How to prepare for the Shoreham College 11+

The exam at a glance

Shoreham College is an independent, coeducational school for children aged 3 to 16. For Year 7 entry, the school describes itself as academically non-selective and explains that admission is based on availability, school references and an assessment process rather than a published grammar-style 11+ threshold.

For children applying from Year 5 upwards, the school says they take one or more aptitude assessments as part of a taster day. The school’s admissions information does not set out a published exam board, paper provider, confirmed subjects or delivery format for Year 7 entry, so parents should treat this as a school-set assessment and check the admissions page directly for the latest wording before registering.

In practical terms, families should expect the day to be more like an independent-school assessment visit than a standardised consortium test. That usually means a mixture of time in class, meeting staff, and age-appropriate assessment activities, but Shoreham College does not publish a detailed running order on its admissions page.

School type: independent, academically non-selective
Entry point: Year 7
Assessment model: school-run admissions process with aptitude assessment on a taster day for applicants in Year 5 or above
Exam board/provider: not published on the admissions page
Tested subjects: not published on the admissions page
Delivery: not published on the admissions page

Because the school has not published a detailed test specification, the safest preparation is steady work on core literacy, numeracy and reasoning habits, alongside confidence in attending an assessment day calmly and politely.

Registration and key dates

Shoreham College handles admissions directly through the school rather than through a local authority 11+ portal. The admissions page invites parents to contact the school and arrange a visit, and it says applications are considered in the order they are received.

The school does not publish a single annual Year 7 registration deadline or a fixed autumn test date on the admissions page currently available. Instead, it explains that, for children entering Year 5 or above, one or more aptitude assessments take place on the taster day. It also states that confirmation of acceptance follows two terms before entry, and that for September starters there may be an induction event at the end of the preceding summer term.

For 2028 entry, that means families should not assume there is one national-style closing date. Instead:

Read the school’s admissions page carefully.
Contact the admissions team early in Year 5 or at the start of Year 6 if you are considering Year 7 entry.
Ask what paperwork is needed for your child’s year group.
Ask how the taster day and aptitude assessment are arranged.
Ask when decisions are normally communicated for your intended start date.

The school’s public admissions information does not list a required document checklist for Year 7 applicants. In practice, independent schools commonly ask for recent school reports and a reference from the current school, and Shoreham College specifically mentions school references as part of admissions decisions.

If you want a simple way to track updates, use Free email alerts for this school's key dates. You can also keep an eye on The Shoreham College 11+ guide (format, catchment, dates) for any newly published information.

Who can apply: catchment and admissions

There is no published catchment area on Shoreham College’s admissions page. This fits its status as an independent school rather than a state grammar school using local-authority oversubscription rules.

The school describes itself as academically non-selective and says offers are made subject to availability and references. In other words, there is no published pass mark or score threshold for parents to work towards. The key practical question is whether there is a place available in the year group and whether the school believes it can meet the child’s needs.

Shoreham College’s website says it provides education for ages 3 to 16. For families budgeting ahead, the published fee for Year 7 is £7,390.00 per term including VAT, effective from September 2026.

Because the school does not publish a fixed number of Year 7 places or a formal ranked admissions policy on the page reviewed, parents should think of this as a rolling independent-school admissions process rather than a single highly standardised 11+ competition. If Shoreham College is on your shortlist, it is sensible to enquire early, since the school says registrations are considered in the order received.

Catchment: none published
Selection: academically non-selective
Offers: subject to availability and references
Age range: 3 to 16
Year 7 fee: £7,390.00 per term including VAT from September 2026

A month-by-month preparation plan

Because Shoreham College does not publish a subject-by-subject Year 7 test specification, preparation should be broad, steady and low-pressure. The aim is to help your child show secure classroom foundations and present themselves confidently on a taster day.

January to March of Year 5

Keep preparation light: around 1 to 2 hours a week in total.
Focus on reading fluency, comprehension discussion, arithmetic accuracy and clear written expression.
If your child is less confident, use this phase to plug small gaps rather than rushing into test papers.

April to June of Year 5

Build to 2 hours a week.
Start short practice tasks that require concentration for 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
Encourage neat working, careful checking and answering in full sentences where appropriate.
If possible, arrange a school visit so the school becomes familiar before any formal assessment.

July to August before Year 6

Keep work gentle over summer: about 2 hours a week is enough for most children.
Read daily, revise number facts and do occasional mixed practice in maths and comprehension.
Practise being comfortable in unfamiliar settings: greeting adults, listening carefully and asking sensible questions.

September of Year 6

Increase to around 2 to 3 hours a week if your child is sitting an autumn assessment.
Introduce timed work only in short bursts. This is not about creating pressure; it is about helping your child stay focused and finish sensibly.
Mix task types rather than drilling one skill for too long.

October of Year 6

If the assessment is approaching, keep sessions short and calm.
Review spelling, punctuation, mental maths and comprehension inference.
Do one or two realistic timed sessions each week, then go through errors slowly and positively.

The final two weeks

Reduce workload slightly.
Prioritise sleep, routine and confidence.
Do familiar work your child can complete well, rather than introducing harder material at the last minute.

When to start timed papers

If your child is aiming for Year 7 entry in autumn Year 6, timed work is usually best introduced near the end of Year 5 or over the summer before Year 6, and only after the basics feel secure. Since Shoreham College does not publish a formal paper structure, use short mixed exercises rather than relying on one rigid exam format.

