Admissions

Register your child for the additional and last entrance test for entry into year 7 in September 2027. This test will take place on the 7th October 2026. The deadline to register is 4pm on 28th September 2026.

We have produced. short guide to the registration process.

The entrance test will take place on 15th, 16th and 17th September 2026.

Full, detailed admissions criteria for entry into year 7, September 2027.

Additional Admissions Trial – 2026/27

St Joseph’s College remains a highly oversubscribed school and continues to receive significant numbers of applications for places in all year groups.

Following a detailed review of staffing, accommodation, curriculum delivery, safeguarding arrangements and operational capacity, the Admission Authority has approved a limited trial to admit a small number of additional pupils in Years 7 to 10 during the 2026/27 academic year. The trial will be reviewed by the Governing Board before any future decisions regarding admissions capacity are considered.

Any additional places will be allocated strictly in accordance with the school’s published admissions arrangements and oversubscription criteria.

The College’s Published Admission Number (PAN) remains unchanged at 150. The trial will be closely monitored to assess the impact on educational provision, student welfare, accommodation and resources before any future decisions are considered.

This arrangement does not constitute a permanent increase in PAN and does not create an expectation that further places will be available beyond those identified through this trial.

Registration for the entrance test is currently closed.

For a pupil to be considered for admission into year 7 in September 2026, parents must apply to the school by 3rd September 2025 for their child to take the entrance test.

We have produced a short guide to the registration process.

The entrance test will take place on 16th, 17th and 18th September 2025.

Full, detailed admissions criteria for entry into year 7, September 2026.

Registration for the entrance test is currently closed.

For a pupil to be considered for admission into year 7 in September 2025, parents must apply to the school by 6th September 2024 for their child to take the entrance test.

The entrance test will take place on 17th, 18th and 19th September 2024.

Full, detailed admissions criteria for entry into year 7, September 2025.

Access arrangements for the entrance test for those with special educational needs.

Year 7 Admissions Entry Test

Frequently Asked Questions:

This document covers the most commonly asked questions by parents/guardians who are seeking admission for their child into Y7 for the coming year. If you have questions that are not covered in this document or in our admissions criteria policy, please email the school on: Admissions@stjosephsmail.com

What type of test is the entrance test?

The test comprises of 2 papers. Verbal and Non-Verbal reasoning. The test is multiple choice and standardised.

• Verbal is 50 minutes
• Non-Verbal is 40 minutes

Where can I buy practice papers?

The test is multiple choice and standardised. Practice papers can be obtained from

WH Smith or online either through Amazon or Ebay (11+).

What is the test out of?

As the test is standardised, there is not a definitive number of questions that each child needs to complete. It is important that we have the correct date of birth of your child so that the marking scheme can be applied correctly. This makes it fair for a child who is born towards the end of the academic year, taking the same test as a child born at the beginning of the academic year.

What grade did my child have in the test?

We do not give the grade – any child who reaches 105 or above will be asked to complete the application form on line from our website with Admissions+. The link will be sent via email to the email that you registered your child to sit the entrance test.

Where is the Certificate of Practice Form that Catholics complete?

The link to this form will be in the email informing you that your child reached the required mark of 105. It can also be found on the Birmingham Archdiocese website. The certificate can be downloaded by you or your parish priest to complete and sign. http://www.bdes.org.uk/admissions.html.

You will need to upload this certificate to your application.

Which documents do I need to make my application if Catholic?

You will be sent a link to complete your application when you are informed that your child reached the required mark of 105 in the entrance test. At the end of the application you will be asked to upload your child’s baptismal certificate and the certificate of practice.

• If you are a non-Catholic, the process is the same as above, but you will only need to upload your child’s baptism certificate if applicable. If you wish to submit a reference from your minister of religion, that is also acceptable.

When will I know if my child has been awarded a place?

All parents will be sent a letter from their Local Authority on 1^st March to inform them which school their child has been awarded.

What if I don’t want the school that I have been awarded but still wish to come to St Joseph’s College?

You will need to email or write into the College informing us that you wish to appeal and ask for an appeal form. Appeal information and time line is on our website under admissions.

What if my child did not reach the required mark of 105 and I would still wish my child to attend St Joseph’s College?

If your child did not reach the required mark of 105, you will not be able to put us as an option on the Local Authority Form, or make an online application, but if you wish to appeal then the process is the same as above.

Full entry criteria for year 12, September 2027 entry.

Every November, we hold an information evening explaining the admissions procedure for sixth form.

St Joseph’s College has a sum of money each year to support students who may face financial difficulties. This financial assistance is to encourage and facilitate their education when continuing in the sixth form.

