St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School 11+ Guide

About St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School

St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School is a selective secondary school in Berkshire. For children to get into St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School they need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Hence, St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School is a traditional grammar school, one of only 163 remaining in England.

Nestled in the heart of Langley, Berkshire, St. Bernard's Catholic Grammar School stands as a beacon of academic excellence and spiritual growth. As the sole co-educational Catholic grammar school in the United Kingdom, St. Bernard's fosters an inclusive environment where students from diverse backgrounds come together to pursue their educational aspirations. With a steadfast commitment to its motto, "Dieu Mon Abri" (God is my shelter), the school nurtures a deep sense of faith and community among its pupils.

St. Bernard's takes immense pride in its outstanding academic achievements, consistently ranking among the top educational institutions nationwide. The school's dedicated and highly skilled teaching staff employ innovative and effective pedagogical methods to ensure that each student receives a comprehensive and engaging learning experience. This unwavering commitment to academic excellence is reflected in the school's impressive GCSE results, with a significant majority of students attaining top grades in critical subjects such as English and Mathematics.

Beyond the classroom, St. Bernard's offers an extensive enrichment programme that caters to the diverse interests and talents of its students. From artistic pursuits to sporting activities, pupils have ample opportunities to explore their passions and develop new skills. The school also organizes a wide array of residential trips, both domestically and internationally, exposing students to different cultures and broadening their horizons. These experiences not only complement their academic growth but also contribute to their personal development, fostering well-rounded individuals.

At the core of St. Bernard's educational philosophy lies a robust pastoral care system. The school recognizes the unique strengths and aspirations of each student and provides personalized guidance to help them achieve their goals. Through regular communication and mentoring, the dedicated staff at St. Bernard's create a supportive and motivational environment where students feel empowered to excel in all aspects of their lives. This holistic approach to education ensures that pupils not only thrive academically but also develop the necessary life skills and values to become responsible and compassionate members of society.

As a testament to its commitment to the community, St. Bernard's actively engages in outreach initiatives at the local, national, and international levels. The school supports various Catholic charities and organizations, working tirelessly to assist the disadvantaged and promote social justice. Additionally, St. Bernard's has forged a meaningful partnership with Sinethemba School in South Africa, fostering cultural exchange and global understanding among its students. These endeavors exemplify the school's dedication to instilling a sense of social responsibility and compassion in its pupils.

School Information

Below you will find further information about St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School together with their admissions contact details.

St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School is a mixed (i.e. both girls and boys) school. It is also a local authority maintained school, meaning the local authority oversee the funding, admissions, and overall performance of the school.

In total 1,087 pupils attend St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School and it's led by the Headteacher, Mr Paul Kassapian.

St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School Location

Below you will find a map showing the school's location:

GCSE & A-Level Subjects

Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School for the 2022-23 academic year.

Slough Consortium 11+ Information

In order to get into St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School, children need to pass the Slough Consortium 11+. This 11+ test is written by GL Assessment for use by the school's admissions process.

Slough Consortium 11+ Subjects & Structure

The Slough Consortium 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:

• English
• Verbal Reasoning
• Maths
• Non-Verbal Reasoning

The Slough Consortium 11 plus exam is a crucial assessment for students seeking admission to grammar schools in the UK. This comprehensive examination, provided by GL Assessment, evaluates a child's proficiency in both verbal and non-verbal skills.

The exam is divided into two papers, each lasting approximately one hour. The first paper focuses on verbal skills, encompassing English and verbal reasoning, while the second paper assesses non-verbal skills, including maths and non-verbal reasoning. Students will tackle both papers on the same day, with a brief respite between the two.

To ensure a fair and accurate assessment, the exam includes instructions and unmarked example questions before delving into the actual test questions. Success in the Slough Consortium 11 plus exam is a significant step towards securing a place at one of the prestigious grammar schools in the UK.

Other Schools using Slough Consortium 11+

As well as St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School, several other schools also use Slough Consortium 11+. These are:

• Herschel Grammar School
• Langley Grammar School
• Upton Court Grammar School

Slough Consortium 11+ Marking Process

The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.

Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.

Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.

It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!

Slough Consortium 11+ Pass Mark

The pass mark for the Slough Consortium 11+ changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).

Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.

Slough Consortium 11+ Key Dates for your Diary

Here are all the important dates for the Slough Consortium 11+ tests (to get into St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School) as well as other relevant dates.

Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School as they may well change.

Ofsted Information

St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School was last inspected by Ofsted on 07/11/2023 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 14/01/2024, declaring that the school was 'Outstanding'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.

Last Ofsted Report Data

Ofsted Report Summary

St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School was inspected by Ofsted on 14/01/2024 and received an Outstanding rating in all areas. The school demonstrated exceptional quality of education, with students consistently achieving high standards across the curriculum. The behaviour and attitudes of pupils were exemplary, creating a positive learning environment that fostered personal growth and academic success.

The school's personal development program was deemed outstanding, providing students with a well-rounded education that prepared them for life beyond the classroom. Leadership and management were highly effective, with a clear vision and strong support for staff and students alike.

The sixth form provision at St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School was also rated as outstanding, offering a wide range of academic and extracurricular opportunities that equipped students with the skills and knowledge needed for success in higher education and future careers.

GCSE & A-Level Performance

Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.

GCSE Results Information (2022-23)

A-Level Results Information (2022-23)

Past 11+ Paper Downloads

Unfortunately, St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School has not made any of their past 11+ papers publicly available.

Practice 11+ Paper Downloads

Here are some superb free 11+ practice papers that children can download and use to help prepare for the Slough Consortium 11+ Ensure you double-check with St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School which subjects and topics your child's 11+ tests are in to ensure you prepare for the right tests.