How to prepare for Al-Aqsa Schools Trust 11+

The exam at a glance

Al-Aqsa Schools Trust is an independent school, and the school’s admissions page says that admissions information and application forms are provided by the school itself. For Year 7 entry in September 2028, ElevenReady’s verified information is that the school uses its own assessment.

At the time of writing, we could not find an official published page giving a full breakdown of the test format, tested subjects, timing or delivery method for Year 7 entry. That means it is best to treat the assessment as school-set and school-specific, and to check the school’s admissions page directly for the latest details before you plan preparation in detail.

What parents can do now is focus on broad Year 5 and early Year 6 readiness: secure reading, accurate arithmetic, clear written English, careful comprehension and the habit of working calmly under light time pressure. If the school later publishes a more detailed format, you can then adapt preparation to match it.

In practical terms, the day is likely to involve an admissions assessment arranged by the school, but because the school does not currently publish a step-by-step test-day format on the sources we found, parents should confirm arrival time, equipment, venue and whether there is an interview or additional assessment directly with the admissions office.

Registration and key dates

The school’s admissions page states that application forms are available from the school office or can be downloaded from the website. It also says that completed forms should be returned to the school office together with the relevant documents and fees. Because this is an independent school, registration appears to be run by the school, not by a local authority 11+ portal.

On the admissions page, the school asks parents to submit:

a completed application form;
the child’s birth certificate;
the child’s latest school report;
the application fee;
and, for some applications, other supporting documents requested by the school.

For specific dates for 2028 entry, we could not find an official published registration opening date, application deadline, test date or results date on the sources available. The school website provides admissions information and forms, but not a published calendar for this entry point on the pages we found.

So the safest approach is:

check the school’s admissions page regularly from Year 5 onwards;
download or request the latest Year 7 application form;
ask the school when assessment dates for September 2028 entry will be announced;
sign up for updates here: Free email alerts for this school's key dates.

If you want a quick overview page to revisit, ElevenReady’s school guide is here: The Al-Aqsa Schools Trust 11+ guide (format, catchment, dates).

Because no verified 2028 timetable is published yet, avoid relying on forum posts or old social media comments. For independent schools, dates can change from one admissions cycle to the next.

Who can apply: catchment and admissions

Al-Aqsa Schools Trust is an independent coeducational school. Unlike state grammar schools, independent schools do not usually operate through the local authority’s coordinated 11+ testing system, and admissions are typically handled directly by the school.

From the official school admissions page we found, the school publishes admissions information, application forms and fees. However, we could not find a published statement on that page setting out a catchment area, distance rule, priority order, number of Year 7 places or oversubscription criteria for the relevant entry point.

That means parents should not assume there is a catchment rule unless the school confirms one. If you need certainty on eligibility, priority or available places for September 2028 entry, contact the school directly through the admissions route on its website and ask for the current Year 7 admissions policy or handbook.

The school’s website does publish fee information. On the admissions and fees page, it lists upcoming fees for 2025/2026, which is useful for general planning, but families should always confirm the current fee schedule, deposit arrangements and any assessment or registration charges for the exact year they are applying.

A month-by-month preparation plan

Because the school sets its own assessment and does not currently publish a detailed format on the sources we found, the smartest plan is a broad, steady preparation programme rather than an intensely narrow one. For most children, calm consistency works much better than cramming.

January to March of Year 5

Keep preparation light: around 1 to 2 hours a week in short sessions.
Focus on reading fluency, vocabulary, mental maths and neat written work.
Build stamina through short comprehension tasks and careful arithmetic practice.
Notice any weak spots early, especially times tables, fractions, spelling and inference in reading.

April to June of Year 5

Increase gently to 2 to 3 hours a week.
Add one slightly longer task each week so your child gets used to sustaining concentration.
Encourage accurate working rather than rushing.
If the school publishes assessment details during this period, begin tailoring practice to match.

July to August before Year 6

Aim for 2 to 4 hours a week, with plenty of breaks and time off.
This is a good time to strengthen fundamentals: reading comprehension, arithmetic accuracy and written expression.
Introduce some timed work only in short bursts, so your child learns to keep moving without feeling pressured.
Keep practice varied to avoid holiday burnout.

September of Year 6

Move to 3 to 4 hours a week if your child is coping well.
Use mixed practice rather than only one topic at a time.
Start doing occasional timed papers or timed sections, but review them carefully afterwards.
Check the school website weekly for any admissions updates, assessment details or deadlines.

October of Year 6, if the assessment is near

Keep work steady but not excessive: often 3 hours a week is enough.
Do a few realistic timed sessions, then spend more time on review than on testing.
Prioritise sleep, routine and confidence.
In the final days, avoid overloading your child with new material.

The final week

Use short refreshers only.
Check travel plans, paperwork and the school’s instructions.
Keep evenings calm and predictable.

This type of plan works well when the exact assessment style is not yet published: it builds a child who is ready to read carefully, think clearly and work methodically in whatever form the school uses.

Subject by subject: what to practise

At present, the school does not publish the tested subjects on the sources we found. So rather than guess, the best approach is to prepare the core skills that independent school entry assessments commonly draw on and then refine your plan once the school confirms the format.

English and reading-related skills

Build regular reading into the week: fiction, non-fiction and short articles. Practise retrieving information, making inferences, explaining word choices and summarising a passage clearly. It also helps to work on spelling, punctuation and writing in complete, well-organised sentences.

If the school later confirms a written English element, your child will benefit from being able to plan a short answer, support an opinion with evidence from a text and write accurately under time pressure.

