City of London Freemen's School (Freemen's): Comprehensive 11+ Admissions Guide

Key Information Summary

• School Type: Co-educational independent day and boarding school
• Age Range: 7-18 years
• Location: Ashtead Park, Surrey, KT21 1ET
• Headmaster: Mr Roland Martin
• Total Pupils: Approximately 952
• Day Fees: £5,856 to £8,214 per term
• Boarding Fees: £12,568 to £14,311 per term
• Academic Results: 60% A*-A at A Level, 84% grades 9-7 at GCSE
• Campus: 57-acre historic estate with modern facilities

About City of London Freemen's School

City of London Freemen's School occupies a remarkable position in Surrey's educational landscape, set within the stunning 57-acre Ashtead Park estate. Founded in 1854 to educate orphans of City of London freemen, the school has evolved into a thriving co-educational institution that seamlessly blends its rich heritage with contemporary educational excellence.

The school's unique connection to the City of London provides pupils with distinctive opportunities, including access to the Lord Mayor's Show and various City ceremonies. This historical foundation creates a strong sense of tradition whilst fostering modern academic achievement and personal development.

Academic excellence remains at the heart of the school's ethos, with impressive results reflecting the quality of teaching and learning. The school's broad curriculum encompasses traditional academic subjects alongside creative arts, with particular strength in music, drama, and visual arts. The purpose-built theatre and extensive sports facilities support a comprehensive co-curricular programme that develops well-rounded individuals.

The boarding community adds an international dimension to school life, with weekly, flexible, and full boarding options available. This creates a vibrant, diverse environment where pupils from different backgrounds learn together and form lasting friendships.

Fees and key dates for 2026/27

City of London Freemen's School (Freemen's) publishes day fees of £8,736 per term for 2026/27, with boarding at Not published for Year 7 entry per term, and the figures above come from the school's own fees page as checked in September 2026. Registration for the next 11+ round closes on 1 October the year before entry (e.g. for September Year 7 entry, register by 1 October of the preceding year). The assessment takes place on November of Year 6 (ISEB Pre-Tests completed by the last day of November; Activities Day and other assessments also held in November). 11+/Year 7 candidates sit ISEB Pre-Tests (adaptive multiple-choice online tests in Maths, English, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning) plus online English/Maths/reasoning assessments, attend an Activities Day including a creative writing task, have a one-to-one interview, and are assessed alongside a confidential school report, with offers sent mid-December. Fees and dates change each year, so the school's website remains the reference for the current round.

The 11+ Assessment Process

City of London Freemen's School employs a comprehensive assessment process for Year 7 entry that evaluates both academic potential and personal suitability for the school community.

Entrance Examinations

Candidates sit entrance tests in four key areas:

• English: Assessing reading comprehension, creative writing, and language skills
• Mathematics: Testing numerical reasoning, problem-solving, and mathematical concepts
• Reasoning: Evaluating logical thinking, pattern recognition, and analytical abilities
• General Knowledge: Assessing awareness of current affairs, geography, history, and cultural understanding

Interview Process

All candidates participate in a personal interview designed to assess their enthusiasm for learning, communication skills, and potential contribution to school life. The interview allows the school to understand each child's interests, aspirations, and suitability for the school's ethos and values.

Assessment Timeline

The admissions process typically begins in the autumn term of Year 6, with entrance tests usually held in January. Results and offers are communicated in February, allowing families sufficient time to make informed decisions about their child's educational future.

How to Apply

The application process for City of London Freemen's School requires careful planning and attention to detail:

Registration

Families should register their interest well in advance of the intended entry date. Early registration is particularly important for the popular Year 7 intake, with many families registering during Year 5 or even earlier.

Application Requirements

• Completed application form with comprehensive pupil information
• Recent school reports covering academic progress and behaviour
• Headteacher's reference from the current school
• Registration fee payment

Scholarship Opportunities

The school offers various scholarships for exceptional candidates:

• Academic Scholarships: Awarded based on outstanding performance in entrance examinations
• Music Scholarships: Available for pupils demonstrating exceptional musical ability
• Means-tested Bursaries: Financial assistance for families who would benefit from fee support

Scholarship applications require additional assessments and auditions where appropriate, with awards potentially covering up to 50% of school fees.

Preparing for the City of London Freemen's School 11+ with Taylor Tuition

Families preparing for the City of London Freemen's School 11+ usually come to us a year or so before the assessment, though shorter runs work where the foundations are already sound. Having prepared pupils for entry to leading independent and grammar schools, with placements including Westminster, St Paul's, Wycombe Abbey and Eton, our tutors build each programme around the format the school actually uses, whether a written paper, an online pre-test, an interview or a combination of them.

More than half of our tutors hold Qualified Teacher Status and around three in five hold a master's degree or doctorate, and the pool includes former heads of department, exam-board examiners and teachers from independent and boarding schools, so the preparation is led by people who know how selective schools assess. Every tutor who works with children holds an enhanced DBS check.

Families in London and further afield work with us online, and in person in central London. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level and subject, with no registration fee and a free initial consultation to talk through your child's current level and the timeline to the 11+. Families receive progress reports after sessions and have a dedicated point of contact, and we reply to enquiries within one working day with tutor recommendations.

Read more about our 11+ entrance exam tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.