Schools / Haberdashers' Boys' School
Haberdashers' Boys' School
- Independent school
- Boys
- Day
- Ages 4–18
- 1,429 pupils
Haberdashers' Boys' School is an independent school for boys in Elstree, Hertfordshire, educating around 1,400 pupils aged 4 to 18. Entrance is reported to begin with a bespoke online assessment plus a creative writing task, with interviews for shortlisted candidates in a second round; secondary sources attribute the online assessment to Quest Assessments, but an ISEB Common Pre-Test first stage is also reported and the school's official pages do not settle the provider. It is one of the Haberdashers' Company schools, sharing its Elstree campus with Haberdashers' Girls' School.
RegionEast of England
DfE URN117648
The exam
Athena holds admission-route records for Haberdashers' Boys' School. They are shown by entry cycle below; where the provider changes between cycles, each cycle keeps its own recorded exam.
2027 entry
Set by Quest Assessments (produced in partnership with Atom Learning)
First round: Quest Admissions assessment (Maths and NVR; English and VR; Creative Comprehension) plus a creative writing task (November, Year 6); second round interviews (January). Confirmation status (October 2026): secondary sources lean towards a bespoke Quest assessment with creative writing, but an ISEB Common Pre-Test first stage is also reported and the school's official pages do not settle it. Treat the attribution as unconfirmed.
10391 published practice questions tagged for this exam
Route record: needs review · Athena schools expansion research 2026-10-27
Set by Individual schools / small consortia (no board)
First round: Quest Admissions assessment (Maths and NVR; English and VR; Creative Comprehension) plus a creative writing task (November, Year 6); second round interviews (January). Confirmation status (October 2026): secondary sources lean towards a bespoke Quest assessment with creative writing, but an ISEB Common Pre-Test first stage is also reported and the school's official pages do not settle it. Treat the attribution as unconfirmed.
1038 published practice questions tagged for this exam
Route record: needs review · Athena schools expansion research 2026-10-27
2028 entry
Set by Quest Assessments (produced in partnership with Atom Learning)
First round: Quest Admissions assessment (Maths and NVR; English and VR; Creative Comprehension) plus a creative writing task (November, Year 6); second round interviews (January). Confirmation status (October 2026): secondary sources lean towards a bespoke Quest assessment with creative writing, but an ISEB Common Pre-Test first stage is also reported and the school's official pages do not settle it. Treat the attribution as unconfirmed.
10391 published practice questions tagged for this exam
Route record: needs review · Athena schools expansion research 2026-10-27
Set by Individual schools / small consortia (no board)
First round: Quest Admissions assessment (Maths and NVR; English and VR; Creative Comprehension) plus a creative writing task (November, Year 6); second round interviews (January). Confirmation status (October 2026): secondary sources lean towards a bespoke Quest assessment with creative writing, but an ISEB Common Pre-Test first stage is also reported and the school's official pages do not settle it. Treat the attribution as unconfirmed.
1038 published practice questions tagged for this exam
Route record: needs review · Athena schools expansion research 2026-10-27
Free lessons for this exam
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Key dates & preparation
2028 entry
Test: Late November of Year 6 — the London Consortium online assessment
Results: Outcomes are released through the consortium in the new year
Offers: Mid-February of Year 6 — the consortium’s shared offer point
When to start preparing: Start preparing in the spring 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
2027 entry
Test: Late November of Year 6 — the London Consortium online assessment
Results: Outcomes are released through the consortium in the new year
Offers: Mid-February of Year 6 — the consortium’s shared offer point
When to start preparing: Start preparing in the spring 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
Admissions rules
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.
Read the school's admissions policy
Results & destinations
2025 results
GCSE: 88% of all GCSEs awarded were at Grade 9–7
School-published
A level: Average point score per A level entry 51.54 (average grade A); 68.1% of A level students achieved AAB or higher
DfE performance tables
University destinations:
- 23 offers — Oxford or Cambridge — School-published: 23 pupils secured Oxbridge offers (offers, not confirmed places).
Source: official source · checked 2026-10-28 · official source · checked 2026-10-28
2024 results
A level: Average point score per A level entry 50.69 (average grade A)
DfE performance tables
Source: official source · checked 2026-10-28
Scholarships & bursaries
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.