Subject by subject: what to practise

Shoreham College does not publish confirmed tested subjects for Year 7 entry on the admissions page reviewed, so parents should avoid over-specialising. A balanced approach is best.

English

Practise fluent reading, vocabulary in context, comprehension, spelling, punctuation and writing in clear sentences and paragraphs. Ask your child to explain what they have read, spot evidence in a passage and summarise the main idea briefly. For writing, focus on accuracy, structure and answering the actual task rather than trying to sound overly advanced.

Mathematics

Build confidence in number facts, the four operations, fractions, decimals, percentages, basic geometry, measures and multi-step word problems. Independent-school assessments often reward secure fundamentals more than tricky tricks, so regular arithmetic practice and careful reading of worded questions matter a great deal.

Reasoning and thinking skills

Although Shoreham College does not publish a confirmed reasoning paper, many school-set assessments and aptitude activities look at pattern-spotting, logical thinking, following instructions and solving unfamiliar problems. You can practise these gently through age-appropriate puzzles, sequencing tasks, coded instructions and short problem-solving exercises.

Writing and communication

On a taster day, teachers may also form a view from how a child explains ideas, follows instructions and approaches classroom work. Encourage your child to listen fully before starting, ask if they are unsure, and show their working clearly. Calm communication and good habits can make a real difference.

If Shoreham College publishes more detail later, use that first. Until then, broad Key Stage 2 preparation is the safest route.

Practice papers and mock exams

Because Shoreham College does not publish a detailed paper specification, practice papers should be used to build underlying skills rather than to mimic a precise exam format. A good routine is:

Choose one short task at a time.
Work under light time limits once confidence is established.
Mark carefully and discuss errors the same day.
Keep a notebook of recurring slips, such as missed words, arithmetic mistakes or weak comprehension evidence.
Repeat similar skills a week later to check that improvement has stuck.

Use mocks sparingly. One or two realistic practice sessions can help a child get used to concentration and pacing, but too many can make preparation feel heavy for a school that is not running a published grammar-style test battery.

Useful starting points:

When using any practice material, remember that the school has not published confirmed subjects or a formal paper style. Treat papers as preparation for core academic confidence, not as a promise of exactly what will appear.

On the day

Keep the morning simple. Aim for an unhurried start, a familiar breakfast and enough time to arrive without rushing. If the assessment is part of a taster day, describe it to your child as a chance to meet the school and show how they learn, not as a make-or-break event.

Check the school’s instructions the day before.
Pack any requested items the night before.
Choose comfortable, tidy clothing if no specific dress guidance has been given.
Remind your child to listen carefully, read instructions twice and ask politely if they do not understand something.
Encourage neat work, sensible checking and moving on if they get stuck.

The most helpful mindset is calm curiosity. Independent-school assessments often allow staff to see how a child behaves in a learning environment, so politeness, resilience and attention matter alongside academic work.

After the exam: results, allocation and appeals

Shoreham College does not publish a standardised results day for Year 7 assessment on the admissions page reviewed. Instead, the school says that confirmation of acceptance follows two terms before entry. It also notes that, for children starting in September, there may be an induction event at the end of the preceding summer term.

As an independent school, Shoreham College’s process is different from state-school National Offer Day allocation. If your child is successful and a place is available, the school will normally contact you directly with the next steps. Ask clearly about deadlines for accepting the place, any deposit, and what happens if you need time to decide.

The admissions page reviewed does not set out a published appeals process in the way a state school would. If your child is not offered a place, the practical next step is to ask the admissions team whether a waiting list operates, whether re-assessment is possible at a later stage, and whether there are other entry points with availability.

What has changed recently

The main clearly published recent change found is to fees: Shoreham College’s fees page lists the Year 7 fee as £7,390.00 per term including VAT, effective from September 2026.

No other clearly announced recent change to the Year 7 assessment format, catchment, number of places or admissions structure was found on the official admissions information reviewed. If the school publishes a new Year 7 process for 2028 entry, parents should follow the school’s admissions page first.

Frequently asked questions

Does Shoreham College have an 11+ pass mark?

No published pass mark appears on the admissions page reviewed. The school describes itself as academically non-selective and says offers are subject to availability and references.

Is Shoreham College in a catchment area?

No catchment area is published on the admissions page reviewed. It is an independent school rather than a state grammar school with local-authority catchment rules.

What does Shoreham College test for Year 7 entry?

The school says children in Year 5 or above complete one or more aptitude assessments on the taster day. It does not publish confirmed subjects or a detailed paper format on the admissions page reviewed.

When should we apply for Year 7 at Shoreham College?

Apply early. The school says registrations are considered in the order received, but it does not publish one fixed annual Year 7 deadline on the admissions page reviewed.

When do Shoreham College offers come out?

The school says confirmation of acceptance follows two terms before entry. It does not publish a single standard results day for Year 7 on the admissions page reviewed.

How should my child prepare if the format is not published?

Focus on broad Key Stage 2 strength: reading, comprehension, writing accuracy, arithmetic, problem-solving and calm test habits. Avoid over-preparing for one assumed paper style unless the school later publishes more detail.

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Sources

Shoreham College Admissions: The school describes itself as academically non-selective; offers are made subject to availability and references; children entering Year 5 or above undertake one or more aptitude assessments on the taster day; registrations are considered in the order received; confirmation of acceptance follows tw
Shoreham College Home: Shoreham College is an independent coeducational school for ages 3 to 16.
Shoreham College Fees: Year 7 fee is £7,390.00 per term including VAT, effective from September 2026.

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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.