who attends Alleyn’s in January, the 11+ page says: “with the exception of candidates based overseas, all candidates will attend Alleyn’s in early January for written assessments in Reasoning, English and Maths.” The syllabus says: “There are up to three stages to the 11+ process. With the exception of candidates residing overseas, all candidates will visit Alleyn’s for assessment.”

On the day itself, the 11+ page says: “All candidates are expected to sit the entrance examinations on the published date and it is not possible to offer alternative arrangements. Please inform the Registrar of any examination clashes.” The policy says: “If for any reason a candidate is unable to attend any of the scheduled assessment days, there is no guarantee that they may be assessed at a later date.”

The syllabus has a note for candidates from overseas on how Maths answers are written. It begins: “Candidates from overseas should be aware that in Britain the decimal point is denoted by a period” It continues: “Candidates are expected to be aware of the British system for decimal points and should note that questions will be set in this style; however, the candidate’s own answer may be written in the style that is familiar to them.” The syllabus PDF linked from the 2027-entry page carries the mark “Updated July 2025”.

On who may sit, the policy says: “Candidates should normally be under 12 on 1 September in the proposed year of entry and must be in the equivalent of a Year 6 class at the time of the examination.” For how a class abroad lines up with Year 6, see our which year group guide.

What is the 7 January 2027 sitting on a Dubai/UAE, Hong Kong or Singapore clock?

These conversions apply if Alleyn’s sets the sitting on UK time. The gov.uk clock-change page lists the UK clocks going back on 25 October 2026 and forward on 28 March 2027, and says: “When the clocks go back, the UK is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).” So Thursday 7 January 2027, Friday 8 January 2027 and Saturday 23 January 2027 all fall on GMT in the UK.

If Alleyn’s sets the sitting on UK time, add 4 hours to that UK clock time in Dubai/UAE (UTC+4) and 8 hours in Hong Kong or Singapore (UTC+8). The date moves too: a UK time from 8 pm falls on Friday 8 January 2027 in Dubai/UAE, and from 4 pm in Hong Kong and Singapore. Offsets are from the IANA tz database; our time zones guide works through other cities.

What does Alleyn’s say about fluent English and English as an additional language?

The Overseas Applicants paragraph of the policy says: “In order to cope with the academic and social demands of being at Alleyn’s, candidates should be fluent English speakers.”

The Senior School 11+ and 16+ concessions policy (school review June 2026) has a separate English as an Additional Language section. It reads: “Candidates for whom English is an additional language may use an approved bilingual translation dictionary (provided by the School) for examination papers (other than English) if this reflects their normal way of working.” It continues: “Such candidates may also be allowed extra time in the examination if they have been resident in the UK for less than three years at the time of the examination, unless: (1) one or both parents are fluent in English ; (2) the candidate has been educated in an international school where some or the entire curriculum was delivered in English ; or (3) prior to their arrival in the UK the candidate was prepared for or entered for IGCSE qualifications where the question papers were set in English.”

The paperwork deadline is in the same policy: “Parents seeking special examination arrangements of any kind must send supporting documentation to reach the Registrar on or before the application closing date. The School is not able to accept late requests.” It adds: “Once confirmed, arrangements cannot be altered.”

The syllabus says: “We allow the use of a word processor and/or extra time as appropriate. Candidates must provide a letter from their current school setting out their normal way of working.”

What do Stage 2 and Stage 3 involve after the written papers?

The policy sets out Stage 1 and Stage 2: “Stage 1: Entrance examinations in literacy, numeracy and reasoning. Stage 2: An assessment day to involve group and individual tasks.”

The syllabus describes Stage 2 this way: “Candidates reaching an acceptable standard in the entrance examination are invited back to school to attend our interview day, which consists of two elements:” The 11+ page says: “Those children whose assessment results and school report demonstrate that they will flourish both inside and outside of the classroom at Alleyn’s will be invited to attend a group activity and one-to-one interview.” The syllabus also says: “Parents are not interviewed.”

The policy adds: “In addition, a confidential report will be requested from the candidate’s current school and this will be used to inform the selection process.”

Of Stage 3 the syllabus says: “Following the group activity and one-to-one interviews, shortlisted academic scholarship candidates will be invited to return to Alleyn’s for a series of Academic Scholarship workshops.”

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Where will your child live, and what must you tell Alleyn’s?

The Overseas Applicants paragraph of the policy says: “It is expected that pupils will live with one or both parents while studying at the School. The School requires overseas candidates to indicate, at the time of application, where and with whom they will live if offered a place at the School.”

The same paragraph continues: “The School reserves the right to refuse an application when it is not satisfied that the legal guardian will take a personal interest in the progress and welfare of the young person.”

What happens after an offer: the deposit, the fees and the visa condition?

The School Fees page FAQ says: “There is a deposit payable on acceptance of the place. This is returned when the pupil ultimately leaves the school.” It also says: “School fees are payable termly in advance by direct debit.” The Overseas Applicants paragraph of the policy adds that fees must be paid by direct debit, in sterling, from a UK bank account.

The Overseas Applicants paragraph also makes an offer conditional: “Any offer of a place at Alleyn’s is dependent on the candidate satisfying the appropriate UK government visa requirements in place at the time (where relevant).” Our Child Student visa guide, written for 13+ boarding entry, sets out the Child Student route; ask Alleyn’s in writing which route, if any, applies to your child.

The policy’s Future Policy Changes paragraph reads: “This policy may be amended at any meeting of the Governing Board, in which case the revised policy would normally operate from the start of the following academic year. However, in exceptional circumstances and particularly those outside of the School’s control, this policy – including procedures for assessing candidates - may be amended at short notice and with immediate effect.”

Which questions should you put to Alleyn’s admissions in writing?

Write to the Registrar and keep the reply. The concessions policy prints the Registrar’s email address as registrar@alleyns.org.uk.

Frequently Asked Questions