St. Olave’s Grammar School 11 plus is on the list for many families who want an academically selective boys’ school in Orpington, within the London Borough of Bromley, with a mixed sixth form later on. The site is on Goddington Lane, and daily routines often revolve around the journey from Orpington station and the school day rhythm rather than the exam alone.
Most families feel calmer when two things are clear early. First, St. Olave’s Grammar School admissions is a staged process, so you are not trying to peak for every part at once. Second, preparation can stay steady and organised without turning Year 5 and Year 6 into a constant pressure zone.
A simple first step is to map your grammar school application UK plan on one page so deadlines do not creep up. This short guide keeps it practical: grammar school application UK planning guide.
| Key detail | Information |
| School type | Selective state grammar school for boys with mixed sixth form |
| Location | St. Olave’s Grammar School, Goddington Lane, Orpington, Kent, BR6 9SH |
| Year 7 entry | Selective entry through a staged test process |
| Main entry route | Local authority secondary application plus school test registration |
| Travel feel | Many families plan around Orpington station routes and morning timing |
| What parents usually notice | High academic pace and strong expectations of independence |
| Location |
For statutory details such as the registered address and establishment record, the Department for Education listing is a reliable cross check: Get Information About Schools entry.
The easiest way to think about St. Olave’s Grammar School admissions is as a sequence of small tasks that build on each other.
Families normally need to register directly with the school in order for their child to sit the entrance tests, alongside completing the local authority application. The most reliable starting point is the school’s own admissions area: St. Olave’s admissions information.
Even if your child sits the St. Olave’s tests, you must still name the school on your secondary application through your council by the national deadline. A clear overview of the process is set out here: apply for a secondary school place.
Stage 1 is designed to reduce the large applicant pool to a smaller group invited forward. It is typically multiple choice across English, maths, and reasoning skills, so speed and accuracy both matter.
Stage 2 usually determines the final ranked order and tends to be more depth based, with written English and written maths. Strong comprehension, clear writing, and confident maths under time pressure make a real difference here.
Offers are made through the national offer day system, followed by waiting lists and appeals. It helps to discuss day to day realities at home, such as travel time, homework load, clubs, and whether the school pace feels energising rather than exhausting.
| Milestone | Date |
| Registration opens | 9 June 2025 |
| Registration deadline | 30 June 2025 |
| Stage 1 test | 19 September 2025 |
| Stage 1 outcome | Mid October 2025 |
| Stage 2 test | 14 November 2025 |
| National offer day | 2 March 2026 |
These dates are shown together in one place for easy diary checking: key dates list for 2026 entry.
Some grammar schools prioritise distance and some do not, so it is important to read the oversubscription rules for your exact year of entry. Bromley’s wider guidance also helps explain how preferences, offers, and waiting lists work across the borough: Bromley secondary admissions guidance.
Appeals are not about proving a child is bright. They focus on whether the school is the right fit and whether the prejudice of not admitting outweighs the prejudice of admitting. A clear, parent focused overview is available from: IPSEA school admission appeals overview.
St. Olave’s is state funded, so there are no tuition fees. Typical costs relate to uniform, transport, lunches, and optional trips. Planning a simple term budget early can make the Year 7 transition calmer, particularly for longer journeys.
Even for children who enjoy exams, the St. Olave’s entrance assessment can feel intense because it is competitive and fast paced.
The most helpful mindset is training rather than judgement. The aim is not to prove intelligence in one sitting, but to demonstrate steady skill across comprehension, maths accuracy, and reasoning habits while staying calm under time pressure.
A practical way to reduce nerves is to make the test day routine familiar. Running a couple of full morning practice sessions at home in Year 6, including breakfast, a short walk, and a timed sitting, helps remove novelty.
Preparation works best when it stays consistent and calm, then becomes more exam shaped closer to the test window. For St. Olave’s, it helps to think in two phases: Stage 1 multiple choice fluency, followed by Stage 2 depth and written stamina.
Free familiarisation materials can help match the Stage 1 style: GL Assessment familiarisation resources.
A simple routine supports consistency: Year 5 11 plus revision plan.
As a clear starting point, you can book a free 11 plus diagnostic session with Find Your Tutor FYT focused on St. Olave’s Grammar School. It benchmarks your child’s current level and provides a personalised preparation roadmap for the months ahead.
Join Hundreds of Families Who Secured St. Olave’s Grammar School Places with Find Your Tutor.
Stage 1 is listed as 19 September 2025 and Stage 2 as 14 November 2025. Put both in your diary early so school trips and family plans do not clash. Build preparation so your child peaks in late summer and early autumn rather than burning out too early. Keep the final week light and confidence focused.
It is a staged process with multiple choice skills first, then written depth later. Stage 1 tends to involve English, maths and reasoning style questions. Stage 2 usually focuses on written English comprehension and writing plus written maths problem solving. Preparation needs both speed practice and deeper skill building.
You normally need both the school test registration and the local authority application. Sitting the tests alone is not enough if the school is not named on your preferences. Do the admin early so the autumn term is not dominated by paperwork. A simple checklist on your site can keep this organised: secondary application checklist for parents.
Some selective schools do not use a traditional catchment in the same way as comprehensive schools. The most important thing is to read the oversubscription rules for your year of entry and understand tie break rules. If distance is used, small differences can matter near the cut off. Keep proof of address documents tidy in case they are requested later.
Stage 2 is typically a smaller invited group after Stage 1. The practical point is that Stage 1 is a gateway rather than the final finish line. Many children benefit from preparing for Stage 2 style writing in parallel, even while practising multiple choice. That way there is no sudden scramble later.
Many grammar school routes are purely test based at Year 7. Even without an interview, it helps to build confident spoken answers at home. Short chats about books, hobbies and school topics improve clarity and calmness. This also supports written English because children who can explain ideas often write more clearly.
No, tutoring is not required, but structure helps. Some children thrive with a parent led routine and steady feedback. Others need clearer accountability, timing practice and targeted gap filling. The best choice is the one that protects confidence and keeps learning consistent.
Year 4 is ideal for habit building without pressure. Year 5 is where families usually add structure and light timing. Year 6 is for exam readiness and calm confidence, not learning everything from scratch. Starting early usually means fewer tears later.
Accuracy under time and smart technique. Multiple choice is not only about knowledge, it is about pacing, skipping and returning. Children often improve quickly once they learn not to get stuck. Regular short practice beats occasional long sessions.
Depth in comprehension, clear writing structure, and confident maths reasoning. Many strong candidates know the content but lose marks through rushed explanation. Practising full solutions and clear working is worth it. For English, finishing well often separates candidates.
Read widely and talk about what was meant, not only what happened. Practise answering with evidence from the text rather than general opinion. Build stamina by increasing passage length slowly. Keep one weekly timed practice, then review carefully.
Keep the language natural and focus on structure. A clear opening, logical paragraphs, and a strong ending usually score better than fancy vocabulary. Practise planning quickly before writing because it prevents mid story wobble. Proofreading in the final minutes often lifts marks.
Consistency matters more than hours. Many families do short midweek sessions plus one longer weekend slot. Build in one rest day to protect energy. Your site guide can help you set this up without overload: weekly 11 plus routine for busy families.
Reduce new content and focus on timing, stamina, and review. Protect sleep and routine because tired children make avoidable errors. Do one full mock morning if your child has not done one yet, then keep the next days lighter. Confidence and calmness matter a lot at this stage.
Contact admissions quickly and be clear about what happened. Late test registration or late local authority applications can limit options. Keep screenshots or confirmations of forms submitted. A simple folder system prevents last minute panic.
