GDST school admissions process and entry requirements

Applying to a GDST school is designed to help families find the right fit for their daughter. While each school manages its own admissions process, the usual journey is to make an enquiry, visit the school, submit an application and complete an age-appropriate assessment.

Entry points, deadlines, assessments, fees and availability vary by school and year group. Families should always check the admissions page of their preferred GDST school for the current requirements and key dates.

Start with an enquiry and visit

The first step is usually to contact the school’s admissions team or complete an online enquiry form. This enables the team to provide information relevant to your daughter’s age, proposed entry year and the places available.

An open event, taster session or private visit is a valuable opportunity to meet staff and pupils, see the facilities and experience the school’s atmosphere. Many GDST schools offer open days as well as individual visits by arrangement.

Submit an application

Once you have decided to apply, you will normally create a parent account or complete an online application form. Schools may ask for supporting information, such as a recent school report, a photograph or proof of identity, depending on the entry point.

Applications should be submitted by the school’s published deadline. Places can occasionally become available outside the main entry years, so it is worth contacting the admissions team if you are considering a mid-year move or an alternative year group.

What assessments involve

GDST schools are academically selective, but assessments are tailored to your daughter’s age and stage of education. They are intended to identify her potential, understanding and enthusiasm for learning – not simply what she has already been taught.

Entry stage	Typical admissions activity
Nursery and Reception	Informal, age-appropriate activities, such as practical or verbal tasks, alongside opportunities to meet staff and take part in stay-and-play or taster sessions.
Junior school	An assessment appropriate to the year group, often combined with an opportunity for the school to get to know your daughter. Some schools may request a report from her current setting.
Year 7	Usually an entrance assessment, commonly including English and mathematics. Some schools also use verbal, numerical and non-verbal reasoning tasks, an interview and a current-school report.
Years 8–10	An entrance assessment, interview and reference or report from the applicant’s current school may form part of the process.
Sixth Form	Typically includes an interview, a reference from the current school and GCSE grade requirements. Subject-specific requirements may apply for A-level choices.

Offers, scholarships and bursaries

Schools make offers after assessments have been completed. An offer may be conditional, particularly at Sixth Form, where final GCSE results and subject-entry criteria can be relevant. For example, Nottingham Girls’ High School requires an average Grade 6 across eight GCSE subjects, including English and mathematics, for Sixth Form entry; individual A-level subjects may have additional requirements.

Some GDST schools offer scholarships, exhibitions and means-tested bursaries at selected entry points. At Blackheath High School, for example, scholarships are available at 11+ and 16+, while bursaries are offered at 11+, 13+ and 16+. Availability, eligibility criteria and application deadlines differ by school.

Prepare with confidence

The most helpful preparation is to ensure your daughter feels relaxed, informed and ready to show who she is. For younger pupils, this means approaching assessment activities as a chance to play, talk and explore. For older applicants, it can mean encouraging regular reading, practising core English and mathematics skills, and being ready to discuss interests and learning.

There is no single GDST-wide admissions test or set of entry requirements. Contact your chosen school early, attend a visit where possible, and use its current admissions guidance to understand the exact process, deadlines and support available.