Admissions at 3+: frequently asked questionsAdmissions at 3+: Frequently Asked Questions

When may I come and see the school?

We believe it is essential that all parents visit the school before they apply. We have a number of dates available for Parent Tours. These tours are held regularly during the Michaelmas, Lent and Summer Terms, usually at 9.15am on certain days and occasionally at 1.30pm. All tours last for approximately an hour. They will give you the opportunity to see the school in action, including visiting the Nursery and one class from each of the older year groups. There will be an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have about different aspects of school life. If you would like to visit please telephone the School Secretary, Mrs Eilon, on 020 8340 9196 or email pre-prep@highgateschool.org.uk to book a place. We strongly recommend that you do not bring children with you on this occasion.

How do I apply to the school?

Such is the popularity of the school, now even greater since Highgate is fully coeducational, that we have a very high level of oversubscription for the Pre-Prep. We do not believe it is right simply to close our lists to all applicants whose children are more than a month or two old, which a ‘first come first served’ system involves. Nor do we favour drawing names out of a hat. We do believe it is important to ensure that we have a mix of children, including not only equal numbers of boys and girls, but also those with birthdays spread throughout the year. We have therefore amended our system to consider all applications received as explained below.

When can I apply?

The registration of applications for September 2010 and 2011 has now closed. For admission in 2012, you will need to apply between March and June 2011. For admission in 2013 you will need to apply between March and June 2012. Please see the relevant ‘Information for Applicants’ page which can be downloaded together with the appropriate forms.

When can I apply?

The following information is available for September 2012 entry:
Covering information on 2012 entry application dates, the registration procedure and fees
Application form for 2012 entry
Supplementary information (must be completed and submitted with the application form)

Covering information on 2013 entry application dates, the registration procedure and fees
Application form for 2013 entry
Supplementary information (must be completed and submitted with the application form)

What if I apply at the wrong time?

We regret that we are not able to consider applications received before or after the correct date. For a limited period after the closing date we do create a short waiting list of applications that may be considered if sufficient numbers withdraw for any reason; however experience has shown that this rarely happens.

What if my application is not accepted?

We have several applicants for each of the expected 32 places offered in the Nursery each year. In view of this, parents should prepare themselves for disappointment and understand that this does not reflect on their child’s ability to achieve success in his or her future school career.

We would like to emphasise that if a child is not offered a place in the Pre-Preparatory School there are several other points of entry to Highgate School and children may join at a later stage.

There is a significant number of places available in the Junior School at 7+, a further entry at 11+ and again at 13+ and 16+.

What will usually happen once our application has been accepted for registration?

We will write to you early in the Michaelmas (Autumn) Term in the year before your child's possible entry to the Nursery and will include the date for an appointment to bring your child to the school for a short assessment. This visit will take place during the Michaelmas Term or the first half of the Lent (Spring) Term. We try to arrange the visits largely in the order of the applicants’ birthdays, so that older children are seen earlier in the year whilst younger applicants are seen later.

What is the usual procedure for this assessment visit?

Your child, accompanied by one parent, will spend approximately twenty minutes with the Principal where he or she will be asked to carry out a series of play-based tasks, which are presented in an informal, relaxed way. Then you and your child will also be taken to the Library for about twenty minutes to meet a teacher and take part in some further activities. There will also be an opportunity for free play.

What is the purpose of these tasks?

We use them to make an assessment of your child’s developmental progress. They have been designed in consultation with an Educational Psychologist to give an indication of areas of academic, social and physical competence. We endeavour to treat all candidates fairly and equally, taking account of their background and circumstances.

Why do you need to obtain this information?

In keeping with the whole of the Highgate Foundation, the Pre-Preparatory School has a selective entry procedure. The demands of the curriculum we provide and the brisk pace at which it is delivered means that we need to identify those children to whom it is best suited and who will most benefit from it.

Can you be more specific about the skills you are looking for?

The areas we look at include perceptual, manipulative, social, mathematical and language skills. However, we would like to emphasise that we use play materials for these assessments and aim to make the procedure an enjoyable one for the child.

My child has a summer birthday. Will this be taken into account during the assessment?

There can be almost a year’s difference in age between candidates born early in the academic year and those with summer birthdays. For this reason, we try to arrange the interviews so that children are seen at the same time as others of a comparable age. We are also very much aware of the different levels of maturity that may affect a child’s performance.

Is there anything we can do to prepare our child?

No, indeed it is better that you do not try to teach your child anything specific in preparation for this assessment. We are looking at the understanding he or she has of certain underlying concepts rather than rote learning of, say, numbers or letters.

I already have a child at the school. Will my other children automatically be offered a place?

Although we do give particularly careful consideration to siblings, we are not always able to offer them places. Because of the competitive entry procedure to the school, each child is assessed on his or her individual merits and cannot be guaranteed a place by virtue of having a brother or sister who is currently in the Pre-Prep or who has been through the school before them.

How long will we have to wait before hearing whether our child has been offered a place?

Because we see a large number of children individually the entrance procedure takes place over an extended period, beginning in late September and ending in February. We aim to inform all parents of our decision by the beginning of March. We then give parents a week or so to decide whether or not to accept a place that has been offered. On acceptance of a place a deposit becomes payable.

Can I obtain help with fees?

We regret that we cannot offer financial assistance for children of Pre-Prep age unless in the most exceptional circumstances, for example the death of a parent after acceptance of a place. The School’s limited funds for bursaries are otherwise committed to enabling older students to commence or complete their education at Highgate. We are not able to participate in the government’s funded places in early years education (nursery grants) scheme because of the regulatory and administrative environment within which it operates.

Is transfer to the Junior School automatic?

No. Transfer from the Pre-Prep to the Junior School and from the Junior School to the Senior School will depend on a child’s meeting (minimum) entry criteria which include the school’s judgement of the suitability of Highgate’s curriculum for each child. It is anticipated that the great majority of pupils will wish and will be able to enter the Junior School at the end of Year 2.


For a prospectus or further information, please contact:
Highgate Pre-Preparatory School
7 Bishopswood Road
London N6 4PH
Tel: (020) 8340 9196
Fax: (020) 8340 3442
Email: pre-prep@highgateschool.org.uk