Key Facts
| St Paul's Prep School 7+ group assessment | Half-day, groups of approximately ten: Maths lesson, English lesson, group problem-solving (Source: https://www.stpaulsschool.org.uk/admissions/entry-to-st-pauls-7-8/selection-procedure/) |
|---|---|
| Latymer Prep School 7+ papers | English Comprehension 45 minutes, Creative Writing 35 minutes, Maths 40 minutes; interview for selected children the week after (Source: https://www.latymerprep.org/admissions/preparing-for-assessment) |
| UCS Junior Branch 7+ | Main entry point; about 60 boys join three classes, roughly half from the Pre-Prep; January assessment lasts about three hours (Source: https://www.ucs.org.uk/admissions/admissions-process/year-3/) |
| Alleyn's Junior School and Alleyn's Oakfield | 4+: about 36 children join two Reception classes; 7+: about 8 to 10 new places; applications in the autumn before entry, assessments in January (Source: https://www.alleyns.org.uk/admissions/admissions-to-our-junior-schools) |
| Westminster Under School 4+ registration | Opens two years before the intended entry year; closes if 500 applicants are reached, then a waiting list opens (Source: https://www.westminster.org.uk/admissions/4-entry-westminster-under-school/) |
| Highgate entry points | 4+, 7+, 11+, 16+ and occasional places (Source: https://www.highgateschool.org.uk/admissions/) |
| ISI inspection reports | Search by school name (Source: https://www.isi.net/) |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly.
Choosing between prep schools in London starts with the entry point, because 4+, 7+ and 9+ each carry a different assessment and the schools checked here publish their own rules for each. Alleyn's Junior School and Alleyn's Oakfield take applicants at 4+, 7+ and 9+, Westminster Under School's page covers 4+, and Latymer Prep School, UCS Junior Branch and St Paul's Prep School describe 7+ entry. Each school's own admissions page remains the authority on its rules, so use the points below to decide what to check before you register.
Parents with a child in Year 1 to Year 3 usually face two decisions at once: which school suits the child, and which stage to apply at. Each admissions page says who is assessed, what is requested from the current school and whether the family is asked to treat the school as a first choice. Checking those points school by school before registering gives you a shortlist built on stated requirements.
How do entry points differ between London prep schools?
Entry points differ by school: Alleyn's Junior School and Alleyn's Oakfield welcome annual applicants at 4+, 7+ and 9+, Highgate School lists 4+ into Reception in its Pre-Prep and 7+ into Year 3 in its Junior School, and Westminster Under School's page covers 4+. Latymer Prep School takes girls and boys aged 7 to 11, with 7+ entry into Year 3, while UCS Junior Branch says its main point of entry is 7+ (Year 3) and that it is not necessary to apply for a son at birth.
Formats shift with the age of the child, so the stated assessment for each entry point is worth reading before you register, since the same school can run play-based activities at 4+ and written papers at 7+ and 9+. The summaries below come from each school's own admissions page, and the pages remain the authority on the exact format and on what each paper covers.
- 4+ at Alleyn's: assessment of language development and practical reasoning, with some standardised testing and relative age considered, in activities that replicate those many children meet in a nursery following the EYFS.
- 4+ at Westminster Under School: play-focused classroom activities in the autumn term, then a second stage for some children in January; date of birth, English as an additional language and proximity to the school are factored into offers.
- 7+ at Alleyn's: English (comprehension and creative writing), mathematics and reasoning, with a second assessment for candidates who show the necessary academic potential, including a non-verbal reasoning test, a reading test, small group activities and an individual interview.
- 7+ at Latymer Prep School: three formal papers in English Comprehension, Creative Writing and Maths.
- At St Paul's Prep School, the 7+ is a written exam in English, Mathematics and Reasoning, followed by a half-day group assessment for boys who perform well.
- The UCS Junior Branch 7+ involves small-group listening, discussion and reading exercises in the autumn term, then English and Maths tests in classrooms in January; the page does not mention a reasoning paper or a formal interview.
