What are the Admission Requirements for Haberdashers' Schools?

For Year 7 (11+) entry in September 2027, families register online at Haberdashers' Boys' School or Haberdashers' Girls' School by Friday 6 November 2026. Children then sit a written QUEST assessment in November, and about half of applicants are invited back for an interview and team exercise in January 2027. Offers are sent by email on Friday 12 February 2027, and families must accept by 9 am on Wednesday 3 March 2027. The schools look for well-rounded children with a real interest in learning. These dates come from the schools' own admissions pages. 

Thinking about Haberdashers' Boys' School or Haberdashers' Girls' School in Elstree? This guide explains the admission requirements. You will see the key dates, what happens in the assessment, how the interview works and how to help your child feel ready. 

Admission requirements for Haberdashers' Schools

Many parents hope for a simple checklist, like "your child needs this score". Haberdashers' schools do not work like that. There is no single pass mark. Instead, the schools look at the whole picture of your child.

The main requirements for 11+ entry are:

• Register on time: Applications are made through each school's website by the deadline.

• Sit the written assessment: Every applicant takes the QUEST paper, made for the schools.

• Be invited to interview: About half of the applicants go through to a second round.

• Show potential and character: The schools look for curiosity, a love of learning and a positive attitude.

It is a competitive process, so it helps to know every step before you start. We have checked the details against the schools' own admissions pages, and we explain each stage below.

Dates and details change every year. This guide covers entry in September 2027. Always check each school's website before you apply.

Which Haberdashers' Schools does this guide cover?

The name "Haberdashers" is used by several schools, so it is worth being clear. This guide is about the two independent schools in Elstree, Hertfordshire, which share one campus:

• Haberdashers' Boys' School (Habs Boys)

• Haberdashers' Girls' School (Habs Girls)

Other schools in the wider Haberdashers' family, such as Haberdashers' Adams, a grammar school in Shropshire, have their own separate admissions. If you are looking at one of those, please check that school's website instead.

Both Elstree schools use the same style of 11+ assessment, but the dates differ a little. We show both in the tables below.

Haberdashers' 11+ entry requirements: Who can apply?

Children usually apply for Year 7 while they are in Year 6. Here is what the schools tell us.

The schools also say that a child at a state primary school is not at a disadvantage. The assessments look for potential and for the ability to think independently.

Haberdashers' admission dates 2027: Key deadlines

Deadlines are strict, so write these in your calendar today. These are the dates for Year 7 entry in September 2027.

Do not miss 6 November. The registration deadline is only a few weeks away, so if your child is in Year 6 now, please register as soon as you can.

How to apply to Haberdashers' Schools: Step by step

1. Visit the school

Both schools run open days and admissions events. Visiting helps you and your child see if the school feels right.

2. Register online

Applications are made through each school's website by Friday 6 November 2026. Please check the school's website for any registration fee. Scholarship and bursary forms are separate.

3. Sit the assessment

Your child takes the written QUEST paper at the school in November.

4. Go to interview, if invited

About half of applicants are invited back in January for an interview and a team exercise.

5. Receive and accept an offer

Offers arrive by email on 12 February 2027. You must accept by 9 am on 3 March 2027.

What is in the Haberdashers' 11+ assessment?

The schools worked with QUEST to make a special paper just for Habs. It is a paper test that mixes multiple-choice and written questions. It is held at the school. Habs Boys and Habs Girls use the same style of assessment.

The schools say the paper is based on skills taught in the National Curriculum. They also say the assessment helps them spot academic potential, curiosity and readiness for an ambitious learning environment.

Try the familiarisation test

The schools give families a familiarisation test, made by QUEST, so your child can see the style of the questions. You can find it on each school's admissions page. It is the best place to start, because it comes straight from the people who set the paper.

Haberdashers' interview and team exercise

After the written paper, approximately half of the students are invited back for an interview and team exercise. These take place between Friday 8 and Friday 15 January 2027.

The schools say the second round helps them look beyond test results. They want to understand each child's interests, character, hopes and what they could bring to the school community. They also watch how children work with others, handle a challenge and approach new situations.

