How to prepare for the Stonar School 11+

The exam at a glance

For Year 7 entry, Stonar School says its main entry points include age 11, and the admissions process includes an assessment as part of the decision-making process. For 2028 entry, ElevenReady’s verified information is that Stonar uses the school’s own assessment, taken on computer, covering Literacy, Numeracy, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.

The school’s admissions page explains that candidates are invited to an assessment day, and that offers are then made after the school has reviewed performance in assessment together with the wider admissions process. Because Stonar uses its own assessment, parents should avoid assuming that the paper will match another school or exam board exactly. The safest approach is to use broad 11+ practice in the tested areas, while keeping a close eye on the school’s admissions page for any updated guidance for the 2028 cycle.

What the day looks like will normally include more than just a test. Independent school entry days often combine assessment with time in school, and Stonar’s published admissions process also refers to events such as open mornings, taster opportunities and, for some applicants, scholarship assessment. That means preparation should cover both academic readiness and the softer side: arriving settled, listening carefully, and working calmly on screen.

Assessment type: school-set assessment
Delivery: computer-based
Tested areas: Literacy, Numeracy, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning
Entry point: Year 7 is one of Stonar’s key entry points
School type: independent day and boarding school, ages 2–18

If you want a quick overview alongside this guide, see The Stonar School 11+ guide (format, catchment, dates).

Registration and key dates

Stonar runs its own admissions process. The school’s admissions page says families should make contact with the admissions team and follow the school’s process for entry. For Year 7, the page lists a sequence including open events, a taster day, an assessment date, decision letters and an offer acceptance deadline.

For the cycle currently published on the school’s admissions process page, the verified Year 7 timings are:

Senior School Open Morning: 26 September 2026
Year 7 Taster Day: 15 October 2026
Closing date for registrations: 9 November 2026
Sports Scholarship Assessment Day: 4 December 2026
Year 7 assessment day: 8 January 2027
Decision letters to parents: 23 January 2027
Closing date for acceptance of offers: 8 March 2027
Year 7 Induction Day: June 2027

Because you are preparing for September 2028 entry, these are not yet the 2028 cycle dates. They are the most recent timings currently published by the school, so they are best treated as a guide to the usual pattern. In practice, that suggests registration is typically closed by early November, with assessment usually in January and decisions later in January, but parents should check the school’s admissions page regularly for the 2028 dates as soon as they are released.

The school’s contact page says enquiries can be made through the admissions team, and the admissions process page is the key place to watch for application steps and any required forms. If Stonar asks for supporting information, that is likely to be handled directly through the school rather than through a local authority portal, because this is an independent school admissions process rather than a state selective one.

To avoid missing updates, it is worth setting a reminder from the summer term of Year 5 onwards and checking the school site again at the start of Year 6. You can also use Free email alerts for this school's key dates.

Who can apply: catchment and admissions

Stonar is an independent school, so there is no catchment area for Year 7 entry. Families do not need to live within a named priority area in the way they might for a grammar school. Admission is handled directly by the school.

The school describes itself as a coeducational day and boarding school for ages 2 to 18, and says its key entry points are 4, 11, 13 and 16. That makes Year 7 a normal main intake point rather than an occasional one.

Independent schools consider suitability for the school as well as raw test performance, so parents should expect the process to look at the child more broadly than a single score. The admissions process page confirms that the school issues decision letters after the assessment stage. If you are also considering boarding or scholarships, check the relevant parts of the school site early, as these can involve extra steps or separate assessment dates.

For budgeting, the school’s fees page lists Senior School Years 7 and 8 fees for 2026–27 at £7,985 per term (£23,955 annually). Fees can change each year, so do not rely on these figures for 2028 entry without checking the latest published schedule.

Stonar’s website does not publish a Year 7 pass mark or cut-off score on the sources reviewed for this guide. If you are looking for current admissions detail, the school’s own admissions page is the place to check first.

A month-by-month preparation plan

For a child aiming at a January assessment in Year 6, the most sensible approach is steady preparation through Year 5 and the start of Year 6. Because Stonar uses its own computer-based assessment, the goal is not to cram one exact paper style. It is to build secure basics, then practise applying them accurately and calmly on screen.

January to March in Year 5

Keep it light and regular: around 1 to 1.5 hours a week, split into short sessions. Focus on reading fluency, number confidence and puzzle-style reasoning. Build habits rather than intensity.