- 9+ at Alleyn's: papers in English (comprehension and creative writing), mathematics and spatial reasoning, with selected candidates invited back for interviews and sample papers published.
How do occasional places work?
Occasional places arise between formal entry points, and Alleyn's says a vacancy arises when a current pupil leaves, after which it invites children for assessment and/or interview, as appropriate. Parents register interest through an online form, and a candidate on the vacancy list is contacted for a fresh assessment if a place becomes available before the next formal assessment point. Formal entry points at Alleyn's (4+, 7+, 9+, 11+ and 16+) go through the formal admissions process instead.
Highgate School says that, depending on pupil numbers, it sometimes offers additional places into selected year groups during the academic year, and that each child is asked to attend an assessment or an interview at every entry point. Latymer Prep School says it does not generally hold formal occasional place assessment days. A family hoping to join mid-year should therefore ask each admissions office how a vacancy would be handled before assuming a route exists.
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Enquire about this tutorWhich London prep schools are selective throughout, and what is the senior-school pathway?
Alleyn's Junior School states that it is academically selective throughout, and Latymer Prep School describes itself as an academically selective school for girls and boys aged 7 to 11. At Latymer the pathway for a child entering at 7+ runs from 7 to 11 inside one school, and the school says it would advise parents if a child might find the pace at its Upper School at 11+ challenging.
St Paul's Prep School says boys who stay for the full duration of their studies there are automatically registered for transfer to St Paul's School at 13+. Alleyn's says pupils from either junior school have automatic entry to the Senior School, as its admissions page puts it, but they still sit the scholarship or entrance exam and are interviewed, so ask the school what automatic entry means in practice.
Highgate School also lists 11+ (Senior School, Year 7) and 16+ (Sixth Form) as entry points, so ask how pupils from its Junior School move on. The same question suits every school on a shortlist, because the schools above describe three different arrangements, and the admissions page of each school is the place to confirm which one applies.
Do any prep schools set a first-choice condition or favour siblings?
St Paul's Prep School accepts boys on the understanding that St Paul's will be their first choice of senior school, so a family hoping to keep other senior-school options open should raise this with the school before applying. The conditions of the other schools are not covered here, so ask each admissions office whether any expectation about senior-school plans applies, and ask for the wording in writing.
Alleyn's does not offer automatic places to siblings; where candidates have achieved a similar level of performance, priority where possible goes to the sibling of a current pupil. A sibling link at that school therefore operates between similar results and does not replace the assessment. The sibling policies of the other schools are not covered here, so check each admissions page or ask the office directly.
What do prep schools ask parents to provide when applying?
St Paul's Prep School asks for the agreement of both parents to the application (except in the case of sole custody), an electronic copy of the boy's passport uploaded at registration and a reference from the head of the boy's current school. By applying, parents consent to the current school being contacted, so tell the head before the reference request arrives.
UCS Junior Branch requests a confidential report from the current school, which plays an important part in the selection procedure, and Alleyn's writes to the candidate's current headteacher (or a nursery) for a report. Applications to UCS go through its online portal and Westminster Under School asks parents to register online. Confirm the full list of documents and consents on each admissions page, since requirements differ by school.
How do you use ISI inspection reports when choosing a prep school?
Parents can find an inspection report through the Find an inspection report search on the Independent Schools Inspectorate website, isi.net, by searching the school's name. ISI states that it inspects against the Independent School Standards, which gives you the same reference point for every school on a shortlist. Run the search for each school as soon as it joins the list.
Read the report for the section of the school your child would join, note any point to raise at an open event, and keep the school's own admissions page open beside it, because entry points, assessments and documents are set out there. Reports and admissions pages answer different questions, so a point that is unclear in one can be put to the admissions office directly.
How should you read an open event or school visit?
Schools differ in how a visit fits into the process, so read each event as the school describes it. Westminster Under School says a school visit (open afternoon) is optional. At UCS Junior Branch, 7+ applicants are invited in small groups during the autumn term, where parents meet the Headmaster and tour the school while the boys complete listening and discussion exercises and a reading assessment, and the school says performance at this stage counts toward the decision.
