Key Facts
| School type | Independent day school, co-educational, Nursery to Sixth Form |
|---|---|
| Location | Peterborough, Cambridgeshire |
| Entry points | 7+, 8+, 11+, 13+, 16+ |
| Assessment | Online Entrance Tests in English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, with a reference from the current school |
| Test provider | Online Entrance Tests set by the school; practice questions are linked through Quest Assessments |
| Day fees (2026/27) | £8,499 per term (Year 7, tuition including VAT plus food) |
| Registration deadline | Applications must be submitted before the Entrance Tests (September 2027 entry); scholarship applications by the end of the Autumn Term; no closing date published |
| Assessment date | Entrance Tests on Friday 15 January 2027; scholarship interviews and auditions on Saturday 16 January 2027 |
| Scholarships and bursaries | Scholarships at 11+ and 16+ (academic, art, drama, music, sport, all-rounder); means-tested Senior School bursaries |
| A level average point score per entry (DfE, 2024/25) | 35.25 (average grade B-) |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly. Compare fees at other independent schools.
Getting into The Peterborough School begins with an online application form and a one-off application fee, after which the assessment depends on the year of entry: a familiarisation day in class from Year 3 to Year 10, online Entrance Tests in English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning with an informal interview at 11+, and an interview with the Headmaster and Head of Sixth Form at 16+.
Year 7 is the point at which most senior places are sought, and the school describes it as its most popular transition point. The Entrance Tests take place in January, with scholarship interviews and auditions on the following day, and offers tend to arrive within a few days of the tests.
| Entry point | Year group | Assessment | Interview | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7+ | Year 3 | Familiarisation assessment visit: a day in class with academic assessment, recent school reports and a school reference | No separate interview published; feedback is given by the Head of Prep | Not published |
| 8+ | Years 4 to 6 | Familiarisation assessment visit: a day in class with assessments comparing ability to national standards and checking readiness for Senior School, plus recent reports and a school reference | No separate interview published; feedback is given by the Head of Prep | Not published |
| 11+ | Year 7 | Online Entrance Tests in English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, with a reference from the current school | Informal interview as part of the Entrance Tests; scholarship interviews and auditions on a separate day | Not published; the school calls Year 7 its most popular transition point |
| 13+ | Years 8 to 10 | Familiarisation assessment visit: a day in the year group with academic assessments, recent reports and a school reference | Informal meeting with the Head of Key Stage | Applications accepted at any time where places are available |
| 16+ | Year 12 | Interview and a school reference with predicted GCSE grades; conditional offer subject to GCSE results | Interview with the Headmaster and the Head of Sixth Form | Not published |
Entry points and places
Applications are accepted from Nursery through to Upper Sixth, and the entry points from age 7 are Year 3, Years 4 to 6, Year 7, Years 8 to 10 and Year 12. Each has its own assessment, set out in the admissions process page, and the school does not publish numbers of places or forms of entry for any year group.
Entry into Years 7 to 10 can be sought at any time where places exist, although Year 7 is the point at which most families apply. In-year admissions are possible where there is space and the process is completed, but they are not available for Year 11 or Year 13.
- Years 3 to 6: a day in class with academic assessment
- Year 7 (11+): online Entrance Tests and an informal interview
- Years 8 to 10: a day in class and a meeting with the Head of Key Stage
- Year 12 (16+): interview and conditional offer
How the 11+ assessment works
The 11+ assessment consists of online Entrance Tests in English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, together with an informal interview. The school sets the tests itself, and the pages read do not publish the length of each paper, the question types or a pass mark.
The school links practice questions through Quest Assessments from its Year 7 scholarships page, which gives the clearest view of the online format before the day. Applications must be submitted before the tests, and the same sitting is used for academic scholarship consideration.
11+ tutors
Hannah
Master TutorI am a UK-qualified teacher with 15+ years across private and state schools in the UK and abroad, and hold a BSc from LSE and a PGCE with QTS. I teach English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, 11+ and Common Entrance preparation. My approach is personalised, confidence-building and rigorous.
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Sochima
Master TutorI'm a qualified teacher in a London classroom every day, with a BSc in Computer Science from Brunel and a PGCE with QTS. I teach Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Computer Science to A-Level, plus 11+ preparation, through project-based work that suits SEND learners well.
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Robert
Master TutorI am a qualified teacher with over twenty years' experience in the UK, Gulf and New Zealand, holding an MA in History and PGCE. I teach English, History, Geography and French from KS2 to A-Level and IB, preparing 11+/13+ candidates. My approach is student-led, focused and diagnostic.
Enquire about this tutorRegistration and the admissions timeline
Registration means completing the online application form and paying the application fee by bank transfer, using the child's name as the payment reference. The Admissions Team then contacts the family about next steps, which differ by age.
For Year 7 the sequence runs in a fixed order, and scholarship and bursary steps sit before the tests in the autumn.
