Queen Elizabeth’s School Barnet 11 plus is one of those North London options families talk about early, partly because it is highly academic and partly because the process starts sooner than many people expect. The school sits in Barnet, close to High Barnet station and the Barnet High Street area, so the day to day commute routine matters just as much as the exam itself.
Most families feel calmer once two things are clear. First, Queen Elizabeth’s School admissions is a staged process, so you are not trying to do everything at once. Second, the preparation that works best for QE is steady and specific, with a lot of practice on multiple choice technique alongside strong English and maths fundamentals.
A helpful first step is to map your grammar school application UK timeline on one page, so nothing sneaks up on you when Year 6 gets busy. This quick overview on your site keeps it simple: grammar school application UK timeline.
| Key detail | Information |
| Address | Queen’s Road, Barnet EN5 4DQ |
| School type | Boys grammar school, academy, Years 7 to 13 |
| Year 7 entry size | 180 places |
| Entry assessments | Two multiple choice papers, English and maths |
| Test dates | One of two September test dates, allocated by the school |
| Results stage | Eligibility outcome sent before the local authority deadline |
| Admissions contact | enquiries@qebarnet.co.uk, +44 (0)20 8441 4646 |
| Location |
For a reliable cross check on basics like status and official contact details, the Get Information About Schools record for Queen Elizabeth’s School is a sensible place to verify the listing.
The easiest way to think about Queen Elizabeth’s School admissions is as a sequence of small tasks that build on each other.
The school uses an entrance test request form, and that request has its own deadline before the September tests. The clearest place to read the current steps in the right order is the school’s Admissions Process page. Keep a simple folder with your confirmation email and submitted details.
QE’s entrance exam consists of two multiple choice papers taken in one session: English and maths. Technique matters as much as knowledge, as rushed reading or answer sheet slips can cost marks.
After marking, scores are standardised and combined into one overall score. Families are informed whether the score meets the eligibility standard for that intake, helping you use your CAF preferences calmly.
Even if a child sits the QE tests, the school application must still be submitted through your home local authority using the Common Application Form. The national process is explained clearly on the government secondary school application page.
Offers are released on national offer day. When 1 March falls on a weekend, offers move to the next working day. Government guidance on secondary offer dates helps families plan the spring term without second guessing.
| Milestone | Date |
| Entrance test request window | 1 May to 11 July 2025 |
| Deadline for test requests | 11 July 2025 at noon |
| Entrance tests | 17 and 18 September 2025 |
| Reserve test date | 24 September 2025 |
| Eligibility outcomes | October 2025 (provisional 1 October) |
| Secondary application deadline | 31 October 2025 |
| National offer day | 2 March 2026 |
Queen Elizabeth’s is not a catchment based grammar school. Places are offered strictly in score order. When scores tie at the cut off, distance to the school gate is used, followed by a random ballot if needed.
A waiting list is maintained in score order for boys who meet the standard but are not initially offered a place. The list can be re ranked if new eligible applicants are added.
Appeals are separate from waiting lists and are evidence based rather than a re sit of the exam. The government overview on appealing a school admission decision explains the process clearly.
QE does not use interviews for Year 7 admissions. Preparation time is best spent on exam readiness, calm reading, and reliable routine rather than interview practice.
Preparation works best when it feels like training rather than judgement. For QE Barnet, the focus is strong comprehension, careful multiple choice technique, and confident maths under time pressure.
For structured routines by stage, visit: 11 plus preparation by year group.
As a clear starting point, you can book a free 11 plus diagnostic session with Find Your Tutor focused on Queen Elizabeth’s School Barnet. This benchmarks your child’s level and provides a personalised preparation roadmap.
Join Hundreds of Families Who Secured Queen Elizabeth’s School Places with Find Your Tutor.
The main test dates are 17 and 18 September 2025, and the school allocates your child to one of those days. A reserve date exists for boys who cannot attend for an approved reason. Planning a calm week around the test matters more than last minute cramming.
QE uses two multiple choice papers, English and maths, taken in one session. English focuses on core literacy skills like comprehension and language understanding. Maths tests broad primary maths knowledge with problem solving under time pressure.
Families complete the school’s entrance test request form during the published window. Missing that request deadline can mean missing the chance to sit the September tests. Keeping screenshots and confirmation emails avoids unnecessary stress.
No, the route is not restricted to Barnet residents. The key requirement is sitting the tests and then applying through your own home local authority using the CAF. Travel time should be treated as a serious part of the decision.
Places are primarily offered in score order to those who meet the required standard. Catchment is not the main sorting method in the usual sense. Distance is used as a tie break only when scores tie at the cut off point.
The school sets an eligibility standard for each intake and reports whether a child meets it. Meeting the standard does not guarantee a place, because places are still limited to the admission number. The safest plan is to aim for strong performance rather than fixating on one number.
The published admission number for the September 2026 intake is 180 places. That number helps explain why the process feels competitive. It also explains why steady preparation usually beats short bursts of panic.
Yes, that can happen. A child can be told they are eligible but still not be ranked high enough for an offer on national offer day. In that situation, waiting lists and preference order on the CAF become important.
No, but the order of preferences matters because local authorities offer the highest ranked school you qualify for. A calm approach is to order schools by genuine preference, not by guesswork about chances. That way, any offer feels like a win.
The school publishes a reserve test date for boys who cannot attend the main dates for an approved reason. Evidence may be required, so it helps to report illness promptly and follow the school’s instructions. Keeping expectations calm helps your child recover confidence quickly.
The standard Year 7 route does not include a general admissions interview. The focus is exam performance and the published admissions criteria. That is why preparation time is best spent on English, maths, and exam technique.
Practise eliminating wrong options, checking question numbers, and marking answers neatly every time. Teach your child to skip and return rather than panic. This protects easy marks and keeps confidence steady.
No, but structured support can help some children. Some thrive with a parent led routine and clear weekly habits. Others do better with external feedback and accountability, especially for technique and timed work.
Year 4 is ideal for gentle habit building. Year 5 is when most families add structure and light timing. Year 6 is for exam readiness and calm confidence, not learning everything from scratch.
Contact admissions quickly and be honest about what happened. Late requests or late applications are not always possible to accommodate, so assume deadlines are firm. Simple organisation early on is the best protection against last minute stress.
