How to Get Into St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School

St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School holds a unique position as the only co-educational Catholic grammar school in the United Kingdom. Located on Langley Road in Slough, this Outstanding-rated school combines academic excellence with Catholic values, attracting approximately 800 applications for just 150 Year 7 places annually. This 5.3:1 application ratio makes St Bernard's the most competitive school in the Slough Consortium.

If your child aspires to join this exceptional community, understanding the faith requirements, entrance exam demands, and realistic preparation strategies is essential for success.

School Overview: Academic Excellence with Catholic Values

St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School educates 1,046 students aged 11-18, achieving Outstanding across all categories in its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2023. The school maintained this exceptional rating since its previous inspection in 2011, demonstrating sustained excellence over more than a decade.

Academic results position St Bernard's within the top 0.5% of schools nationally. At GCSE, 98% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above, with 61% of all grades at 9-7. The school achieved exceptional performance across subjects, with around a third of students gaining grade 9 in Maths, RE and French, and around half achieving grade 9 in Geography and PE. At A-Level, the average grade achieved was B, with students progressing to top universities including Oxford and Cambridge.

Founded in 1897 by the Bernardine Sisters of the Order of St Benedict, the school remains deeply rooted in Catholic tradition while welcoming pupils of all faiths and none. Beyond academics, St Bernard's demonstrates commitment to community in every dimension. The school supports Catholic charities and organisations helping the disadvantaged. Students benefit from comprehensive extracurricular opportunities including extensive sports facilities and strong performing arts programs.

Understanding Faith Requirements: Certificate of Catholic Practice

The admission process at St Bernard's prioritizes practising Baptised Catholic children who have a Priest's reference or Certificate of Catholic Practice. Understanding these faith requirements is crucial for Catholic families, while non-Catholic families should understand how the oversubscription criteria affect their chances.

The Certificate of Catholic Practice is a formal document signed by your parish priest confirming regular Mass attendance and active participation in parish life. This certificate isn't a casual reference—it requires established, consistent involvement with your parish over an extended period. Priests typically require families to attend Mass regularly for at least six months to two years before signing the certificate, though exact requirements vary by parish and priest.

For Catholic families planning to apply to St Bernard's, establishing your parish connection well before the application deadline is essential. If you're not currently registered with a parish or attending Mass regularly, begin immediately. Contact your local Catholic parish, register your family, and become active members of the community through regular Mass attendance and participation in parish activities.

Parish registration and the Certificate of Catholic Practice cannot be rushed in the months before application. Priests understandably hesitate to sign certificates for families who suddenly appear only when grammar school applications approach. Genuine, sustained involvement demonstrates commitment to Catholic education for the right reasons.

The Entrance Exam and Pass Mark

St Bernard's is part of the Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools, which includes Herschel Grammar School, Langley Grammar School, and Upton Court Grammar School. The consortium operates a unified entrance exam system, meaning children sit just one 11 Plus examination regardless of how many Slough grammar schools they apply to.

The Slough Consortium chose GL Assessment to conduct 11 Plus exams from September 2023, representing a significant change from the previous CEM format. Families with older siblings who sat CEM exams need current information about the GL Assessment format to ensure effective preparation.

A standardized score of 111 or above places applicants in the top 35% of students sitting the examination, establishing eligibility for grammar school consideration. However, achieving 111 establishes eligibility only—it doesn't guarantee admission to St Bernard's given the intense oversubscription levels.

Understanding the Competition: 5.3:1 Oversubscription Ratio

St Bernard's receives approximately 800 applications for just 150 places, creating a 5.3:1 application ratio. This makes St Bernard's the most competitive school in the Slough Consortium, exceeding even Langley Grammar's already high demand.

The intense competition means that while 111 qualifies students for consideration, admission depends heavily on where families rank within the oversubscription criteria. Catholic families with the Certificate of Catholic Practice occupy the highest priority positions after looked-after children, giving them significant advantages over non-Catholic applicants.

For non-Catholic families or those without established parish connections, admission becomes considerably more challenging even with qualifying scores, as they rank lower in the priority system.

Oversubscription Criteria: Understanding Your Priority Position

When eligible applications exceed available places, St Bernard's allocates places in the following priority order: looked after children and previously looked after children, practising Baptised Catholic children with a Priest's reference or Certificate of Catholic Practice, other Baptised Catholic children, Baptised or Dedicated Children of other Christian Churches with a religious leader's reference, Baptised or Dedicated Children of other Christian Churches, children from other faiths attending specific Slough Catholic primary schools and living in Slough, children from other faiths attending those same Catholic primary schools, and finally children of other faiths with a religious leader's reference.