St Paul's Prep School says parents can meet the Head of the Prep School at the same time as the boys' group assessment. For any event, take the questions from the final section, note who answers them and ask the school whether attendance forms part of the application, because the schools above treat their events differently. Write down the answers while they are fresh, using the same headings for each school.
How do you build a shortlist, and what should you ask each school?
A workable shortlist starts with the entry point your child's school year points to, followed by a one-page note for each school covering its assessment format, first-choice condition, sibling policy, documents requested and senior-school pathway. Read the ISI report for each school, attend the events that fit, and order the list by how well each school's stated requirements match your child and your plans for the senior years.
Parents considering both Alleyn's Junior School and Alleyn's Oakfield sit the assessment at one location with one registration process, and places are allocated by school preference, because the assessment process and the standard required are the same at both schools. For the other schools on a list, put the following questions to each admissions office and record the answers in the same order, so the notes can be compared.
- Which papers or activities make up the assessment at this entry point?
- Is there a first-choice condition, and what does it mean for other senior-school applications?
- What does the route to the senior school involve, and do junior pupils still sit an entrance exam or interview?
- How and when will parents be told if the pace at the next stage may be challenging?
- Which documents, references and consents are needed, and who must give them?
- How are access arrangements requested, and when must notice be given?
- How are sibling applications treated?
Once you have a shortlist, for one-to-one preparation for the entry assessments, read about our 7+ tutors for English, maths and reasoning, or tell us about your child and the schools on your list and we will reply with tutor recommendations.
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- How the 7+ process differs between London day schools
- 7+ or wait for 11+
Tutoring with Taylor Tuition
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Frequently asked questions
- What happens on a 7+ assessment day at a London prep school?
- Latymer Prep School says children sit at desks and talking is discouraged, while staff are encouraging and gently prompt a child who is stuck on a question. Pencils, rulers and rubbers are provided, there are short breaks between the parts, children bring a named water bottle and the school provides a snack. Children who perform particularly well are invited to an interview the week after, where staff observe social maturity and attitude to learning and talk with each child about their interests and aspirations.
- What does the St Paul's Prep School 7+ written exam cover?
- The exam has tests in English, Mathematics and Reasoning. English is a dictation exercise, and the school's guidance links the paper to the Year 2 National Curriculum, hoping applicants work at a Greater Depth standard within Year 2. Reasoning includes a comprehension exercise on retrieving information and drawing inferences, plus vocabulary puzzles. Maths expects recall of the 2, 3, 5 and 10 times tables and efficient mental calculation. The school publishes no past papers, but it links a suggested reading list and Maths and English guidance.
- What if a child has special educational needs or a learning difference?
- Each school sets its own route, so notify it early. Latymer Prep School gives access arrangements to children with diagnosed special educational needs, and parents must notify it during registration. Alleyn's requires parents who know or suspect a disability, language or learning difference to notify the school in writing at registration. Westminster Under School says children with SEND can request reasonable adjustments to the assessment by informing its Admissions Department.
- What happens if a child is not offered a place?
- Alleyn's says some candidates who are not offered a place may be placed on a waiting list and reconsidered on their assessment results if a vacancy arises. The list stays active until the September after the assessments, when remaining candidates can join the occasional vacancy list. Its decisions on places are final, with no right of appeal. Latymer Prep School gives no written or verbal feedback on a child's performance or ranking on any paper.
- Do prep schools advise parents on preparing for the assessment?
- Latymer Prep School advises low-key parental preparation, a child's routine kept as normal as possible and favourite activities maintained, summing this up as balance. It sends exemplar Maths and English papers after registration and says children at 7+ would be working in line with expectations at the top of KS1. Its page gives no advice about tutoring, and the Westminster Under School page contains no guidance on preparation or tutoring. One-to-one help is one option some families use alongside school and home practice.
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