Please refer to St Joseph’s College 16-19 Bursary Policy for information on the grant conditions and about how to go about completing the application.

Apply to join year 12 in September 2026.

Full entry criteria for year 12, September 2026 entry. Every November, we hold an information evening explain the admissions procedure for sixth form.

St Joseph’s College has a sum of money each year to support students who may face financial difficulties. This financial assistance is to encourage and facilitate their education when continuing in the sixth form.

Please refer to St Joseph’s College 16-19 Bursary Policy for information on the grant conditions and about how to go about completing the application.

Full entry criteria for year 12, September 2025 entry. Every November, we hold an information evening explain the admissions procedure for sixth form. If you were unable to attend, or wish to review the information given at the evening, the slides are available here.

Apply to join our sixth form in September 2025.

St Joseph’s College has a sum of money each year to support students who may face financial difficulties. This financial assistance is to encourage and facilitate their education when continuing in the sixth form.

Please refer to St Joseph’s College 16-19 Bursary Policy for information on the grant conditions and about how to go about completing the application.

Our entrance test is based on a standardised 11+ multiple choice test. For examples of the questions that will appear on the test, we suggest you look at the familiarisation materials published by GL Assessment. We only test verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.

https://11plus.gl-assessment.co.uk/pages/free-materials

An application can be made for a place for a child at any time outside the admission round and the child will be admitted where there are available places.  An application should be made via the local authority portal. In addition to this, we will require you to complete our supplementary information form. Please return this to the school via admissions@stjosephsmail.com. or the school office. If you have any further enquires, please email admissions@stjosephsmail.com

Once the SIF form has been received and you have completed the online application form from the local authority, we will notify the Parent(s)/Guardian(s) within 15 school days of the in-year entrance test.

The test is a standardised 11+ verbal and non-verbal reasoning, multiple choice computer-based test. Sample questions can be purchased at a good bookstore, alternatively, we suggest you look at the familiarisation materials published by GL Assessment. We only test verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. https://11plus.gl-assessment.co.uk/pages/free-materials

Should your child reach the standardized mark of 105, then the admissions committee will look at all the applications and make a decision whether the school can admit more pupils into the year group, without causing prejudice to the provision of efficient education, or efficient use of resources.

Once your child has taken the test and should they have reached the required mark of 105, they will not have to retake the test each year, but you will need to complete a new in-year transfer form for each new academic year. 

Where there are places available but more applications than places, the published oversubscription criteria, as set out in the admission arrangements for 2026/2027, will be applied. The full admission arrangements can be accessed from this page. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) are advised to read the admission arrangements carefully before making their application.

If there are no places available, the child will be added to the waiting list and further information relating to this will be included in the letter sent from the school advising you of the outcome of your application.  Please see the admission arrangements for more details.

You will be advised of the outcome of your application in writing as soon as possible.  Applicants must be informed of the outcome of their application within 15 school days of taking the entrance test.

You have the right to appeal to an independent appeal panel if your application is unsuccessful.

If you have any questions in relation to in-year admissions please contact Fiona Uschmann. You may also wish to discuss in-year applications with the local authority on in-yearadmissions@stoke.gov.uk or 01782 237856

Additional Admissions Trial – 2026/27

St Joseph’s College remains a highly oversubscribed school and continues to receive significant numbers of applications for places in all year groups.

Following a detailed review of staffing, accommodation, curriculum delivery, safeguarding arrangements and operational capacity, the Admission Authority has approved a limited trial to admit a small number of additional pupils in Years 7 to 10 during the 2026/27 academic year. The trial will be reviewed by the Governing Board before any future decisions regarding admissions capacity are considered.

Any additional places will be allocated strictly in accordance with the school’s published admissions arrangements and oversubscription criteria.

The College’s Published Admission Number (PAN) remains unchanged at 150. The trial will be closely monitored to assess the impact on educational provision, student welfare, accommodation and resources before any future decisions are considered.

This arrangement does not constitute a permanent increase in PAN and does not create an expectation that further places will be available beyond those identified through this trial.

If you wish to appeal the decision not to award your child a place at St Joseph’s College, please email admissions@stjosephsmail.com requesting an appeal form directly from the College. Our appeals are independent of the school and conducted by the Diocese, not Stoke Local Authority.

The deadline to return the completed appeal form is 31st March 2026. You will be informed of your appeal hearing 2 weeks before your appeal date. Appeals will start on the 5th June 2025.

Please see the school admission appeal timetable for further information.

For in year appeals during the 2025/26 academic year please see the 2025 appeal timetable.