is a selective secondary school in Orpington, London, founded by Elizabeth I in 1571. It is one of London鈥檚 highest-performing state schools鈥攔anked the fourth best state provider nationally in 2024, and 20th overall when private schools are included.
Unsurprisingly, the school is heavily oversubscribed and extremely competitive. Each year, more than 1,400 students apply for around 130 Year 7 places, and the academic selection process is notably rigorous.
This selectivity leads to exceptional outcomes at key examination points. In 2025, 89.5% of GCSE grades were awarded at grades 9鈥�7 (A*鈥揂), with an extraordinary 47% at grade 9 alone. A-level results were equally impressive: 95.1% of grades were at A*鈥揃, with 39% at A* and 78% at A*鈥揂.
The school is diverse with nearly 50% of students classed as being from ethnic minorities 鈥� though it is less diverse on a social level, with only 2% of pupils being on free school meals.
St Olave鈥檚 received an in 2024, with inspectors reporting that: 鈥淎 highly ambitious curriculum enables exceptional progress for all students, including those with SEND.鈥� They also found the school motto鈥�Happiness, Success, Community鈥攖o be firmly embedded across school life. Importantly, 鈥淭he school fosters a culture of acceptance and inclusion, which students and parents praised highly.鈥�
Entry Points
The main points of entry are in Years 7 and 12, with very few places arising at other times. In addition to the standard 130 places for Year 7, up to ten places each year are reserved for pupils eligible for the Pupil Premium鈥攊ncluding free school meals鈥攁nd around four are offered through the .
Admission Requirements for 11+ Entry
Year 7 entry is by a two-stage process which takes place at St Olave鈥檚, to determine if candidates meet the school鈥檚 required standard. Given results and the number of applicants, parents should expect the process to be exceptionally demanding.
Stage 1: Selective Eligibility Test (SET)
The SET takes place in September of Year 6. It lasts one hour and consists of multiple-choice questions in English, Logic (including Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning), and Mathematics. Families are notified in October whether their child has achieved the required standard to progress to Stage 2.
Stage 2: Entrance Test
The Stage 2 assessments occur in mid-November and consist of one-hour English and Mathematics papers.
What Sort of Questions Should I Expect in St Olave鈥檚 Admissions Tests?
In English, students can expect challenging comprehension passages and multiple-choice questions requiring strong inference and deduction skills.
In Mathematics, questions often cover patterns, sequences, primes, frequencies and other topics aligned to the Key Stage 2 curriculum.
The school notes that English is difficult to 鈥渃ram鈥� for, emphasising long-term development of reading and analytical skills. However, targeted exposure to complex texts does help familiarise students with the type of passages they will encounter.
Both Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning are included in Stage 1. These elements draw on logic and pattern recognition鈥攕kills not taught in most primary schools鈥攕o practice is strongly recommended. Numerous free resources are available online, alongside those provided by the school (see the example given by the school below).
Example Verbal Reasoning Question
Malgon鈥檚 torvid darples were climping scurvidly.
Which word in the above sentence is an adverb?
A. torvid
B. darples
C. climping
D. scurvidly
E. None of the above
.
16+ (Sixth Form) Admission Requirements
Students wishing to enter St Olave鈥檚 Sixth Form must apply during a short window from mid-January to late February in Year 11. All applicants are invited to a familiarisation event in the summer term after their GCSE exams.
Year 12 entry鈥攐pen to both boys and girls鈥攊s highly competitive: in 2025 the school received 1,176 applications. Admission is based entirely on GCSE performance, and places are offered only after results are published in August.
The process contains some uncertainty: the school notes that offers are made 鈥渙n a rolling basis until all places are filled鈥� and that it 鈥渕ay not be able to offer places to all external applicants who meet the minimum entry criteria.鈥�
The minimum requirements for Year 12 entry are nine GCSEs with a total points score of 63, including grade 7 or above in subjects chosen for A level, and at least grade 6 in English and Maths.
Preparation Tips for the St Olave鈥檚 Entrance Tests
In a climate of financial uncertainty and increasing demand for grammar school places, 11+ tests are becoming more competitive. Pupils should have a thorough understanding of all Key Stage 2 topics and be up to date with Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning鈥攕ubjects not typically covered in schools. Regular practice under timed conditions is essential.
妻友社区 has worked with specialist grammar school entrance tutors for over a decade and can support families through the entire process. For more information, please contact the Keystone office to speak with one of our experienced client managers.