Entry points

Our admissions process is clear and straightforward. More importantly, our assessment days are relaxed, low-key and friendly. They are designed to bring out the best in each girl visiting our school. Before registering your daughter with us for assessment though, please do come and see our school in action by visiting us. If you would like to join our database and be kept up to date with information, but are not ready to book a visit, please complete our enquiries form.

If you live in Guildford or the surrounding areas and you think your daughter would thrive at Guildford High School, do come and visit. We welcome girls from a huge number of local schools (both state and independent).

All those interested in joining our Junior or Senior schools will be invited to assessment at Guildford High School. No overseas assessments will be carried out.

GHS has helped me become the person I was meant to be.

year 9 pupil

To find out more about our admissions process, please click on the entry point below that you are interested in.

4+ entry (Reception)

We appreciate that girls applying for places in Reception are very young; please be assured that we do not expect them to be able to read and write when they visit us. Through a series of games, activities and interaction with our experienced early years team, we will assess your daughter’s readiness for learning with us. Readiness assessments take place over the course of two x 45 minute visits. We will look at language, number, manipulative and general cognitive skills as well as social interaction.

Girls wishing to join Reception must be registered by 1 October of the year before they start school (i.e 1 October 2024 for September 2025 entry). Readiness assessments will take place in early October and results will be issued by the end of October.

Depending on the size of their cohort, we will welcome approximately eight-12 new pupils to the Junior School at the beginning of Year 3.

Year 3 entrance assessments will comprise English and Maths assessments based on the appropriate National Curriculum targets for this age group. Applicants are welcomed to the Junior School for an informal day and, as well as testing, this includes activities such as Music, Art and PE.  The day is designed to give girls a real taste of life in the Junior School. Importantly, the school is closed to our current pupils on the assessment day so that our teaching staff can focus on ensuring that every child visiting has the best possible experience.

Applications for Year 3 entry must be received by 9am 1 November in the year prior to joining (i.e 1 November 2024 for entry into Year 3 in September 2025). Entrance assessments take place at the beginning of January.

Occasionally places may become available in Years 1-2 and Years 4-6. If we believe we may have places available, entrance assessments will be held on our main entrance assessment day at the beginning of January.

As with all Junior School assessments, we are very sensitive to the age of the girls applying and tailor our tests accordingly. Applicants for Years 1-2 will be tested informally in reading, numeracy and writing. Applicants for Years 4-6 will sit more formal entrance assessments in English and Mathematics. It goes without saying that there will also be plenty of activities and fun to make sure every girl visiting us has the best possible experience.

Please do ensure you speak to the Admissions team before registering your daughter to be considered for an occasional place.

Applications for other entry points must be received by 9am 1 November in the year prior joining (i.e 1 November 2024 for entry in September 2025). Entrance assessments take place at the beginning of January.

11+ overview

In addition to our Year 6 cohort, between 60 and 75 girls from other schools join Year 7 at Guildford High School each year. We are a popular school and each year we assess several candidates for every place we have available.

State or independent, co-ed or mixed, there is no preferred school from which our joiners come. We are truly seeking those girls who possess the qualities to thrive with us, no matter what their background and education.

Applications for Year 7 entry must be received by 9am 1 November in the year prior to joining (i.e 1 November 2024 prior to entry into Year 7 in September 2025).

Information about our entrance exam can be found in the Admissions Guide at the bottom of this page.

 

For entry into the Sixth Form, applicants will be asked to sit three one-hour papers from a choice of subjects. These subjects do not have to be those which the candidate intends to take at A Level but it is sensible if they are closely related. All candidates will sit a general paper and be interviewed by a member of staff. Offers of places are conditional on the following grades at I/GCSE:

  • A minimum of seven I/GCSEs at grades 9-7 gained in Year 11 in subjects studied full-time on the school curriculum.
  • I/GCSEs at grade 9 or 8 in the subjects being studied at A-level, if studied to I/GCSE. To study an A-level subject not on offer at I/GCSE, I/GCSE at grade 9 or 8 in a similar subject is strongly recommended.
  • To study A-levels in Mathematics, Physics or Chemistry, grade 9 in the subject(s) at I/GCSE is strongly recommended.
  • To study A-level Further Mathematics, grade 9 at I/GCSE Mathematics is required. Grade 9 or 8 in AQA Level 2 Certificate in Further Mathematics is strongly recommended.

Please note that these minimum I/GCSE requirements for Sixth Form entry apply both to current pupils and to new applicants to Guildford High School.

Applications for Year 12 entry must be received by 1 October 2024 for entry into Sixth Form in September 2025. Entrance assessments take place on 6 November 2024.

Places sometimes become available in Years 8-10. If we believe we may have places available in a particular year group, entrance assessments will be held at the beginning of January. Please do ensure you speak to the Admissions team before registering your daughter to be considered for an occasional place.

Please take a look at the guide below for further information on the admissions process.

Admissions Guide 2024-25

Register your daughter

To register your daughter with us, please click here.