11+ entry
Academic Scholarship
ScholarshipAcademic
What is assessed: Outstanding results in entrance examination and interviews; no special scholarship examination
When: Entrance assessment in November, interviews in January
What it's worth: Value not stated on the school's published pages
How to apply: All entrance candidates automatically considered (no separate application for academic)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Art Scholarship
ScholarshipArt
What is assessed: Portfolio, interview and practical assessment
When: Scholarship application deadline in November before entry
What it's worth: Value not stated on the school's published pages
How to apply: Separate application required
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Design Technology Scholarship
ScholarshipOther
What is assessed: Portfolio and scholarship interview, plus entrance exam performance
When: November deadline before entry
What it's worth: Value not stated on the school's published pages
How to apply: Separate application required
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Drama Scholarship
ScholarshipDrama
What is assessed: Audition (monologue) and practical workshop and interview
When: November deadline before entry
What it's worth: Value not stated on the school's published pages
How to apply: Separate application required
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Music Scholarship
ScholarshipMusic
What is assessed: Audition and interview after passing entrance examination
When: November deadline; audition after entrance exam
What it's worth: Value not stated on the school's published pages
How to apply: Separate application required (Music Scholarship application form)
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Sport Scholarship
ScholarshipSport
What is assessed: Trial session and references from current coach / PE teacher
When: November deadline before entry
What it's worth: Value not stated on the school's published pages
How to apply: Separate application required
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Bright Futures Bursary
BursaryOther
What is assessed: Donor-supported bursary for students of Black African or Caribbean heritage whose families could not afford Habs without substantial support; means-tested
When: With main bursary application
What it's worth: Up to two fully funded spaces at Habs Boys (11+, 13+ or 16+)
How to apply: Separate application required via admissions team
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Bursary
BursaryOther
What is assessed: Means-tested; all bursary applicants sit standard entrance assessments; roughly 10% of students receive support, average bursary 89% of fees across Habs (Foundation text)
When: Bursary application deadline in November before entry
What it's worth: Full or nearly full support for lower-income families; up to 100% of fees
How to apply: Separate application required; contact email shared at registration
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
13+ entry
Academic Scholarship
ScholarshipAcademic
What is assessed: Entrance examination and interview performance
When: Year before entry
What it's worth: Value not stated on the school's published pages
How to apply: All entrance candidates automatically considered
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Art Scholarship
ScholarshipArt
What is assessed: Portfolio (6-20 pieces), interview
When: November deadline before entry
What it's worth: Value not stated on the school's published pages
How to apply: Separate application required
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Design Technology Scholarship
ScholarshipOther
What is assessed: Portfolio and scholarship interview
When: November deadline
What it's worth: Value not stated on the school's published pages
How to apply: Separate application required
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Drama Scholarship
ScholarshipDrama
What is assessed: Audition, practical workshop and interview
When: November deadline
What it's worth: Value not stated on the school's published pages
How to apply: Separate application required
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Music Scholarship
ScholarshipMusic
What is assessed: Audition and interview
When: November deadline
What it's worth: Value not stated on the school's published pages
How to apply: Separate application required
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Sport Scholarship
ScholarshipSport
What is assessed: Trial and coach references
When: November deadline
What it's worth: Value not stated on the school's published pages
How to apply: Separate application required
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Bright Futures Bursary
BursaryOther
What is assessed: Donor-supported, means-tested, for students of Black African or Caribbean heritage
When: With main bursary application
What it's worth: Fully funded place (up to two spaces across entry points)
How to apply: Separate application required
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Bursary
BursaryOther
What is assessed: Means-tested; entrance assessments required
When: November deadline
What it's worth: Up to 100% of fees
How to apply: Separate application required
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
16+ entry
Academic Scholarship
ScholarshipAcademic
What is assessed: Entrance examination and interview performance
When: November of Year 11
What it's worth: Value not stated on the school's published pages
How to apply: All entrance candidates automatically considered
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Art Scholarship
ScholarshipArt
What is assessed: Portfolio, interview and practical assessment
When: November of Year 11
What it's worth: Value not stated on the school's published pages
How to apply: Separate application required
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Design Technology Scholarship
ScholarshipOther
What is assessed: Portfolio and interview
When: November of Year 11
What it's worth: Value not stated on the school's published pages
How to apply: Separate application required
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Drama Scholarship
ScholarshipDrama
What is assessed: Monologue and practical workshop
When: November of Year 11
What it's worth: Value not stated on the school's published pages
How to apply: Separate application required
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Music Scholarship
ScholarshipMusic
What is assessed: Audition and interview
When: November of Year 11
What it's worth: Value not stated on the school's published pages
How to apply: Separate application required
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Sport Scholarship
ScholarshipSport
What is assessed: Trial session and coach references
When: November of Year 11
What it's worth: Value not stated on the school's published pages
How to apply: Separate application required
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Bright Futures Bursary
BursaryOther
What is assessed: Donor-supported, means-tested, for students of Black African or Caribbean heritage
When: With main bursary application
What it's worth: Fully funded place (up to two spaces across entry points)
How to apply: Separate application required
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
Bursary
BursaryOther
What is assessed: Means-tested; entrance assessments required
When: November deadline
What it's worth: Up to 100% of fees
How to apply: Separate application required
Official scholarship information
Checked 2026-10-28
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