Admissions process
We welcome applicants to join Habs at any of our four formal entry points: 4+, 7+, 11+ and 16+. Occasionally we also have spaces in Years 1, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10.
Below, you will find a step-by-step guide to visiting our school, applying, assessments, interviews and accepting an offer.
and Overseas
Key dates for Reception
Key dates for Reception
Visit Habs
Attend an Open Event or book a visit to experience our school community first-hand. It is the best way to see our pupils in action, meet staff and discover what makes Habs such a special place to learn and grow.
Register
We offer 40 Reception places each year.
Our 4+ admissions process is designed to help us get to know your daughter as an individual and identify girls who will thrive within our Reception community.
We recognise that young children develop at different rates and often show their strengths in different ways. Our aim is to build a rounded picture of your daughter, considering not only her emerging skills and understanding, but also how she engages with others, approaches new experiences and responds to challenge
Entry is for candidates aged 4 and below the age of 5 on the 1 September in the year of entry.
Learning and discovery assessment
Every girl who applies is invited to attend our 45-minute learning and discovery assessment.
Taking place in small groups with children of a similar age, this stage enables us to observe how your daughter communicates, collaborates and engages in a range of age-appropriate activities. Children may work independently, alongside their peers and as part of a group, giving us insight into how they approach new experiences, respond to challenge and interact with others.
We are interested in how your daughter explores, investigates and engages with activities; how she listens and contributes; and how she responds to opportunities for creativity, problem-solving and developing her own ideas.
Alongside these emerging skills, we look for qualities that reflect both the characteristics of effective learning and our Habits framework, including curiosity, resilience, collaboration, initiative and a willingness to have a go.
While your daughter is with us, parents are invited to remain on site and learn more about life at Habs.
Individual discovery assessment
Following the learning and discovery assessment, roughly half of the children will be invited to return for an individual discovery assessment.
Building on the observations made during the first assessment, this 30-minute, one-to-one session allows us to gain a deeper understanding of your daughter’s communication and language skills, early mathematical understanding, reasoning and problem-solving, alongside the ways in which she engages with and responds to different activities.
Consistent with both the characteristics of effective learning and our Habits philosophy, we are interested not only in what your daughters knows, but in how she learns. We look for children who are curious and willing to explore, who remain engaged and persevere when faced with challenge, and who show creativity, independence and growing confidence.
While assessments are taking place, parents are invited to enjoy a tour of the school and learn more about our educational approach.
Offer and offer holder event
Families who receive an offer will also be invited to an Offer Holders’ event. This gives your daughter an opportunity to return to Habs, spend more time in the Reception environment and begin getting to know the people and surroundings that will become part of her school life.
For parents, it is another opportunity to meet staff, ask questions and learn more about how we will support your daughter as she begins her journey into the Habs community.
Key dates for Year 3
Key dates for Year 3
Visit Habs
Attend an Open Event or book a visit to experience our school community first-hand. It is the best way to see our pupils in action, meet staff and discover what makes Habs such a special place to learn and grow.
Register
Our 7+ admissions process is designed to help us get to know your daughter as an individual and identify girls who will thrive within our Year 3 community.
We are looking for girls who demonstrate strong academic potential and the readiness to flourish within an ambitious and enriching learning environment. Our aim is to build a rounded picture of your daughter, considering not only her academic skills and understanding, but also how she engages with others, approaches new experiences and responds to challenge.
Entry is for candidates aged 7 and below the age of 8 on the 1 September in the year of entry.
Assessment morning
Every girl who applies is invited to
attend an assessment morning covering Mathematics, Comprehension, Logic,
Writing and a PE session.
This stage enables us to build a picture of your daughter’s strengths, potential and readiness to flourish at Habs. Through a combination of Mathematics, Comprehension, Writing, Logic and practical activities, we explore how she thinks, learns and engages with new challenges. We look at her understanding of key concepts, her ability to reason and solve problems, the quality of her communication and her capacity to apply knowledge in unfamiliar situations.
We are interested not only in what a
child knows today, but also in the attitudes and behaviours that support future success. Throughout the morning, we look for evidence of curiosity, resilience, independence and a positive approach to learning. During the PE session, we also observe how pupils engage with activities, respond to guidance, work with others and approach new experiences.
Together, these activities help us identify girls who will thrive within our academically ambitious environment and contribute positively to our school community.
Follow-up assessment and experience day
Following the Academic Assessment, a number of girls will be invited to return for a further assessment and pupil experience session.
Building on the academic assessment, this stage allows us to gain a deeper understanding of your daughter’s strengths, potential and suitability for the opportunities and challenges of a Habs education. Through a combination of follow-up
assessment activities, logical reasoning tasks
and practical experiences, we explore how she applies her thinking, responds to challenge
and engages with new learning opportunities.
Consistent with our Habits framework, we are interested not only in what your daughter can achieve academically, but also in the attitudes and qualities that will help her thrive at Habs. We look for girls who are intellectually curious, resilient and engaged learners; who demonstrate initiative, creativity and sound judgement; and who will make a positive contribution to our vibrant school community.