- Book a tour and attend the Year 7 Admissions Evening, held in November
- Submit the application form and fee, with a reference requested from the current school
- Complete scholarship applications by the end of the autumn term, and meet the Bursar in the autumn if seeking a bursary
- Sit the online Entrance Tests and informal interview in January
- Receive place offers within a few days, and formal letters including any scholarship award within two weeks
- Return the Parent Acceptance Form with the enrolment deposit
Interviews and references
At 11+ the interview is informal and forms part of the Entrance Test day, while a reference is requested from the child's current school. Scholarship candidates attend a further day of interviews and auditions, and every Woodard all-rounder applicant is interviewed by the Headmaster.
At the other entry points the school asks for recent school reports before the familiarisation day and a school reference afterwards. Applicants to Years 8 to 10 also meet the Head of Key Stage informally, and the Head of Prep gives feedback to parents for Years 3 to 6.
Scholarships and bursaries
Scholarships are offered at Year 7 and at Sixth Form entry, and both internal and external candidates may apply. Year 7 awards cover academic, art (the Hannah Warner Scholarship), drama, music, sport and a small number of Woodard all-rounder awards, and the school says they typically carry a value of 10% of fees.
Academic awards are judged on the Entrance Tests. Music scholars are expected to perform and support the Music Department, drama scholars progress through LAMDA or New Era examinations, and sport scholars receive access to the Performance Plus scheme. Sixth Form scholarships are competitive and based on academic merit, with arts, sport and contribution to the school also considered.
Bursaries are means-tested, usually take the form of a discount on tuition fees and are limited each year. They support a small number of Senior School pupils, and families seeking one are asked to contact the Bursar during the autumn before the Entrance Tests. The school offers no assistance in the Preparatory School except in extenuating circumstances.
Fees and what they include
Fees are published termly by year group, with tuition and food listed separately, and the tuition figures include VAT at 20%. The same schedule gives annual and monthly totals, and the dedicated fee fields on this page show the Year 7 figure.
On top of fees, families pay a one-off application fee and a one-off enrolment deposit, and a termly charge applies for the compulsory Pupil Device Scheme laptop, which is notified before the academic year starts. Most parents pay monthly by direct debit through School Fee Plan, which the school describes as a no-cost plan.
Where pupils join from
The school has its own Nursery, whose children move up into Reception, and a Preparatory School running from Reception to Year 6 in which new pupils also join. The school calls the move from Upper Prep to Senior School a natural and supportive progression.
The pages read do not mention guaranteed places for Prep pupils or any named partner schools. Pupils from other schools apply through the same Year 7 route, and Year 6 pupils at the school are not described as exempt from the Entrance Tests.
Sixth form entry at 16+
Sixth form entry at 16+ rests on an interview at the school with the Headmaster and the Head of Sixth Form. A reference including predicted GCSE grades is requested, and a successful interview leads to a conditional offer subject to the required GCSE grades, which the pages read do not specify.
After the Parent Acceptance Form and enrolment deposit are returned, an induction takes place towards the end of the summer term, and applicants contact Admissions on GCSE results day to confirm final grades. Students usually take three linear A Levels over two years, chosen from a list of about twenty subjects, with the Extended Project Qualification also available.
How to prepare
Preparation for the 11+ tends to centre on the four online subjects: English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Using the practice questions on the school's Quest Assessments link lets a child become familiar with the on-screen layout, and short regular sessions on each subject usually suit the format.
For the informal interview, a child can practise talking about their interests and favourite subjects, while scholarship candidates also prepare for their discipline, whether an audition piece, a sport profile or a conversation with the Headmaster. Attending the Admissions Evening and booking a tour help a child recognise the setting before the day.
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Preparing for the Peterborough School 11+ with Taylor Tuition
Preparation for the Peterborough 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.
Read more about our 11+ entrance exam tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Peterborough School entrance exam?
- The 11+ Entrance Tests are taken online and cover English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, alongside an informal interview. They take place in January for Year 7 entry. The school links practice questions through Quest Assessments, and applications must be submitted before the tests.
- How much are the Peterborough School fees?
- Fees are published termly by year group on the school's fees page, with tuition (including VAT at 20%) and food listed separately. A one-off application fee and enrolment deposit also apply, plus a termly charge for the Pupil Device Scheme. Current figures appear in the fee fields on this page.
- Does the Peterborough School offer scholarships and bursaries?
- Yes. Year 7 scholarships cover academic, art, drama, music, sport and Woodard all-rounder awards, typically worth 10% of fees, and Sixth Form scholarships are also offered. Means-tested bursaries support a small number of Senior School pupils and are limited each year. There is no assistance in the Preparatory School except in extenuating circumstances.
- How does a family register for the Peterborough School?
- Complete the online application form and pay the application fee, after which the Admissions Team contacts you about next steps for your child's age. For Year 7 the form must be submitted before the Entrance Tests. Admissions can be reached on 01733 343357 or at admissions@tpsch.co.uk.
- What are the sixth form entry requirements?
- Applicants are interviewed by the Headmaster and the Head of Sixth Form, and a reference with predicted GCSE grades is requested. A successful interview leads to a conditional offer subject to the required GCSE grades. The pages read do not state the grades themselves, so confirm them with Admissions.
- Does the Peterborough School have a catchment area?
- The admissions pages read do not mention a catchment area or catchment-based criteria. Applications are made directly to the school through the online form, and the school runs bus routes listed on its website. Families wanting to confirm their location should contact the Admissions Team.
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