Ditcham Park School 11+ Admissions: Entrance Assessment and Fees

Entry to Year 7 at Ditcham Park School depends on a child passing the school's own entrance assessment in English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, together with an interview with the Headmaster and Head of Juniors or Seniors, and a report from the child's current school. Places in Year 7 are offered subject to availability, as the school admits across several year groups with no single fixed form of entry.

Registration opens with a completed form and a non-refundable fee, submitted through the admissions office before a child sits the assessment. The school does not publish a catchment area or a consortium test; offers rest on the entrance assessment, interview and current school report.

How the 11+ assessment works

The 11+ assessment at Ditcham Park comprises papers in English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, followed by an interview with the Headmaster and the Head of Juniors or Seniors. The school also asks for a report from the child's current school as part of the process.

Assessment is used to check whether a pupil will be able to access the school curriculum, as well as to rank candidates. The school describes itself as welcoming a wide range of ability, so parents whose child needs extra support are asked to give full details of any learning needs or difficulties when applying, so specialist learning support can be considered.

• English
• Mathematics
• Verbal reasoning (VR)
• Non-verbal reasoning (NVR)
• Interview with the Headmaster and Head of Juniors or Seniors
• Report from the child's current school

How registration and the admissions process work

Registration begins with completing the school's registration form, online or in print, and paying a non-refundable registration fee, by cheque or BACS. Registering does not secure a place; it means the child will be considered for selection through the assessment and interview.

Once registered, a child sits the entrance papers and attends the interview, and the school requests a report from their current school before a decision is made. An offer is made subject to availability in the requested year group. Accepting it means signing the Acceptance Form and paying a deposit, which is credited against fees when the child leaves and is generally non-refundable if the place is not taken up.

Entry points and how many places are available

The main entry points into the senior school are Year 7 (11+) and Year 9 (13+), alongside entry to other year groups where a vacancy exists. The school states that entry depends on places being available in a child's requested year group, so the number of places at 11+ is not fixed. Families are advised to confirm availability directly with admissions.

Below Year 7, the school also admits from nursery age of two and a half through its Junior section, so families considering Ditcham Park at 11+ can also register a younger child earlier if they wish.

Scholarships for academic and other talents

Ditcham Park School awards Academic Scholarships to Year 7 entrants on the strength of their 11+ performance, carrying a fee remission of between 5 and 40 percent, alongside Music, Art, Drama and Sport Scholarships offering remissions of 5 to 10 percent.

Candidates are expected to show an identifiable ability in their field, a determination to work hard, and the potential to contribute to the school's academic, sporting, musical, dramatic or artistic life. Each scholar's award is reviewed annually by specialist teachers to confirm it continues. Families interested apply through the Scholarship Enquiry form on the school's website.

Bursaries and financial help

Means-tested bursaries are available to families applying for Year 7 or Year 9 entry, alongside separate hardship bursaries for existing families whose circumstances change after admission. Awards can reduce annual tuition fees by up to 90 percent, depending on financial, compassionate or other relevant circumstances.

Applicants submit a detailed Statement of Financial Circumstances and must demonstrate genuine need. The number of bursaries awarded each year is not fixed and is decided at the discretion of the school's governors, so families are encouraged to contact the Head of Admissions early to register interest and discuss eligibility.

Fees at Ditcham Park

Termly day fees are higher from Year 8 onwards than in Year 7, and are inclusive of VAT where applicable. Fees do not cover extras such as individual music lessons, school trips and visits, or public examination fees, which are charged separately, and any scholarship or bursary awarded is deducted before the fee is billed.

Siblings who pay full fees qualify for a discount on the second child's tuition, rising for a third or subsequent sibling, and the school's Fees in Advance Scheme lets families reduce costs by paying a lump sum ahead of time.

How to prepare for the assessment

Preparation for the 11+ assessment works best when it covers all four tested areas, English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, since a weak result in any one paper affects the overall picture the school forms of a candidate.

Because the school also interviews candidates and requests a report from their current school, calm, natural interview practice and steady classroom performance in the lead-up matter alongside exam technique. Parents whose child has additional learning needs are advised to share full details at registration, so the school can judge what support might be needed before assessment day.

Related guides

• Independent school fees compared

Preparing for the Ditcham Park School 11+ with Taylor Tuition

Families preparing for the Ditcham Park 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 work with us online from anywhere in the UK or abroad, 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.