Character and Ambition: The 11+ Process at St John’s School, Leatherhead
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Located in a bustling, attractive Surrey town, St John’s School, Leatherhead is a highly popular, selective co-educational day and boarding school. Noted for its incredibly supportive community, excellent academic value-add, and robust co-curricular programme, St John's typically sees around five applicants competing for every available place.
Their 11+ framework is specifically designed to assess a candidate's teachability, social intelligence, and core academic capacity.
The St John's Admissions Roadmap
St John’s has streamlined its process to focus on a child's potential rather than hours of rigid exam drilling.
1. The ISEB Common Pre-Test (October/November)
St John’s uses the digital, adaptive ISEB Common Pre-Test as its primary academic baseline. Taken in the Autumn of Year 6 (usually at the candidate's current school), this multiple-choice, age-standardised test covers:
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English & Mathematics
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Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning
2. The St John's Experience Day (January)
Rather than academic filtering, all registered children who sat the ISEB tests are invited to campus in early January for the St John’s Experience Day.
With the formal testing already behind them, this day is entirely focused on fun and connection. It features:
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Observed collaborative group activities and team-building games.
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A friendly, conversational one-to-one interview with an experienced member of staff.
Note: All candidates who sit the ISEB tests are automatically considered for an Academic Scholarship, with top performers invited back for an additional academic interview in late January.
How Exceptional Academics Prepares Your Child
Our targeted 11+ programme ensures your child is prepared for every aspect of the St John's process. We build a robust foundation for the digital ISEB Pre-Test while running specialised interview coaching that helps children express their passions naturally, listen actively, and shine in collaborative group scenarios.
Aiming for a Year 7 place at St John's School, Leatherhead? Secure your child’s preparation path by getting in touch with our team today at info@exceptionalacademics.com.