Mathematics-related skills

Keep the basics secure: number facts, times tables, place value, the four operations, fractions, decimals, percentages and simple problem solving. Children often do best when they can set work out clearly and check answers systematically.

If the school later confirms a maths paper, focus on applying knowledge in mixed questions rather than practising one topic in isolation for too long.

Reasoning or school-set problem solving

Because the school has not published the exact style, it is sensible to include some general problem-solving practice: spotting patterns, following instructions carefully, using logic step by step and working accurately at a sensible pace.

This should stay moderate until the school confirms whether reasoning is actually assessed. The aim is flexibility, not over-specialisation.

Writing and interview readiness

Some independent school admissions processes include written tasks, informal meetings or interviews. We did not find an official page confirming these for this entry point, so do not assume they are part of the process. Still, it can help your child to practise speaking politely to adults, answering simple questions about school interests and writing a clear paragraph on a familiar topic.

Practice papers and mock exams

When a school does not yet publish a detailed assessment format, practice papers are most useful for building discipline, confidence and review habits rather than trying to second-guess exact question types.

A sensible approach is:

begin with untimed work so your child learns the method;
move to short timed sections once accuracy is steady;
mark work carefully and discuss errors without drama;
keep an error notebook of topics to revisit;
avoid doing too many full papers too early.

Use school-specific resources first when they are available, then add general core-skills practice. ElevenReady’s free resources for this school are here:

If you use mock exams, treat them as a practice environment, not a verdict on your child’s chances. One mock can be useful to show how your child manages timing, instructions and nerves. Several mocks in quick succession are rarely necessary unless the school later confirms a very specific exam format.

After any paper or mock, spend most of your time reviewing: Was the problem knowledge, misunderstanding, rushing or confidence? That review stage is usually where progress happens.

On the day

For this school, follow the instructions issued by the admissions team, as the website sources we found do not publish a detailed test-day checklist. A calm, ordinary routine is usually best.

Lay out clothes, stationery and any paperwork the night before.
Allow plenty of travel time so the morning does not start with rushing.
Give your child a familiar breakfast rather than something unusually large or sugary.
Remind them to listen carefully to instructions and ask if they do not understand what to do.
Encourage them to keep moving if one question feels hard, and to return later if time allows.
Keep your own tone warm and matter-of-fact: this is an opportunity, not a crisis.

It also helps to give one or two simple messages only: read carefully, show your best work, stay calm. Too many last-minute tips can make children feel that something frightening is about to happen.

After the exam: results, allocation and appeals

Because Al-Aqsa Schools Trust is an independent school, the post-exam process is usually handled directly by the school rather than through National Offer Day in the way many state-school admissions are. However, we could not find a published official page on the school website giving the exact sequence for results, offers, acceptance deadlines or any appeal route for this entry point.

In general, parents should expect the school to contact applicants directly after assessment with the outcome or next steps. That may include an offer, a waiting-list position, a request for further information or another stage in the admissions process, depending on the school’s own procedures.

If your child is not offered a place immediately:

ask whether a waiting list operates;
ask whether there is a formal review or appeal process for independent admissions decisions;
confirm the deadline for accepting any alternative offer you may receive.

For exact details, rely on the school’s admissions office and the latest published admissions information rather than general advice from parents’ groups, as independent-school processes vary widely.

What has changed recently

From the official sources we found, we did not identify a clearly announced recent change in the last two years to the Year 7 assessment format, catchment, places or admissions structure for this school. The admissions and fees page does publish fee information and application forms, but we did not find a dated announcement about a change to the 11+ process itself.

Because independent-school admissions details can be updated quietly on application forms or website pages, it is worth checking the school site regularly and using Free email alerts for this school's key dates so you do not miss any new information.

Frequently asked questions

Does Al-Aqsa Schools Trust use GL or CEM for 11+ entry?

No official source we found says that it uses GL or CEM. ElevenReady’s verified information is that the school uses its own assessment, and the format is not yet confirmed publicly.

What subjects are tested for Al-Aqsa Schools Trust Year 7 entry?

We could not find an official published list of tested subjects on the school sources available. Check the school’s admissions page directly for the latest assessment details.

How do I apply for Year 7 at Al-Aqsa Schools Trust?

The school’s admissions page says application forms are available from the school office or can be downloaded from the website, and completed forms are returned to the school with the required documents and fees.

Is there a catchment area for Al-Aqsa Schools Trust?

We did not find an official published catchment rule on the sources available. As an independent school, admissions are handled directly by the school, so ask the admissions office for the current policy.

When is the Al-Aqsa Schools Trust entrance exam?

We could not find an official published test date for September 2028 entry. Check the school’s admissions page regularly and ask the school when the Year 7 assessment timetable will be released.

Does Al-Aqsa Schools Trust publish fees?

Yes. The admissions and fees page publishes upcoming fees for 2025/2026, but families should confirm the current fee schedule and any admissions charges for the year they are applying.

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Sources

Al-Aqsa Schools Trust - Admissions and Fees: The school provides admissions information and application forms on its website; application forms are available from the school office or can be downloaded from the website; completed forms should be returned to the school office with supporting documents and fees; the page lists upcoming fees for
Al-Aqsa Schools Trust - Home: The school’s main website is Al-Aqsa Schools Trust; the school is based at The Wayne Way, Leicester LE5 4PP; the Headteacher is Abdelhamid Chachi.

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Written by ElevenReady from the school's published information and reviewed by a person before publishing. Last reviewed 20 October 2026. Exam arrangements change. Check the school's admissions page for the current year.