If you are exploring St. Michael’s Catholic Grammar School 11 plus admissions for September 2026, you are likely balancing hope, ambition, and a fair amount of uncertainty. St. Michael’s has a long academic tradition and a distinctive faith-based ethos, which makes it a popular choice for families seeking a high-achieving girls’ grammar school grounded in Catholic values.
With competitive entry and limited places, St. Michael’s Catholic Grammar School can feel overwhelming at first. But with a clear plan, it’s absolutely achievable. The key is understanding how the admissions process works, what is assessed at 11+, and how to prepare in a steady and realistic way without putting unnecessary pressure on your child.
This guide is written to walk you through the process calmly and clearly. You will find what is publicly confirmed, what is typically expected based on recent years, and where information is not published. Nothing is guessed or inflated. The aim is to help you make informed decisions, plan your timeline properly, and feel more confident about the months ahead.
Whether St. Michael’s is your first-choice school or part of a wider grammar school strategy, this guide will help you understand how the entrance process works and what successful preparation usually looks like.
Key Detail | Information |
Address | Nether Street, North Finchley, London N12 7NJ |
County | |
School Type | Girls, Day |
Year 7 Entry Size | Not published |
Entry Assessments | School set entrance tests and interview |
Fees | Not applicable (state funded grammar school) |
Scholarships & Bursaries | Not applicable |
Open Days | Typically held in late spring or early summer |
Admissions Contact | Not published |
St. Michael’s Catholic Grammar School is a selective state grammar school with a Catholic foundation. Admission is based on academic performance and religious criteria, and the process follows local authority guidance alongside the school’s own admissions policy.
The first step is registration. Parents must register their child for the school’s entrance tests within the published window. This is usually done online via the school’s admissions page. Missing this deadline normally means your child cannot sit the tests.
As part of the application, you are typically required to complete a supplementary information form. This form allows the school to assess Catholic practice and faith commitment, which plays a central role in oversubscription criteria.
Entrance assessments usually take place in the autumn term of Year 6. These are school-set exams rather than the ISEB Common Pre-Test. The subjects assessed are confirmed in the school’s admissions policy each year, and parents should always check the most recent version.
Shortlisted candidates may then be invited for an interview. The interview is an important part of the process and usually explores academic readiness as well as the child’s values, attitude to learning, and understanding of the school’s ethos.
Offers are made through the local authority’s coordinated admissions system, typically on National Offer Day in March. Acceptance deadlines are set nationally.
Milestone | Date |
Open day | Typically May to June |
Registration deadline | Typically Sep |
Entrance exam or assessment | Based on recent years: Sep to Oct |
Interviews | Based on recent years: Oct to Nov |
Offers | Mar 2026 |
Acceptance deadline | Based on local authority timeline |
As a state funded grammar school, St. Michael’s Catholic Grammar School does not charge tuition fees. There are no academic, music, or sports scholarships in the way independent schools offer them.
There are also no means-tested bursaries linked to tuition, as the school is free to attend. However, families should plan for typical additional costs that apply to most secondary schools.
These may include school uniform, transport, lunches, educational trips, and optional extracurricular activities. Where assistance is available, such as support with uniform costs, this is usually administered through local authority or school hardship schemes. Details are published by the school when applicable.
Interviews at St. Michael’s are typically structured and purposeful rather than intimidating. They are designed to assess whether a child is a good academic and personal fit for the school’s environment.
The format is not always published in advance. Based on recent years, interviews are usually conducted in person and may be individual rather than group based.
Your child may be asked about their favourite subjects, how they approach learning, and what they enjoy reading. There may also be gentle questions about faith, values, and how they contribute to their community.
Some interviews include short academic discussions or problem-solving tasks. These are not trick questions. They are designed to see how your child thinks, explains ideas, and responds to new challenges.
Preparation should focus on confidence, clear communication, and reassurance rather than scripted answers.
Strong preparation is gradual and age appropriate. In Year 4, the focus should be on building foundations, particularly reading comprehension, vocabulary, mental maths, and clear written expression.
Year 5 is where preparation becomes more structured. This is the time to introduce timed practice, reasoning-style questions if confirmed in the school’s format, and regular writing tasks. Vocabulary development and comprehension accuracy are especially important.
In Year 6, preparation should be about consolidation and confidence. Practice should reflect the school’s test style as closely as possible, using school-set exam formats where available. One to two full mock exams under timed conditions are usually sufficient.
Alongside academics, interview confidence matters. Encourage your child to talk about their learning, interests, and values in a calm and natural way.
As a clear starting point, you can book a free 11+ diagnostic session with Find Your Tutor (FYT) focused on St. Michael’s Catholic Grammar School. It benchmarks your child’s current level and gives you a personalised preparation roadmap for the months ahead.
Families applying to St. Michael’s often also consider other selective schools in North London and surrounding areas. Common alternatives include Henrietta Barnett School, Queen Elizabeth’s School Barnet, and Woodford County High School. Each has a different admissions focus and ethos, so it is worth reviewing them individually.
Yes, it is a selective state grammar school for girls.
Admission is based on academic testing and oversubscription criteria published annually.
No, the school uses its own entrance assessments.
Parents should rely on the school’s published admissions policy for confirmed details.
The tested subjects are published in the admissions policy.
Typically, they include English and mathematics.
The exact number is not published.
Admission numbers may vary slightly year to year.
Yes, shortlisted candidates are usually invited to interview.
The interview forms part of the overall assessment process.
Yes, Catholic practice plays a role in oversubscription criteria.
This is assessed through supplementary forms and documentation.
Yes, but priority is given according to the published faith criteria.
Places for non-Catholic applicants are limited.
Yes, distance can be part of the oversubscription criteria.
Exact rules are published in the admissions policy.
You should contact the school immediately.
Arrangements depend on the school’s published guidance.
This is not published.
Most families prepare using aligned practice materials independently.
Tutoring is not required.
Structured preparation and consistency matter more than intensity.
Late applications are only considered in exceptional circumstances.
This is handled through the local authority process.
Not published.
Eligibility usually depends on residency and local authority rules.
No, it is a day school only.
There are no boarding facilities.
School life is academically focused with strong pastoral care.
The Catholic ethos underpins assemblies, values, and community life.
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