Schools / Birkdale School
Birkdale School is an independent co-educational school in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, educating around 720 pupils aged 2 to 19. Entrance is assessed through the ISEB Common Pre-Test, followed by the school's own examination papers and an interview.
Athena holds admission-route records for Birkdale School. They are shown by entry cycle below; where the provider changes between cycles, each cycle keeps its own recorded exam.
Set by ISEB (tests commissioned from GL Assessment)
ISEB Common Pre-Tests only at 11+: external 11+ applicants sit the ISEB Common Pre-Tests in Year 6 (Admissions Policy section 7.4). Co-educational at Year 7.
9489 published practice questions tagged for this exam
Route record: verified · Athena schools expansion research 2026-10-27
Set by ISEB (tests commissioned from GL Assessment)
ISEB Common Pre-Tests only at 11+: external 11+ applicants sit the ISEB Common Pre-Tests in Year 6 (Admissions Policy section 7.4). Co-educational at Year 7.
9489 published practice questions tagged for this exam
Route record: verified · Athena schools expansion research 2026-10-27
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Test: Autumn to spring of Year 6: the ISEB Common Pre-Test is sat at the candidate’s own school (most schools work to the autumn term), with the school’s own papers and interview day usually in January of Year 6
Results: Outcomes follow the school’s published timetable, typically in the spring term of Year 6
Offers: February of Year 6 — the school publishes its offers to its own timetable (London day schools cluster around a mid-February offer point)
When to start preparing: Start preparing in the autumn term of Year 5 (the standing rule: about 18 months before the test).
General guidance: this follows the rule of thumb of starting about 18 months before the test. It is not the school's own published advice.
Source: official admissions information · checked 2026-10-28
Test: Autumn to spring of Year 6: the ISEB Common Pre-Test is sat at the candidate’s own school (most schools work to the autumn term), with the school’s own papers and interview day usually in January of Year 6
Results: Outcomes follow the school’s published timetable, typically in the spring term of Year 6
Offers: February of Year 6 — the school publishes its offers to its own timetable (London day schools cluster around a mid-February offer point)
When to start preparing: Start preparing in the autumn term of Year 5 (the standing rule: about 18 months before the test).
General guidance: this follows the rule of thumb of starting about 18 months before the test. It is not the school's own published advice.
Source: official admissions information · checked 2026-10-28
No catchment — open competition
There is no catchment area. Admission is by the school’s own assessment process (examinations and, usually, an interview); the school sets its own oversubscription criteria in its admissions policy — commonly the assessment result first, with sibling or other connections considered at some schools.
GCSE: 64% of GCSE grades were 9–7
School-published
A level: Average point score per A level entry 44.09 (average grade B+); 29.3% of A level students achieved AAB or higher
DfE performance tables
Source: official source · checked 2026-10-28
A level: Average point score per A level entry 42.62 (average grade B+)
DfE performance tables
Source: official source · checked 2026-10-28
Schemes recorded from the school's own published information. A scholarship is a merit award; a bursary is means-tested. Values are shown exactly as the school states them — where a scheme is honorary, its stated value says so.
ScholarshipAcademic
What is assessed: By invitation following the Common Pre-Tests (top 12-15 candidates): English written paper and Mathematics lesson-based assessment/tasks
When: Week commencing 18 January 2027; forms by Friday 20 November 2026
What it's worth: Typically 5-15% of fees (maximum total fee remission from one or more scholarships 25%)
How to apply: By invitation/nomination (following Common Pre-Tests)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
ScholarshipMusic
What is assessed: Music assessment; candidates typically good Grade III standard in chosen instrument/voice; must satisfy general admission standard in Common Pre-Tests
When: Week commencing 18 January 2027; forms by Friday 20 November 2026
What it's worth: Typically 5-15% of fees plus free weekly tuition in one instrument in school
How to apply: Separate application required (indicate on Registration Form)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
ScholarshipSport
What is assessed: Application form detailing sporting interests/achievements and short video if possible; practical assessment day; potential to play at regional level or above in main sports (Cricket, Football, Hockey, Netball, Rugby Union)
When: Practical assessment week commencing 18 January (as published); forms by Friday 20 November 2026
What it's worth: Typically 5-15% of fees
How to apply: Separate application required (indicate on Registration Form)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
ExhibitionMusic
What is assessed: Music assessment, as for Music Scholarship
When: Week commencing 18 January 2027
What it's worth: Free weekly tuition in one instrument in school
How to apply: Separate application required (indicate on Registration Form)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
BursaryOther
What is assessed: Means-tested on full assessment of family financial circumstances; may be awarded alongside a scholarship or stand-alone
When: Timing not stated on the published pages
What it's worth: Up to a maximum of 100% of tuition fees in total (including any scholarships awarded)
How to apply: Separate application required
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
ScholarshipAcademic
What is assessed: General Paper plus assessment in two subjects intended for Sixth Form study, and interview with a senior member of staff; conditional on GCSE results
When: Scholarship and Bursary Examinations January 2027; forms by Friday 4 December 2026
What it's worth: Typically 5-15% of fees (maximum total 25%)
How to apply: Separate application required (indicate in section 4 of Registration Form)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
ScholarshipOther
What is assessed: For Sixth Form entrants studying Maths, Science and Technology subjects intending an Engineering degree; application via Arkwright Scholarship Trust
When: Timing not stated on the published pages
What it's worth: £500 over two years (£250 per year for STEM-related equipment or activities)
How to apply: Separate application required (online via Arkwright Scholarship Trust; application fee applies)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
ScholarshipSport
What is assessed: Application form detailing sporting interests/achievements and short video if possible; shortlisted candidates interviewed by Director of Sport and Head; county-level standard or equivalent expected
When: Interviews January 2027; application by Friday 4 December 2026
What it's worth: Typically 5-15% of fees, plus sporting education support
How to apply: Separate application required
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
ScholarshipMusic
What is assessed: Music assessment; candidates normally Grade VII+ in first instrument; must satisfy general Sixth Form admission standard
When: Assessment January 2027; forms by Friday 4 December 2026
What it's worth: Typically 5-15% of fees plus free weekly tuition in one instrument (including vocal) in school
How to apply: Separate application required (indicate in section 4 of Registration Form)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
ExhibitionMusic
What is assessed: Music assessment, as for Music Scholarship
When: Assessment January 2027
What it's worth: Free weekly tuition in one instrument (including vocal) in school
How to apply: Separate application required (indicate in section 4 of Registration Form)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
BursaryOther
What is assessed: Means-tested bursary funding for Sixth Form entrants who would benefit from a Birkdale education but for whom full fees would be prohibitive
When: Sixth Form Scholarship and Bursary Examinations January 2027
What it's worth: Up to a maximum of 100% of tuition fees in total (including any scholarships awarded)
How to apply: Separate application required
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
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