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Book a Free ConsultationSt Albans High School for Girls is one of Hertfordshire's most academically distinguished independent schools, consistently producing exceptional results at GCSE and A-Level and sending a high proportion of students to Russell Group universities. Located in the heart of St Albans, it educates girls from age 4 through to the Sixth Form. If your daughter is applying for an 11+ place at STAHS, this guide will help you understand what the admissions process involves and how to prepare effectively.
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For September 2028 entry (the 2027 test), see the St Albans High School for Girls Senior admissions page.
Updated for September 2028 entry — October 2026
St Albans High School for Girls lists its Year 7 (11+) timetable for September 2027 entry on its admissions page, and this guide gives those dates as the current published record. For September 2028 entry (the 2027 test, Year 5 now), the school's admissions page is the place for dates.
For September 2027 entry the application deadline is listed as Friday 13 November 2026, the entrance assessment day as Tuesday 5 January 2027 and offers as Friday 12 February 2027, according to the St Albans High School for Girls Senior admissions page.
St Albans High School for Girls runs its own admissions assessment process. The 11+ assessment for entry into Year 7 takes place on a single assessment day (for September 2027 entry, the day is listed as Tuesday 5 January 2027). It uses the ISEB Common Pre-Test, with online multiple-choice tests in Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, and a number of candidates are then called back for interview before offers are made.
The Mathematics paper is designed to assess reasoning and problem-solving ability beyond the standard Year 6 primary curriculum. Questions often involve multi-step problems, logical deduction, and the application of mathematical concepts in unfamiliar settings. Familiarity with the format and practice under timed conditions is important — not because the questions are designed to be tricky, but because the pace required catches many children off guard the first time they encounter it.
The English paper typically combines a reading comprehension task with a writing exercise. The writing component rewards clarity, structure, and genuine engagement with the prompt — not simply length or elaborate vocabulary. Girls who read widely and can express ideas clearly tend to be well-placed for this part of the assessment.
STAHS is a school with high academic expectations, but it also has a genuine warmth to its culture — girls are expected to participate, contribute, and engage with school life beyond the classroom. The school is looking for students who will thrive academically and who have the character to make the most of what STAHS offers.
Characteristics of successful STAHS applicants typically include:
We provide specialist 1-to-1 preparation tailored to the specific demands of the St Albans High School 11+ admissions process. Our tutors understand the style of Mathematics questions the school uses, the standard expected in the English paper, and the typical format of the reasoning element.
Preparation begins with a diagnostic assessment to identify exactly where your daughter is strong and where targeted work is most needed. We then build a structured programme that develops skills progressively — starting with the underlying concepts, introducing timed practice at the right stage, and finishing with full mock assessments that mirror the actual exam experience. We work with parents throughout, providing clear progress updates and honest guidance on realistic expectations.
Our 11+ specialists work with St Albans High School for Girls applicants on the English, Maths, and reasoning papers the school uses for 11+ selection, tailoring preparation to the competitive academic standards STAHS sets. Our students have achieved a 95%+ offer rate across selective school entry, and we're rated 4.8/5 on Trustpilot. Book a free consultation to discuss a preparation plan for the STAHS 11+.
For families who are also applying to STAHS alongside a selective state school such as the Watford Grammar Schools, which sit the South West Herts Consortium's Academic Ability Test, we can align preparation across both processes — the core skills transfer well, with targeted format familiarisation for each school's specific assessment style.
Many Hertfordshire families apply to STAHS alongside grammar school options — particularly the Watford Grammar Schools. St Albans Girls' School and Verulam School are non-selective and do not set an entrance test. The key difference for the Watford schools is that the South West Herts Consortium sets its own standardised Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning papers, while STAHS uses the ISEB Common Pre-Test within its own assessment day. The underlying skills are broadly similar, but the format and style differ enough that children benefit from specific preparation for each type of assessment.
We recommend treating STAHS as a distinct application requiring its own targeted preparation, while using the overlap in core mathematical reasoning and verbal skills as a foundation. Families who try to prepare for both with completely generic 11+ materials often find that neither preparation is as sharp as it should be.
For official entry requirements and registration details, see the St Albans High School for Girls admissions.
The steps below follow the school's own description of Year 7 (11+) entry, which it publishes for September 2027 entry; the school's admissions page is the place for September 2028 entry dates.
Applications for Year 7 entry are made through the school's OpenApply admissions portal, with a non-refundable registration fee.
The school describes a two-stage process for Year 7 entry: all candidates attend its 11+ assessment day, using the ISEB Common Pre-Test, which covers Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
After the assessment day a number of candidates are called back for interview with senior members of staff, and parents meet the Head and Deputy Heads.
For September 2027 entry the offers date is listed as Friday 12 February 2027 and the acceptance deadline as Wednesday 3 March 2027.
Dates for September 2028 entry are on the St Albans High School for Girls Senior admissions page.
Reviewed October 2026: Year 7 (11+) timetable, assessment format and application route checked against the St Albans High School for Girls Senior admissions page.
St Albans High School for Girls runs its own admissions assessment rather than participating in a shared consortium process. This means preparation needs to be targeted specifically to the STAHS format — particularly the ISEB Common Pre-Test, which covers Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning in online multiple-choice form.
The STAHS 11+ assessment day for Year 7 entry is a single day: for September 2027 entry the application deadline is listed as Friday 13 November 2026 and the assessment day as Tuesday 5 January 2027. For September 2028 entry (the 2027 test), check the school's admissions page for the dates. We recommend beginning targeted preparation no later than the spring of Year 5 to allow sufficient time.
Academic performance on the assessment papers is the primary criterion for offers at STAHS. However, the school does consider the whole candidate, and girls who are actively engaged in music, sport, drama, or other activities tend to be well-placed culturally for life at STAHS. Scholarship opportunities are available for girls with exceptional talent in specific areas alongside strong academic performance.
St Albans Girls' School (STAGS) is a state-funded comprehensive school with a non-selective admissions policy, while STAHS is an independent school with its own entrance assessment and fees. St Albans itself has no state grammar schools; families seeking a selective state option in the area typically look further afield, such as the Watford Grammar Schools. The two schools' admissions routes are entirely different, so a place at STAGS does not depend on 11+ exam preparation.
Applications are made through the school's OpenApply admissions portal: complete the online form and pay the non-refundable registration fee. See the school's admissions page.
Yes. After the assessment day a number of candidates are called back for interview with senior members of staff, and no preparation is required. Parents meet the Head and Deputy Heads separately.
The school says practice tests are not available, but candidates receive examples and practice questions during the assessment, and an official ISEB Walkthrough shows the look and feel of the tests.
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