Key Facts
| School type | Independent day and boarding, co-educational, ages 4 to 13 (prep school within the King's College Taunton group) |
|---|---|
| Location | Taunton, Somerset |
| Entry points | King's College Prep admits from 4+ (Reception) and 7+ (Year 3), with entry also possible at 11+ (Year 7); the wider group admits from 6 months old (nursery) through to 16+ (Sixth Form) at the senior King's College, with most Prep pupils continuing to King's College at 13+ (Year 9) |
| Assessment | The school's own subject assessments plus a reference from the child's current school; no interview or external test provider stated |
| Day fees (2026/27) | £8,215 per term (Year 7 and Year 8 day pupil) |
| Boarding fees (2026/27) | £11,895 per term (Year 7 and Year 8 full boarding, UK-based); £13,605 per term (Year 7 and Year 8 international boarding) |
Figures correct at the time of writing — always confirm current fees and deadlines with the school directly.
Entry to King's College Prep School at 11+ (Year 7) runs through the school's own admissions process: a visit or taster day, a registration form, the school's assessments and a reference from the child's current school, followed by an offer of a place. The prep school, on Kingston Road on the edge of Taunton, accepts pupils into any year group at any point in the school year, though most families register ahead of the main September intake into Year 7.
Most children who join at 11+ stay through to Year 8 before transferring to the senior King's College at 13+, and academic, music, drama and sports scholarships are also awarded at this entry point.
How entry works at 11+
King's College Prep admits pupils into Year 7 alongside every other year group, considering applications throughout the academic year as well as for the main September start. Children joining at 11 sit alongside those who have attended the prep school since Reception or Year 3, all forming a single Year 7 cohort with no separate 11+ intake class. Most Year 7 pupils go on to King's College, the senior school in the same group, at 13+ (Year 9), so the prep school treats 11+ entry as one step within a longer educational path.
What the 11+ assessment involves
The school asks each 11+ candidate to complete its own assessments and requests a reference from the child's current school; no external test provider or interview is stated on the school's admissions pages. Families are invited to attend a taster day before registering, giving the child a chance to experience lessons and staff to see how they settle, which the school treats as part of getting to know the applicant alongside the written assessments and school reference. Pupils applying for an academic, music, drama or sports scholarship at 11+ sit additional subject-specific tests on designated dates, arranged once the registration form has been completed.
The admissions process, step by step
The prep school sets out its 11+ admissions process in stages, run in order.
- Visit the school, or attend an open day, to see the prep school in person
- Attend a taster day, then complete the Registration Form
- Complete the school's assessments; the child's current school provides a reference
- Receive an offer of a place
- Secure the place by completing the acceptance form and paying the acceptance deposit by the agreed deadline
Scholarships at 11+
King's College Prep awards academic, drama, music and sports scholarships at 11+ entry into Year 7, alongside the standard admissions assessments. Application forms for a scholarship are issued once the registration form has been completed, and candidates then sit subject-specific tests on designated dates set by the school. A scholarship awarded at 11+ is retained into King's College subject to annual review, though scholars are required to enter the relevant scholarship tests again at 13+ to carry the award forward into the senior school. The school expects scholars to act as role models in their field.
Bursaries and fee assistance
King's College Taunton runs a means-tested bursary programme open to prep school families facing financial barriers to attending, with bursary awards assessed alongside applications for entrance and scholarships. Applicants complete a confidential financial circumstances form online, and the school reassesses each award every year for the duration of a child's time at the school. Assessment weighs the family's net assets, capacity to draw on capital such as home equity, existing sibling fees, and any parental contributions agreed in cases of separation, and any award remains subject to the school's overall budget. Serving members of the Armed Forces not eligible for the Continuity of Education Allowance receive a separate fee remission at the prep school.
How to prepare for the assessment
Because King's College Prep sets its own assessments internally, without a published external test, families are best placed keeping up steady, term-time work in core subjects and using the taster day to help the child feel at ease with staff before assessment day. Reading widely and practising short pieces of writing at home supports the literacy skills most schools' own English assessments draw on, and rehearsing being asked questions calmly by an adult who isn't a parent helps a child used to one classroom feel comfortable meeting new teachers. A current school reference forms part of the application, so keeping the child's school informed of the move in good time lets that reference be prepared without a last-minute rush.
Related guides
Preparing for the King's College Prep School 11+ with Taylor Tuition
Preparation for the King's College Prep School 11+ tends to go best when it starts early and stays steady, and most families who work with us begin between twelve and eighteen months out. Our tutors, who have prepared pupils for entry to leading independent and grammar schools including Westminster, St Paul's, Wycombe Abbey and Eton, plan the work backwards from the school's own assessment format and registration deadline.
The tutors we match to 11+ preparation are drawn from a pool in which more than half hold Qualified Teacher Status, around three in five hold a master's degree or doctorate, and which includes former heads of department, exam-board examiners and teachers from independent and boarding schools. 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.
Frequently asked questions
- What age do children join King's College Prep for 11+ entry?
- Children join King's College Prep at 11+ into Year 7, the same year group whether a child is new to the school or has attended since an earlier stage. The school accepts applications for Year 7 throughout the academic year as well as for the main September start, and most Year 7 pupils go on to the senior King's College at 13+.
- Does King's College Prep offer scholarships at 11+?
- Yes. Academic, drama, music and sports scholarships are awarded at 11+ entry into Year 7, with subject-specific tests set on designated dates once the registration form has been completed. An award is retained into King's College subject to annual review, though scholars must sit the relevant scholarship tests again to carry it forward at 13+.
- Is there an interview as part of 11+ entry?
- The school's admissions pages describe its own assessments and a reference from the child's current school as the basis for an 11+ offer; they do not mention a separate interview for standard entry. Families are invited to a taster day before registering, which lets staff and the child meet informally ahead of assessment.
- How much does King's College Prep cost at 11+?
- Year 7 and Year 8 fees are published separately for day and boarding places on the school's fees pages, covering tuition, most textbooks and, for boarders, meals and laundry; a non-refundable registration fee and an acceptance deposit also apply once a place is offered.
- Are bursaries available for 11+ entry?
- King's College Taunton offers means-tested bursaries to prep school families facing financial barriers, assessed via a confidential financial circumstances form and reviewed annually. Awards depend on the family's financial need and the school's budget, and serving Armed Forces families not eligible for the Continuity of Education Allowance receive a separate fee remission.
- What happens after registering for a place at 11+?
- After registration, the child completes the school's assessments and the current school provides a reference; the school then makes an offer of a place. Accepting the offer involves completing an acceptance form and paying the acceptance deposit by an agreed deadline set out by the admissions team.
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