St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School
St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School
St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School 11 Plus Guide
At a Glance
Assessment: Individual
Fees Type: Free
Boarding: Day school
Admissions: Boys Only
Places per year: 128
Competition: Very High
Ofsted Rating: Outstanding
St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School
St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School is a prestigious, highly selective state grammar school for boys in Orpington, with a co-educational sixth form. Founded in 1571, it combines centuries of academic tradition with a modern, ambitious curriculum and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities in music, sport, debating and STEM.
Rated Outstanding by Ofsted (2024), the school admits around 128 boys each year from over 1,500 applicants, making entry extremely competitive. Admission to Year 7 is through a two-stage process: a one-hour multiple-choice test in English comprehension, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, followed by school-set written papers in English and mathematics for shortlisted candidates. Final places are awarded based on Stage 2 performance alongside the school’s oversubscription criteria.
Renowned for its rigorous academic standards, exceptional teaching and strong culture of leadership, St Olave’s consistently achieves outstanding results and is regarded as one of the most competitive grammar schools in the country.
Location & Contact Info
Contact details, address and parking information for St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School
Ofsted Report
Ofsted report breakdown for St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School
Exam Format
Learn about the 11 Plus exam format at St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School
Preparing for the 11 Plus
Help your child prepare with tips, exam papers, and featured tuition agencies
Key Dates
All key dates and application information for St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School
How to Apply
Information on the application process for St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School
FAQs
Frequently asked questions and answers for St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School
Schools Nearby
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St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School’s Contact Information and More
Contact details, address, and parking information for St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School.
School Address
Full Address:
St. Olave's Grammar School, Goddington LaneOrpington
Kent
BR6 9SH
Contact Information
Parking in the school
There is limited on-site parking at St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School. Parents and visitors should be aware that spaces are very restricted.
Additional parking off site
The school is located around 1 mile from Orpington station, which provides public parking options nearby. Please note that on test days, no parking is permitted anywhere close to the school site, so families should plan alternative transport or park further away and walk.
St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School Ofsted Report
Quick Summary
Overall rating: St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School provides an exceptional, all-round education where pupils thrive academically and personally.
Academic strength: The ambitious, well-sequenced curriculum enables pupils of all abilities, including those with SEND, to achieve highly and develop deep subject knowledge.
Teaching and curriculum: Teachers have excellent subject expertise, use effective strategies to check understanding, and ensure knowledge is embedded securely in long-term memory.
Behaviour and culture: Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary, marked by respect, maturity, high motivation, and a strong sense of belonging as ‘Olavians’.
Leadership and safeguarding: Leaders share a clear, ambitious vision, foster a supportive culture for staff and pupils, and maintain effective safeguarding arrangements.
St Olave's Grammar School 11 Plus Exam Format
Year 7 entry is decided through a two-stage entrance test.
The St Olave's Grammar School Entry Exam: Overview
Stage One
Preliminary Test
The first stage is a one-hour multiple-choice test consisting of around 60 questions across four sections: English comprehension, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. The 450 highest-scoring candidates are invited to sit the second stage. Results from this test are age-standardised and carried forward to the final ranking.
Stage Two
School-Set Written Tests
Shortlisted candidates take two one-hour written exams at the school site. The English paper assesses reading comprehension, inference and justification, as well as a creative writing task. The Mathematics paper tests Key Stage 2 knowledge through problem-solving and reasoning, with questions often more challenging than standard KS2 level. Final admission rankings are based on combined scores from both stages, alongside the school’s admissions criteria.
Subject Summary
| English | Maths | Verbal Reasoning | Non-Verbal Reasoning | Additional |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pass Mark
There is no fixed pass mark for entry to St Olave’s. In Stage 1, only the top 450 scorers are invited to the Stage 2 exams, regardless of their exact score. Final offers of places are then based on performance in the Stage 2 written papers, with the highest-ranked candidates (after applying the admissions criteria) securing one of the 128 available Year 7 places.
