Haileybury
Independent Co-educational Day & Boarding School · Est. 1862
Haileybury is a classic all-rounder boarding school on a breathtaking 500-acre estate with East India Company heritage. The unique 'Show and Tell' interview values genuine passion over rehearsed perfection. Offers both A-Levels AND IB Diploma — rare dual pathway. Lower School (Years 7-8) provides prep-style pastoral care as a soft landing. Perfect for well-rounded pupils who will thrive in nurturing yet academically selective environment.
Historic 500-acre boarding school (founded 1862) offering both A-Levels and IB Diploma. CAT4 + written papers + unique 'Show and Tell' interview. Dedicated Lower School with prep-style pastoral care. School reference carries MASSIVE weight.
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Hertford, Hertfordshire SG13 7NU
Day fees
~£9,535
per term
Boarding fees
~£12,575
per term
Total pupils
920
ages 11-18
Campus
500
acres
Boarders
550+
pupils
Sixth Form
A-Level + IB
dual pathway
Best For
Families seeking a traditional all-rounder boarding/day school with exceptional facilities, dual A-Level/IB pathways, and nurturing Lower School transition. The unique 'Show and Tell' interview rewards genuine passion.
Watch Out For
School reference carries MASSIVE weight — attitude to learning assessed beyond exam day. CAT4 + written papers require split preparation (digital MC + handwritten extended answers).
Entry Points
- Primary entry at 11+ (Year 7 Lower School 1) via CAT4 + written papers + Show and Tell interview. Also 13+ and 16+ entry. ~60 places at 11+.
The Complete Admissions Timeline
Every key date, deadline and decision point — with insider intelligence you won't find on the school website. Click any item to reveal verified insider knowledge.
The critical window: Registration closes early November Year 6. Exams and interviews in late November. Offers mid-December. Acceptance deadline 1st March.
Open Mornings
Visit the stunning 500-acre estate and learn about the Show and Tell interview
Registration deadline
Complete online registration with £240 fee
Exam days
CAT4 + written papers + Show and Tell interview
Offers made
Approximately 3 weeks after assessment day
Experience days
Taster days for offer holders
Acceptance deadline
Accept or decline offer
Key Dates at a Glance — September 2027 Entry
Open Mornings
Summer/Autumn (Yr 5/6)
Registration deadline
Early November (Yr 6)
Exam days
Late November (Yr 6)
Offers made
Mid-December (Yr 6)
Experience days
Spring/Summer Terms
Acceptance deadline
1st March
CAT4 + Written Papers: Blended Assessment
Haileybury uses CAT4 (GL Assessment) for digital testing plus bespoke handwritten English and Maths papers. The unique 'Show and Tell' interview allows candidates to demonstrate genuine passion beyond exam scores.
CAT4 Digital
~2 hours · Computer-adaptive (GL Assessment)
The CAT4 is age-standardised so younger candidates in the year are not disadvantaged. Practice the specific CAT4 format.
Written Papers
English + Maths papers · Handwritten bespoke papers
Students who excel at MC but struggle with extended writing will be exposed here. Handwriting quality matters.
Show and Tell
~20 minutes · Interview with senior staff member
Over-tutored, generic answers fail. The school wants to see what genuinely excites your child.
Topic Difficulty & Weight
Difficulty (%) and exam weight by topic area
Key takeaway: Premium
Topic Breakdown
Known Exam Traps — CAT4 Digital
The pattern: The CAT4 is age-standardised so younger candidates in the year are not disadvantaged. Practice the specific CAT4 format.
If you can only improve in one area, make it
Digital Fluency
For example:
All focus areas ranked by impact:
#1
Digital Fluency
CAT4 Digital
#2
Handwritten Skills
Written Papers
#3
Genuine Passion
Show and Tell
Academic Performance vs National Average
Haileybury consistently outperforms national averages across both GCSE and A-Level examinations. These animated comparisons show where the school excels and how this translates to university placement opportunities.