Parents are invited to an informal meeting with members of the leadership team too.

What makes a successful Haberdashers' applicant?

Habs says it is looking for "well-rounded students with a genuine interest in learning" who will be comfortable in an academically challenging place and make the most of what the schools offer. In simple words, the schools want children who are curious, kind and keen to have a go.

1. Strong basics in English and maths

The paper tests reading, writing, number skills and reasoning, so solid foundations matter.

2. Curiosity and love of learning

Children who ask questions and enjoy finding things out often shine in the second round.

3. Creative thinking and writing

Two parts of the assessment are creative. Reading widely and enjoying writing helps a lot.

4. Good teamwork and a positive attitude

The team exercise shows how children listen, share and respond when things get tricky.

Does your child need a tutor for Haberdashers' 11+?

We want to be honest with you about this. Both schools say that the 11+ paper is based on skills taught within the National Curriculum, so no tutoring or preparation is needed to show their qualities. They also say that a child from a state school is not at a disadvantage.

We agree that children should never be crammed or stressed. But many families still like their child to feel at home with the style of questions, especially verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and timed creative writing, because these can feel new. A little calm practice can take away the fear of the unknown.

At Pass 11 Plus Grammar, our approach to 11 plus tuition is built on exactly this idea. We help children understand each topic, practise at a gentle pace and walk into assessments feeling relaxed. It is a personal choice, and never a requirement.

How to prepare for the Haberdashers' 11+ assessment

Because the Habs paper is made specially by QUEST, no other paper matches it exactly. The best plan is to cover the four skills it tests, and to practise the style of questions in a relaxed way. Here are five ideas.

1. Start with the school's own familiarisation test

Then add our 11+ free practice papers to see which topics feel easy and which need more time.

2. Practise the style of real questions

Our 11+ past papers help children get used to multiple-choice English, maths and reasoning questions. They are not the Habs paper, but they build the same skills.

3. Get used to exam conditions

Sitting in a quiet room with a timer can feel strange the first time. Our 11 plus mocks let children practise pacing themselves and staying calm.

4. Read widely and write for fun

Two parts of the Habs assessment are creative. Encourage stories, poems and non-fiction, and let your child write short pieces for fun, with no marks.

5. Practise talking about ideas

Chat at the dinner table about books, news and hobbies. Ask, "What do you think, and why?" It builds the confidence children need for the interview.

Haberdashers' scholarships and bursaries

Cost is a worry for many families, and Habs says it offers help. Here is what the schools tell us.

Haberdashers' offers and what happens next

Offers for Year 7 entry in September 2027 are sent by email on Friday 12 February 2027. Families who receive an offer are invited to an offer holder event on Thursday 25 February 2027 for Habs Boys and Friday 26 February 2027 for Habs Girls. This lets your child visit again, meet other new pupils and begin to feel at home.

You must accept the offer by 9 am on Wednesday 3 March 2027. If you are also applying to other schools, remember that most state secondary offers are sent on 1 March 2027, so it helps to plan your decisions carefully. If you are not sure what to do, the admissions teams are happy to help.

Applying next year? Plan ahead for Haberdashers' entry

If your child is in Year 5 now, you are in a lovely position. The 11+ for Habs falls early in Year 6, so most of the work happens in Year 5 and over the summer. The dates for the next year will be different, so check the school websites around the start of Year 6.

The summer before Year 6 is a great chance to build skills without school pressure. Our 11 plus intensive summer course brings the key topics together in a focused, friendly way.

Our online tuition is open to families across the UK, and if you are close to us, you can also meet our 11 plus tutors in Birmingham. We are always happy to talk about your plans, with no pressure.

Final thoughts

The admission requirements for Haberdashers' schools come down to a few clear steps. Register by Friday 6 November 2026, sit the QUEST assessment, and, if invited, go to the interview and team exercise in January. Offers arrive on Friday 12 February 2027. The schools look for well-rounded children with a real love of learning, not just high marks.

Stay calm, read each school's own admissions page, and help your child feel relaxed and curious. At Pass 11 Plus Grammar, we are always here to help you plan the next step.