The visit also includes a tour of the School and the opportunity to participate in a lesson or co-curricular activity. This gives girls first-hand experience of life at Habs Girls while allowing us to see how they engage with our learning environment, embrace new experiences and connect with the people and opportunities that make our community distinctive.
Parents will also be invited to meet the Head and members of the Leadership Team. This gives us an opportunity to get to know your family and allows you to learn more about our educational approach, ethos and values.
Offer and offer holder event
Families who receive an offer will also be invited to an Offer Holders’ event. This gives your daughter an opportunity to return to Habs, meet other prospective pupils and begin getting to know the people and surroundings that will become part of her school life.
For parents, it is another opportunity to meet staff, ask questions and learn more about how we will support your daughter as she begins her journey into the Habs community.
Key dates for Year 7
Key dates for Year 7
Visit Habs
Attend an Open Day or admissions event and experience our community first-hand.
Register
Applications are completed through our website. Families may also apply for scholarships and bursaries at this stage.
Scholarships and bursaries require additional application forms.
Assessment
We have partnered with QUEST to develop a bespoke Habs paper-based assessment, combining multiple-choice and written questions. The assessment helps us identify academic potential, intellectual curiosity and the readiness to flourish within an ambitious and stimulating learning environment.
The assessment will be held
at Habs.
It includes:
- English and verbal reasoning (40 minutes)
- Maths and non-verbal reasoning
(45 minutes) - Creative comprehension (20 minutes)
- Creative writing (20 minutes)
Your child can familiarise themselves with the format and style of questions by trying our Familiarisation Test
Interview and team exercise
Approximately half of students are invited back for an interview and team exercise.
This enables us to look beyond assessment results and gain a deeper understanding of each student’s interests, character, aspirations and potential contribution to the Habs community. It also provides an opportunity to see how students engage
with others, respond to challenge and approach new situations – qualities that underpin the Habits developed throughout a Habs education.
Parents are also invited to an informal
meeting with members of the
leadership team.
Financial support
Families applying for financial support meet confidentially with the Finance team to discuss their application.
More about our financial support.
Scholarships
Successful students receive an offer to join Habs Girls, together with opportunities to visit the school and begin becoming part of the Habs community.
More about our scholarships.
Key dates for Sixth form
Key dates for Sixth form
Visit us
If you are interested in joining us in September for the 16+ entry, please come and visit us on our open evening.
General information
The Sixth Form at Habs Girls and Habs Boys offer state of the art facilities, maximising every opportunity across both schools. Joining us at Sixth Form offers you a fantastic springboard for life after school, so you leave as more interesting and interested individuals, ready to take your place in society.
Eligibility for applying to our Sixth Form, asks for a minimum of nine GCSE’s grade seven and above, including Maths and English (some subjects will require an 8 or 9).
For more details see our A level Options booklet.
Entry is for candidates aged 16 and below the age of 17 on the 1 September in the year of entry.
GCSE results
If you would like to join our Sixth Form, we ask for nine GCSEs including Maths and English.
In most subjects, we look for a minimum Grade 7 at GCSE. Or, if the A level you want to take is in a subject new to you, then Grade 7 in a relevant/related subject. For some subjects, in order for all of our students to thrive, we have higher GCSE grade requirements:
- Maths, Biology and Physics – a Grade 8 is essential but we would recommend a Grade 9
- Further Maths – a strong Grade 9 is required
- Economics and Computing – a Grade 8 in GCSE Maths is required but we would recommend a Grade 9
- Classical Greek, Latin, French, German, Russian and Spanish – a Grade 8 in the respective GCSE subject
- Music – a Grade 8 in GCSE Music
Students taking 4 A levels are required to achieve a grade higher than the minimum requirement in each of their chosen A levels
Assessments and interviews
For the first stage of our selection process, you will need to sit a one-hour general written paper.
You can familiarise yourself with the format and style of questions by trying our past paper. You will also need the supporting extracts booklet.
If you are planning to study at least one STEM subject at A level (such as Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Economics or Computer Science), you will also need to sit a one-hour Maths paper.
You can familiarise yourself with the format and style of questions by trying our past paper.
If you are successful in the written exams, you will be invited to come for interview.
This is a series of structured subject interviews, and you will be asked to demonstrate your knowledge and skills relating to your proposed A level subjects.
We will contact your current school for a Headteacher’s report and your predicted grades at GCSE.
Financial support
Means-tested financial support is available to those joining us at 16+ who would greatly benefit from attending Habs, but for financial reasons would be unable to make an application.
A place will first need to be offered, based on students meeting the assessment criteria for their entry point.
Families will need to prove financial need by completing a confidential statement of income.
It is possible to gain access to financial support and be offered a scholarship simultaneously.
More about our financial support.
Scholarships
Sixth Form scholarships are available.
It is possible to hold a scholarship and gain financial support simultaneously.
More about our scholarships.
