About the school
St Olave’s Grammar School is a highly selective boys’ grammar school in Orpington, in the London Borough of Bromley, with a co-educational sixth form. A Church of England voluntary aided school rated Outstanding by Ofsted, it educates around 1,090 pupils aged 11 to 18 and is one of the highest-achieving schools in the country.
Founded in 1571 by royal charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I, and originally located in Southwark, St Olave’s is one of the oldest grammar schools in England. It moved to its current Orpington site in 1968, and welcomes pupils of all faiths and backgrounds.
St Olave’s Grammar School selects pupils through its own two-stage Selective Eligibility Test for Year 7 entry. It admits 124 pupils into Year 7, plus up to four places through its Wakeham Choristership scheme, from around 1,600 applicants each year.
School type
Boys' Grammar (co-ed Sixth Form)
Exam date
Fri 18th Sep & Fri 13th Nov 2026 (Two-Stage SET)
Exam board
St Olave's SET (School-set)
Address
Goddington Lane, Orpington, Kent, BR6 9SH
Age range
11–18 (Years 7–13)
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Admissions information
The St Olaves Grammar School entrance test is a two-stage Selective Eligibility Test set by the school. Here is everything you need to know about the St Olave’s Grammar School admissions criteria and exam structure.
St Olave’s Grammar School selects pupils through a two-stage process. Stage 1 is the Selective Eligibility Test, a one-hour multiple-choice paper of around 60 questions covering English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, taken by all registered boys. The highest-ranked 450 boys are then invited to Stage 2.
Stage 1 takes place on Friday 18th September 2026. Stage 2, on Friday 13th November 2026, consists of two one-hour written papers taken on the same day, one in English, assessing reading, inference and creative writing, and one in mathematics. Final places are awarded on Stage 2 performance, with Stage 1 used to shortlist.
Parents register their son for the Selective Eligibility Test by completing the Supplementary Information Form on the school website. For September 2027 entry, registration opens on 8th June 2026 and closes on 29th June 2026. Parents must also name St Olave’s Grammar School on their Common Application Form, which is due by the 31st October, ahead of the Stage 2 result.
Stage 1 results are released in mid-October, confirming which boys are invited to Stage 2, before the Common Application Form deadline. Final rank order is shared with the local authority, and place offers are confirmed on National Offer Day, 1st March 2027. Reaching Stage 2 does not guarantee a place, as the school is heavily oversubscribed.
Key admissions details
St Olave’s Grammar School admits 124 pupils into Year 7 each year, plus up to four places through its Wakeham Choristership scheme.
St Olave’s Grammar School does not operate a catchment area, and applications are welcomed from boys living anywhere, with pupils typically drawn from around 90 different primary schools. Where two boys are tied for the final place, priority is decided by Stage 2 performance and then by distance from the school.
Our tutors know the St Olave’s two-stage Selective Eligibility Test inside out. Book a free assessment today and let us build a personalised preparation plan for your child starting wherever they are right now.
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St Olave’s Grammar School is located on Goddington Lane in Orpington, in the London Borough of Bromley, Kent, BR6 9SH. It is a highly selective boys’ grammar school with a co-educational sixth form, serving pupils aged 11 to 18.
St Olave’s Grammar School was founded in 1571 by royal charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I, originally in Southwark, making it one of the oldest grammar schools in England. It moved to its current Orpington site in 1968.
St Olave’s Grammar School uses a two-stage test. Stage 1 is the Selective Eligibility Test, a one-hour multiple-choice paper covering English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. The top 450 boys are then invited to Stage 2, which has written English and mathematics papers.
St Olave’s Grammar School does not operate a catchment area, and applications are welcomed from boys living anywhere. Distance from the school is used only as a tie-break where two boys are otherwise equally ranked for the final place.
For September 2027 entry, registration for the Selective Eligibility Test opens on 8th June 2026 and closes on 29th June 2026, through the school website. Parents must also name St Olave’s Grammar School on the Common Application Form, which is due by the 31st October.
All registered boys sit the Stage 1 Selective Eligibility Test in September. The highest-ranked 450 boys are invited to the Stage 2 written English and mathematics papers in November, and final places are awarded on Stage 2 performance under the school’s admissions criteria.
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