Step one: Visit us
Parents considering BCS are encouraged to visit the school. Families can tour the parts of the school that mean the most to them, meet our staff and pupils and discuss the opportunities available at BCS.
Experiencing the school at work, reviewing the facilities first hand and meeting our staff and pupils is the best way to understand what a BCS education has to offer you.
Our upcoming Open Days are available in the link below or contact us to make a bespoke appointment.
Click Here: Open Days and Webinars
Step Two: Register
Complete our registration form and return it with the registration fee, copy of your child’s latest school report and passport identity page. If applying for Sixth Form, a copy of your child's latest mock results will as be needed.
This formally registers your interest in a place at BCS.
Click Here: Registration Forms
Step Three: Entry Assessments
In the autumn term prior to admission, pupils for Year 7 entry will be invited in to BCS to take our admissions’ entrance assessments in English and Maths. There is also a free writing component. This will take place on Saturday 8th November 2025.
Those looking for Year 8 to Year 10 entry will be invited in to BCS to take the CAT4 assessment and complete a piece of free writing.
Year 12 applicants will also have an interview with Head of Sixth Form and will need to provide their predicted GCSE results and most recent school report.
Step Four: Taster Morning
During the Autumn and Spring Term, prior to the end of January, once the registration process has been completed, pupils will be invited to experience the school through a taster morning for Years 7 to 10 students or a taster day for Sixth Form pupils. This allows prospective pupils to meet teachers and pupils, familiarise themselves with the school surroundings and experience a typical day as a BCS pupils. Pupils will attend academic lessons and have an interview with a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
Offers of your place in the school are released in February.
Step Five: Year 7 Welcome Day
The welcome day provides the opportunity for pupils joining Year 7 to spend the day in school meeting other pupils joining BCS in September and getting to know their new teachers and the BCS school environment.
Additional Information on Entry Assessments
Mathematics (GL Assessment) time allowed: 50 minutes
The mathematics paper is based on work which candidates would normally cover during Key Stage 2 of the national curriculum.
English (GL Assessment) time allowed: 45 minutes
The English paper tests comprehension, vocabulary, and punctuation.
Pupils will also complete a free writing task which will last 10 minutes. There is no preparation for this and will be required to respond to specific topics given.
GL Assessments
For the two GL Assessment (Granada Learning Assessment) papers, questions are of a multiple-choice style with candidates entering their answers on a pre-printed sheet. Scores achieved in these papers are standardised against national criteria by age.
All GL Assessment tests are designed to be taken within specific time limits. Many pupils within a wide range of abilities will be able to answer most of the questions, given sufficient time. No variation in timing is permitted unless the applicant has a relevant Education Health Care Plan or Statement in which case a maximum of 25% additional time may be permitted.
Sample Papers
We recommend children familiarise themselves with the multiple-choice layout of the test, content and examples of some types of questions they will face. We want to give all children the opportunity to experience sample questions across a range of question types in advance of the test.
Free familiarisation material is available for each subject for use by candidates and their families and can be found here: https://11plus.gl-assessment.co.uk/free-materials/
As well as practice tests, you will find Parent Guides and mark schemes here too.
Step one: Visit us
Parents considering BCS are encouraged to visit the school. Families can tour the parts of the school that mean the most to them, meet our staff and pupils and discuss the opportunities available at BCS.
Experiencing the school at work, reviewing the facilities first hand and meeting our staff and pupils is the best way to understand what a BCS education has to offer you.
Our upcoming Open Days are available in the link below or contact us to make a bespoke appointment.
Click Here: Open Days and Webinars
Step Two: Register
Complete our registration form and return it with the registration fee, copy of your child’s latest school report and passport identity page. If applying for Sixth Form, a copy of your child's latest mock results will as be needed.
This formally registers your interest in a place at BCS.
For Year 7 entry pupils will be asked to provide a CAT4 report if they have completed the assessment at their current school.
Click Here: Registration Forms
Step Three: Experience Day
During the Autumn and Spring Term, prior to the end of January, once the registration process has been completed, pupils will be invited to experience the school through an Experience Day. This allows prospective pupils to meet teachers and pupils, familiarise themselves with the school surroundings and experience a typical day as a BCS pupil. Pupils will attend academic lessons and have an interview with a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
Year 7 to 10: Prospective pupils will complete a free writing task which will last 10 minutes. There is no preparation for this and they will be required to respond to specific topics given. In addition, we look at school reports, CAT data and teacher feedback. If pupils have not previously completed and provided a CAT4 report from their current school they will be asked to complete the assessment during their Experience Day.
Year 12 entry: Applicants will also have an interview with Head of Sixth Form and will need to provide their predicted GCSE results and most recent school report.
Offers of your place in the school are released in February.
Step Four: Year 7 Welcome Day
The welcome day provides the opportunity for pupils joining Year 7 to spend the day in school meeting other pupils joining BCS in September and getting to know their new teachers and the BCS school environment.