Read widely and discuss vocabulary.
Secure core arithmetic facts and written methods.
Introduce simple verbal and non-verbal reasoning tasks as short brain-workouts.
Use keyboard and mouse or trackpad confidently if your child is not yet used to computer-based work.

April to June in Year 5

Increase to about 1.5 to 2 hours a week. Start mixing subjects so your child gets used to changing gear between comprehension, maths and reasoning.

Practise short literacy tasks that require careful reading and precise answers.
Cover arithmetic, fractions, measures and problem solving in numeracy.
Work on pattern recognition, codes, analogies and spatial tasks in reasoning.
Keep sessions short enough for full concentration.

July to August before Year 6

Summer is useful for consolidation, not pressure. Aim for 2 hours a week, with plenty of breaks and reading for pleasure. This is a good time to spot gaps.

Review topics your child finds wobbly.
Begin occasional mixed timed sections, but keep them brief.
Practise reading instructions carefully on screen.
Visit the school if possible, or look through the website together so the school feels familiar.

September in Year 6

This is the point to become more purposeful: around 2.5 to 3 hours a week. If the school has published updated details by now, tailor practice accordingly.

Start regular timed practice in short blocks.
Rotate all four assessed areas each week.
Track recurring mistakes in a notebook: rushed reading, dropped methods, weak vocabulary, misread patterns.
Book open events or taster opportunities if available.

October in Year 6

Keep the workload realistic: usually 3 to 4 hours a week. This is a good month for fuller mixed papers, followed by careful review.

Introduce longer timed practice once a week.
Practise switching between question types without losing concentration.
Work on stamina for computer-based tasks.
Make sure registration is in hand well before the closing date.

November to December in Year 6

After registration closes, preparation should become sharper but not heavier. Around 3 hours a week is often enough if it is focused.

Use one timed paper or timed sections each week, then review in detail.
Revisit weak areas, but do not overhaul everything at once.
Practise calm starts: read instructions, pace the section, move on from a sticky question.
Keep sleep, routine and confidence steady in the run-up to assessment.

January of the exam

In the final week, do less. A couple of light refreshers are enough. The aim is a child who feels prepared and alert, not overworked.

Subject by subject: what to practise

Literacy

Stonar’s verified assessed areas include Literacy, so preparation should centre on strong reading and accurate written English. Practise careful comprehension, vocabulary in context, inference, grammar, punctuation and spelling where appropriate for your child’s level. Because the school uses its own assessment, keep preparation broad rather than chasing one assumed format.

Read fiction and non-fiction regularly.
Discuss word meanings from context.
Practise retrieving information, making inferences and explaining choices briefly and clearly.
Revise sentence control, punctuation and common spelling patterns.

Numeracy

Numeracy preparation should be rooted in secure Key Stage 2 maths. Children usually do best when arithmetic is fast and reliable enough to leave headspace for multi-step problems.

Practise the four operations until methods are fluent.
Revise fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio basics, measures and simple data handling at an age-appropriate level.
Work on word problems that require choosing the right method, not just calculating.
Encourage neat working, estimation and checking.

Verbal Reasoning

Verbal Reasoning rewards precise language handling and pattern spotting. As Stonar sets its own assessment, the exact task types may vary, so use a wide range of standard 11+ verbal reasoning exercises without assuming one publisher’s style will match perfectly.

Build vocabulary steadily.
Practise analogies, letter and number sequences, codes, word relationships and logical language tasks.
Teach your child to look for the rule before rushing in.
Review errors to see whether the problem was vocabulary, logic or speed.

Non-Verbal Reasoning

Non-Verbal Reasoning usually tests visual logic, spatial awareness and pattern recognition. On a computer-based assessment, children also need to stay accurate when looking closely at shapes and transformations on screen.

Practise rotations, reflections, symmetry, sequences and odd-one-out pattern work.
Train your child to compare features methodically: shape, shading, position, number and direction.
Use short timed bursts to build visual speed without sacrificing care.
If a question looks confusing, teach your child to eliminate clearly wrong options first.

Practice papers and mock exams

Practice papers are useful when they are used to diagnose, not just to score. With a school-set assessment, broad coverage matters more than trying to second-guess the exact question layout.

