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Forest School

School typeIndependent

AddressOakhurst Gardens, Snaresbrook, London, England, E17 3PY

Forest School, a co-educational independent school, assesses Year 7 entry through a two-stage 11+ entrance exam. The assessment uses the Independents and Quest Admissions boards and includes an interview stage for prospective pupils.

If you want a London day school where a child can walk straight off the campus into open woodland, Forest is one of very few that can offer it. It sits on the edge of Epping Forest in Snaresbrook, north-east London, with around 1,500 pupils on a single green campus, its pitches and wooded paths running right up to the forest itself. The school is co-educational and takes children from age 4 all the way through to 18 in one place, which is unusual for the city and a big part of why families choose it. Senior entry points are at 11, 13 and into the sixth form.

Forest was founded in 1834, and it keeps a genuine connection to its setting. The Good Schools Guide reports parents describing it as "down to earth, friendly, diverse," which fits a school drawing from a wide spread of London families rather than one narrow type. There is a strong life beyond lessons, with music, drama staged at the Hackney Empire, a Combined Cadet Force and a broad sports programme; cricket has been played here since the 1840s, and the school still runs its long-standing Sylvestrians cricket tradition. England cricketers Nasser Hussain and James Foster came through these pitches.

Forest suits a family who want a well-rounded, unshowy London day school with room to breathe and a real mix of backgrounds. The early years provision is a particular strength, so younger children are well looked after from the start. It is led by Warden Claire Tao, who took up the role in September 2025.

Key facts

Gender

Mixed

Year 7 places

120

Website

Visit school website

Admissions

Open day

Sep

Registration closes

Nov

Admissions contact

admissions@forest.org.uk

Admissions phone

0208 520 1744 ext 4

Registration form

View registration details

What this school tests

Digital Test

English17 question types

GrammarPunctuationReading Comprehension - ComparisonReading Comprehension - EvaluationReading Comprehension - Grammar and punctuationReading Comprehension - Inference and DeductionReading Comprehension - Information RetrievalReading Comprehension - Language Techniques and ImageryReading Comprehension - Sentence-level ComprehensionReading Comprehension - SequencingReading Comprehension - Structure, Form, Voice and ToneReading Comprehension - SummarisingReading Comprehension - Text Classification and PurposeReading Comprehension - Types of Words and PhrasesReading Comprehension - Word Meaning / ChoiceSpellingVocabulary

Maths21 question types

AlgebraAngles and DegreesBIDMASCoordinate GridsEstimation and RoundingFactors and MultiplesFractions, Decimals and PercentagesMeasurementMoneyNumber and Place ValueOperationsPerimeter, Area and VolumePosition and DirectionProperties of ShapesRatio and ProportionReflection, Rotation and SymmetrySequencesSpecial NumbersSpeed, Distance and TimeStatisticsTime

Non-verbal Reasoning12 question types

Figure AnalogiesFigure MatricesFigure SeriesGrid MatricesHorizontal CodesMatch to a Group of FiguresMost Like Three FiguresOdd Figure OutOdd Shaped MatricesStar MatricesTriangle MatricesVertical Codes

Verbal Reasoning23 question types

Alphabet LogicAnagramsCompound WordsEmbedded WordsForm a WordInsert 2 / 3 LettersInsert a LetterLetter AnalogiesLetter SequencesMove 1 / 2 LettersOrdering WordsRhyming SynonymsShuffled SentencesSynonymsWord / Logic PuzzlesWord AnalogiesWord CompletionWord MatchWord OppositesWord PairsWord RelationshipsWord SwapWords and Codes

Spatial Reasoning14 question types

2D Rotations2D View of 3D Shape3D RotationsBlock CountingBuilding BlocksCombining ShapesDiagonal ReflectionsFigure Missing from ImageFold and PunchFolding CubesHidden ShapesMissing Face of CubeNets of 3D ShapesShape Completion

Puzzles and Problem Solving6 question types

Number Properties & ProportionLogic & Systematic ThinkingGeometry, Measures & DataEquations & Early AlgebraMagic Shapes & Additive PuzzlesCalculation Fluency

Written English Assessment

English4 question types

Creative Writing - DescriptiveCreative Writing - NarrativeCreative Writing - PersonalCreative Writing - Persuasive

Previous exam results

GCSE results

In 2025 students achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 58.1 across their GCSEs. 67.8% gained a grade 5 or better in both English and Maths. 40.2% achieved the English Baccalaureate at grade 5 or above. Reference: https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/

A-level results

In 2025 students achieved a B+ average grade per A-Level entry. 30.1% gained AAB or better including two facilitating subjects. Reference: https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/

Frequently asked questions

What exam board does Forest School use for the 11+?

Forest School uses the Independents and Quest Admissions exam boards for its 11+ entrance exam.

Does Forest School interview as part of the 11+?

Yes, an interview stage is part of the 11+ entrance process for Forest School.

Is Forest School co-educational or single-sex?

Forest School is a co-educational independent school, taking both boys and girls.

How many stages are there in the Forest School 11+ exam?

The Forest School 11+ entrance exam consists of two distinct stages.

What is Forest School's website for 11+ admissions?

The official website for Forest School's 11+ entry information is https://www.forest.org.uk/admissions-overview/11-entry/.

Does Forest School offer bursaries or help with fees?

Yes. Forest offers means-tested bursaries, awarded according to household income, to help families who could not otherwise afford a place. A bursary is added to a scholarship award and, combined, can reduce fees by up to the full amount. Your child first needs a scholarship award for excellence, then you apply for the bursary. For 11+ 2027 entry, the bursary application deadline is Fri 11 Dec 2026.

What scholarships does Forest School offer?

Forest awards scholarships at 11+ for academic excellence, sport, music, art and drama. They go to pupils who show excellence during a competitive assessment process, and they carry a small fee reduction alongside recognition and support from staff. Non-academic scholarships need a separate application form, due Fri 20 Nov 2026 for 2027 entry, with assessments in early December. Academic scholars are identified through the entrance test, with interviews in January.

What is the Forest School 11+ interview like?

At Forest, the interview is one part of the 11+ process, alongside the entrance test and a school reference. It usually takes place in the week beginning Mon 18 Jan 2027 for 2027 entry, after the December entrance exam. It is a chance for the school to get to know your child as a person, beyond their test scores. There is no need to over-prepare; the school is looking for a genuine, relaxed conversation.

Location

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