This detailed priority structure demonstrates why Catholic families with established parish connections have significantly stronger admission prospects. The Certificate of Catholic Practice places children in the second-highest priority category, immediately after looked-after children and ahead of all other applicants.

For families without Catholic affiliation, the criteria show that attending one of the specified Slough Catholic primary schools provides some advantage, particularly for families living in Slough. However, these lower priority positions mean admission becomes realistic only when higher-priority applicants don't fill all available places.

The Supplementary Information Form: Critical Additional Requirement

Beyond the standard Common Application Form submitted to your local authority, Catholic families seeking priority consideration must complete St Bernard's Supplementary Information Form. This SIF collects information about baptism, parish registration, Mass attendance, and requests the Certificate of Catholic Practice.

The SIF deadline typically aligns with the CAF deadline of 31 October, though families should verify exact timing through the school website. Missing the SIF deadline or failing to provide the Certificate of Catholic Practice means your application cannot receive Catholic priority, regardless of your family's actual faith practice.

Ensure you request the Certificate of Catholic Practice from your parish priest well in advance of the October deadline. Priests have many such requests to manage, and waiting until the last week creates unnecessary stress. Request the certificate by late September to allow adequate processing time.

Mixed-Gender Environment: A Unique Grammar School Feature

St Bernard's is the only co-educational Catholic grammar school in the country. This mixed-gender environment distinguishes it from most grammar schools, which typically educate boys and girls separately.

The co-educational structure creates distinct advantages for families. Parents of both sons and daughters can potentially send all their children to the same school, maintaining sibling connections and simplifying family logistics. The mixed environment also provides social benefits, allowing students to develop confidence interacting with peers of all genders in academic and social contexts.

Critical Dates and Registration Process

Registration opens 29 April 2025 and closes 9 September 2025 for September 2026 entry. Registration must be completed through the Slough Consortium portal accessible via any consortium school website. You'll need a recent digital photograph of your child ready to upload during registration.

The 11 Plus examination for entry to Year 7 in September 2026 will be held on Saturday 20 September 2025. Results are announced in mid-October 2025. After receiving results, parents must complete the Common Application Form by 31 October 2025, listing preferred schools.

Catholic families must also complete the Supplementary Information Form by the same deadline, including the Certificate of Catholic Practice. Both forms are essential—incomplete applications disqualify children from priority consideration.

Preparation Strategy for St Bernard's Success

Effective preparation requires understanding both the academic demands of the entrance exam and the faith documentation requirements unique to St Bernard's.

For Catholic families, the preparation timeline extends beyond academic work. If you're not currently established in a parish, begin attending Mass and participating in parish life immediately, ideally 18-24 months before the application deadline. Register with your parish formally and maintain consistent involvement. This cannot be rushed—genuine parish connection takes time to establish.

Academic preparation should begin in Year 4 with foundation-building. Encourage daily reading of varied fiction and non-fiction to build vocabulary naturally. Engage in word games, puzzles, and logic problems developing reasoning skills playfully. Ensure arithmetic skills remain strong through regular practice.

Year 5 September through December introduces 11 Plus question formats gradually using GL Assessment familiarization materials. Begin with untimed practice building understanding before introducing time pressure. Focus on all four components—English, maths, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning—building balanced competence.

Year 5 January through July represents intensive skill-building. Complete full practice papers weekly under timed conditions. Analyze errors thoroughly, maintaining an error log tracking commonly made mistakes. Dedicate approximately 7-10 hours weekly to preparation including tuition sessions and independent practice.

Year 6 September requires delicate balance maintaining sharpness without burnout. Complete 2-3 full practice papers under strict exam conditions building test day familiarity. Ensure adequate rest and maintained routines.

Our tuition center's convenient Slough location provides distinct advantages for families targeting St Bernard's. We understand the Slough Consortium exam format, the intense competition specific to St Bernard's, and can provide realistic guidance about admission chances based on your family's priority position within the oversubscription criteria.

Taking Your Next Step

Securing a St Bernard's place requires understanding both the academic entrance requirements and the unique faith-based priority system. The combination of intense competition and complex admissions criteria means expert guidance significantly improves outcomes.

We specialize in preparing students for Slough Consortium grammar schools including St Bernard's. Our convenient Slough location provides local expertise and understanding of the specific demands facing St Bernard's applicants. We can provide realistic assessment of admission chances based on your family's position within the oversubscription criteria.

We offer comprehensive diagnostic assessments evaluating your child's current readiness across all exam components. This assessment identifies specific strengths and weaknesses, provides realistic score projections, creates personalized preparation timelines, and offers honest feedback about whether St Bernard's represents a realistic target given your family's circumstances.

Book your consultation today to create a targeted St Bernard's admission strategy. Understanding exact requirements and creating personalized plans dramatically improves success chances.

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