Start with untimed work so your child learns the method.
Move to short timed sections once accuracy is steady.
Mark carefully and review every mistake by type.
Repeat weak question types a few days later, not immediately.
Practise on a computer where possible, especially for reasoning and multiple-choice style tasks.

For Stonar-specific practice, use these free resources:

If you use mock exams, treat them as rehearsal rather than judgment. A good mock helps a child practise pacing, concentration and recovery after a difficult section. Afterwards, focus on two or three priorities only. Too much post-mock correction can knock confidence.

On the day

Keep the morning simple. Choose comfortable uniform or clothes as directed by the school, leave plenty of travel time and avoid last-minute revision in the car. A calm child nearly always does better than an over-coached one.

Have a normal breakfast and bring anything the school has asked for.
Arrive early enough to settle, but not so early that waiting becomes stressful.
Remind your child to read instructions slowly at the start of each section.
If a question feels hard, make a sensible attempt and move on.
For computer-based work, encourage careful clicking and checking before submitting an answer where possible.

The most helpful message is usually: do your normal best, one question at a time. Independent school assessments are looking for pupils who can engage thoughtfully and cope well with the day, not children who never make mistakes.

After the exam: results, allocation and appeals

For the currently published Year 7 cycle on Stonar’s admissions process page, decision letters to parents are due on 23 January 2027 after the 8 January 2027 assessment day. The same page gives a closing date for acceptance of offers of 8 March 2027. For 2028 entry, expect a similar sequence, but check the school website for the exact dates once published.

Because this is an independent school process, there is no National Offer Day in the grammar-school sense. Instead, the school writes directly to parents with its decision, and families then accept or decline the place by the school’s deadline.

If your child is not offered a place, the next step is to speak politely to the admissions team and ask whether a waiting list is held and whether there is any review or appeal route within the school’s own process. Independent schools do not use the same statutory admissions appeal system as state schools, so the right process is the one set out by Stonar itself.

If your child is offered a place, note all deadlines carefully, including acceptance, any deposit or paperwork requested by the school, and later induction arrangements.

What has changed recently

On the sources reviewed for this guide, the main published update is simply the school’s current Year 7 admissions timetable for the 2026–27 cycle, including the registration deadline, January assessment date, January decision letters and March offer acceptance deadline. I did not find an official announcement on the school site of a recent change to the Year 7 exam board, catchment rules or number of places.

As always with a school-set assessment, parents should rely on the school’s admissions page for any newly announced changes for the 2028 entry round.

Frequently asked questions

Does Stonar School have an 11+ exam?

For Year 7 entry, Stonar uses its own assessment as part of the admissions process. For 2028 entry, ElevenReady’s verified information is that it is computer-based and covers Literacy, Numeracy, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.

Is Stonar School in a catchment area?

No. Stonar is an independent school, so there is no catchment area for Year 7 entry.

When is the Stonar Year 7 assessment usually held?

The most recently published Year 7 cycle on the school’s admissions page gives an assessment date of 8 January 2027. For 2028 entry, treat January as the usual timing unless the school publishes something different.

How do I register for Stonar School Year 7 entry?

Registration is handled directly by Stonar through its own admissions process, not a local authority portal. Check the admissions page and contact the admissions team for the current steps and forms.

What fees should parents expect for Year 7?

Stonar’s published fees for 2026–27 list Years 7 and 8 at £7,985 per term, or £23,955 annually. Check the latest fees page for the figures that will apply to 2028 entry.

Does Stonar publish a pass mark for Year 7 entry?

Not on the sources reviewed for this guide. If you want the latest admissions detail, check the school’s own admissions page directly.

📄 Free Stonar School practice papers Start free and track readiness for Stonar School 🔔 Email me this school's key dates

Sources

Stonar School Admissions Process: Stonar’s key entry points include age 11; Year 7 admissions process is run by the school; published Year 7 timings: Senior School Open Morning 26 September 2026, Year 7 Taster Day 15 October 2026, closing date for registrations 9 November 2026, Sports Scholarship Assessment Day 4 December 2026, Year
Stonar School website: Stonar is an independent coeducational day and boarding school for ages 2–18.
Stonar School Fees: Senior School Years 7 and 8 fees for 2026–27 are £7,985 per term and £23,955 annually; Years 9 to Upper Sixth fees are £8,615 per term and £25,845 annually.

Preparing for other schools in Wiltshire

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.