Catchment Area
St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School does not have a formal catchment area, so applications are welcomed from boys living anywhere. However, if two or more candidates achieve the same score for the final available place, priority is given to the applicant who lives closer to the school.
Additional Eligibility
To be considered for a place, candidates must achieve a high enough score in Stage 1 to progress to Stage 2 and complete both Stage 2 papers. If more pupils meet the standard than there are places available, the following oversubscription criteria are applied:
- Priority is given to Looked After and Previously Looked After Children who have completed both stages.
- Up to 128 places are offered to the highest-scoring Pupil Premium applicants.
- Remaining places are allocated in rank order of Stage 2 results.
If two or more candidates are tied for the final place, priority is given to the child living closest to the school.
Click find out more about St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School’s admission policy.
Preparing for the 11 Plus Test at St Olave’s Grammar School
The entrance exams at St Olave’s are challenging, so preparation needs to be steady and well-structured.
Useful Tips
Start Early
Begin preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5 to allow steady progress over time without unnecessary pressure.
Use Exam Papers
Use timed practice papers to help your child become familiar with the exam format and build strong test technique.
Target Weak Areas
Identify the topics or question types your child finds most challenging and dedicate extra practice to improving these.
Encourage Daily Reading
Regular reading boosts vocabulary, comprehension and critical thinking — all essential skills for success in the St Olave’s 11 Plus.
Make Use of Online Resources
Digital resources can provide targeted practice, personalised feedback and engaging activities to make study sessions more effective.
Best Chance of Success
Consistent, well-structured preparation will help your child feel confident, organised and ready to perform their best on exam day.
11 Plus Mock Exams in Your Area
We are in the process of establishing local test centres to provide in-person 11 Plus mock exams designed to mirror the format used by St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School. These sessions will give pupils the chance to practise under real exam conditions, boosting both confidence and performance. While this service is not yet available, you can register your interest using the form below, and we will contact you as soon as mock exams are offered in your area.
St Olave's Grammar School’s Key Dates
Key dates to be aware of when applying to St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School.
Entrance Exam Registration Opens
Open Evening
Registration Deadline
Selective Entrance Test (SET) Stage 1
Outcome of SET 1
Common Application form (CAF) Deadline
Stage 2 Entrance Test (if pass stage 1)
Offer Day
St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School Application Process
To apply for a Year 7 place at St Olave’s, three steps are required.
Admissions Policy 2026
Be sure to read the St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School Admissions Policy PDF so that you and your child are fully aware of the process and eligibility requirements.
View Admissions PolicyEntrance Test Registration
You must complete the online application form on the St Olave’s website during the registration window (June–July 2025). This form is required for your child to sit the Stage 1 entrance test. Late submissions will not be accepted unless in exceptional circumstances.
Visit School WebsiteCommon Application Form (CAF)
The CAF must be submitted to your local authority with St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School listed as one of your preferences. The deadline is 31st October 2025. Both forms must be completed; failure to submit either will result in an incomplete application.
St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School FAQs
To apply, families must complete three steps: read the school’s Admissions Policy, submit the online Entrance Test Registration Form on the St Olave’s website during the registration window, and submit the Common Application Form (CAF) to their local authority, listing St Olave’s as a preference. Both forms must be completed by their deadlines for the application to be valid.
Entry is based on a two-stage process. Stage 1 is a one-hour multiple-choice test covering English comprehension, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. The 450 top-scoring candidates are invited to Stage 2, which consists of two one-hour school-set written exams in English (comprehension, inference, and creative writing) and Mathematics (problem-solving and reasoning). Final offers are based on combined results from both stages and the admissions criteria.
Entry is highly competitive, with over 1,500 applicants each year for around 128 Year 7 places. Only the highest-scoring candidates across both stages secure a place, making careful preparation essential.
There is no formal catchment area, and applications are welcomed from any location. However, if two or more candidates achieve the same score for the final place, priority is given to the pupil living closest to the school.