A-Level Results Comparison
Camp Hill Girls vs. National Average — Higher percentages indicate stronger performance
What this means: Camp Hill Girls consistently exceeds national averages across all A-Level performance bands. With 65% A*/A compared to the national 38%, girls achieve top-tier results that support progression to leading universities, including Oxbridge, Russell Group institutions, and specialist programs in Medicine, Law, and STEM.
GCSE Grade Distribution Comparison
Cumulative percentage achieving each grade threshold — Camp Hill Girls vs. National Average
Grade Distribution Insight: Over 90% of Camp Hill Girls achieve grades 9-7 at GCSE, compared to 31% nationally. This exceptional spread demonstrates consistent high achievement across the cohort, with girls well-prepared for rigorous A-Level study.
Grade 9-8
52%
vs 18% national
Grade 9-7
90%
vs 31% national
Grade 9-6
98%
vs 64% national
Grade 9-5
99.5%
vs 82% national
University Placement Implications
- •
Oxbridge Eligibility
Strong A-Level performance (65% A*/A) makes girls competitive for Oxford and Cambridge, particularly in STEM and humanities.
- •
Russell Group Admission
90% GCSE 9-7 achievement provides strong foundation for Russell Group universities including Imperial, UCL, Durham, and Warwick.
- •
Competitive Edge
Results place girls in top 5% of UK cohort, giving advantage in Medicine, Law, and competitive STEM programs.
Supporting Strong Achievement
- •
No Pressure-Cooker Culture
Excellence achieved through supportive teaching, strong pastoral care, and girls' intrinsic motivation rather than relentless pressure.
- •
Well-Rounded Development
Balanced commitment to academics, co-curricular activities (sports, music, drama), and character formation.
- •
Resilience & Confidence
Girls develop confidence to tackle challenging subjects and university applications without anxiety-driven perfectionism.
GCSE Excellence
90%
Grade 9-7 achievement (vs 31% national)
A-Level Top Grades
65%
A*/A grades (vs 38% national)
Top Achievers
42%
A* grades at A-Level
University Ready
99.5%
Grade 5+ across GCSE
The Unique 'Show and Tell' Interview
Insider Intel: What Other Parents Don't Know
These are the verified insights you will not find on the school website, in Good Schools Guide, or from any single tutoring agency. Each insight is compiled and cross-referenced from 73+ sources including official documents, parent reports, and tutoring industry data.This is the intelligence that gives ClassAce families an edge.
5 verified insider tips locked
Including 3 high-severity warnings other parents miss. Subscribe to read every tip in full.
- Timing windows other applicants don't know about
- Exam-day patterns and trap questions verified across 73+ sources
- Interview cues that decide marginal offers
Premium unlocks 2 schools, Elite unlocks 5.
Common Mistakes Parents Make
The errors we see most often from families preparing for Haileybury. Avoid these and you're already ahead of the majority of applicants.
4 costly mistakes — and the fix for each
Most parents make at least three of these without realising. Subscribe to read every mistake and the corrective action.
- What to stop doing in the final 6 weeks
- The myth about practice papers that hurts most candidates
- Interview-day briefings that backfire
Premium unlocks 2 schools, Elite unlocks 5.
Haileybury vs Competitor Schools
How does Haileybury compare to the schools your child is most likely also applying to? This analysis covers the key factors that actually matter to families.
| Factor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Type | ||||
| Co-educational | ||||
| VR in Exam | ||||
| Annual Fee | ||||
| 11+ Difficulty | ||||
| Interview Style |
Why Parents Choose Haileybury
Points to Consider
Scholarships & Financial Support
| Scholarship Type | Value | Available Places | Selection Method | Stackable? |
|---|
The Preparation Roadmap
Everything here is built around Haileybury's specific exam format, interview style, and selection criteria. This is not generic 11+ advice. Every recommendation is calibrated to this school.
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- Peer comparison data from ClassAce families
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Intelligence Score
Updated May 2026 · 73 sources