Haberdashers’ Girls’ School 7 Plus (7+) Exam Guide

About Haberdashers’ Girls’ School

Haberdashers’ Girls’ School sits on Aldenham Road in Elstree, on the same estate as Haberdashers’ Boys’ School. Girls join the Junior School at 7+ into Year 3.

Be clear-eyed about the numbers here: Year 3 has two forms of about 22, but most of those girls come up from the school’s own infant years. The school says it welcomes approximately four external girls at 7+, which makes this one of the smallest and most competitive 7+ intakes in the area.

Key information for 2027 entry to Haberdashers’ Girls’ School at 7 Plus (7+)

• School type: girls’ independent school, Elstree, Hertfordshire
• External places at 7+: approximately 4
• First round: an assessment morning of maths, English and group activities, Wednesday 25 November 2026
• No verbal or non-verbal reasoning paper
• Second round: further activities while parents meet the Head of Junior School, Wednesday 16 December 2026
• Registration closes Friday 6 November 2026; fee £150 (£200 overseas)
• Offers: Friday 22 January 2027; acceptance deadline midday, Wednesday 3 February 2027
• No sibling priority; bursaries start at Year 7 and Year 12, not 7+
• Contact: habselstree.org.uk/girls

Admissions information for 2027 entry to Haberdashers’ Girls’ School at 7 Plus (7+)

With roughly four external places, the 7+ here is less a big entrance exam and more a careful look at a small number of girls. The first-round morning on 25 November 2026 mixes maths and English work with group activities, with assessors watching how each girl works with others and alone. A smaller group returns on 16 December for further activities while parents meet the Head of Junior School and senior staff.

Offers arrive on Friday 22 January 2027, with acceptance due by midday on 3 February. Each child is considered individually, with no sibling priority, and there are no bursaries at this entry point.

How can I register my child for the 7 Plus (7+) assessment at Haberdashers’ Girls’ School?

Register through the school’s online admissions system by Friday 6 November 2026. The fee is £150 for UK applicants, £200 from overseas. The opening date isn’t published, so there’s nothing to be gained by waiting once your decision is made.

What is the 7 Plus (7+) assessment format at Haberdashers’ Girls’ School?

Maths, English and group activities, assessed over a single morning. There’s no reasoning paper, and no formal one-to-one interview: the second round is framed as a chance for the school to get to know your daughter.

The school strongly recommends against tutoring for the 7+. With four places, the realistic aim of any preparation is confidence: a girl who has seen what a maths and English paper looks like, and who is used to reading, writing and talking about what she reads, will show her real ability more easily on the morning.

Haberdashers’ Girls’ School 7 Plus (7+) top tips for your child

• Go in with realistic expectations: around four external places means strong girls will miss out through arithmetic, not failure
• Focus on core Year 2 English and maths; there is no reasoning paper to prepare
• Group activities count, so playdates, clubs and anything involving taking turns and listening are genuinely useful
• Have a happy second choice lined up and talk about both schools warmly
• Applying to the Boys’ School too? The offer date and acceptance deadline are identical, which makes decision week simpler

How to prepare your child for the 7 Plus (7+) Haberdashers’ Girls’ School assessment

For light-touch practice, our 7+ English and maths packs below give full papers with answers at the right level. One short session a week from September is ample for an assessment like this; the school itself asks parents not to over-prepare, and with a morning built around activities as much as papers, a well-rested, cheerful child is the best preparation of all.