UK Prep School Admissions Timeline: The Complete Year-by-Year Guide

If there's one thing every admissions director will tell you, it's this: parents almost always start too late. Not by weeks — by years. The UK independent school system runs on a timeline that begins, in some cases, before your child's first birthday.

This guide walks through every stage of the UK independent school journey in order — from nursery registration through to sixth form entry. Read it once to understand the shape of it. Then use preptimely to track the deadlines that apply to your child.

The core principle: registration is not applying

Registration means putting your child's name on a school's list. It doesn't guarantee a place. It doesn't mean your child has been assessed. But without it, they can't be considered at all.

Registration fees are typically £75–£150. They're non-refundable. Think of them as the cost of keeping a door open — not as a commitment to walk through it.

If you're outside London, breathe. The timeline is still real, but the competition is less fierce. Many families in the Midlands and the south-west have more flexibility at nursery and reception stage than their London counterparts.

The early years pathway — from nursery registration through to the Year 6 decision point.

Nursery (3+) and Reception (4+) entry

This is where London parents often get their first surprise. Schools offering 3+ nursery entry — particularly in west and north London — run heavily oversubscribed lists. Some open registration when your child is 12 months old. There's no national standard.

Open day season: September through December, typically when your child is two or three years old.

Registration deadline: Usually around 18 months before the intended entry date.

Assessment: Play-based observations for nursery. For 4+ reception, schools observe children in small groups over a morning. Schools are assessing potential, not prior coaching — you can't really prepare a three-year-old, and you shouldn't try.

7+ and 8+ entry

Year 3 and Year 4 entry is popular at London day schools that run their own prep departments. Many families who didn't register for nursery try 7+ as a second chance at highly sought-after schools.

Registration deadline: October to November of Year 1 (for 7+) or Year 2 (for 8+).

Exam window: January of Year 2 (7+) or Year 3 (8+). Typically English comprehension and maths papers designed for seven-year-olds.

Offers: February to March following the exams.

It's worth noting that 8+ entry is less common than 7+ — not all schools offer it. Always check directly with the schools on your shortlist rather than assuming both entry points are available.

These exams are competitive, but the children sitting them are six and seven years old. Schools are looking for curious, engaged learners — not intensively coached pupils.

The 11+ path

The 11+ route feeds many of the UK's most sought-after senior schools. These schools fall into three broad types, and understanding the difference matters when you're building your shortlist.

Girls-only schools admit only girls. Some of the most academically competitive schools in the country are girls-only: St Paul's Girls' School and North London Collegiate School (NLCS) in London, Wycombe Abbey in Buckinghamshire, and Cheltenham Ladies' College are among the most well-known.

Boys-only schools admit only boys. Westminster School, St Paul's Boys' School, and Hampton School are among the most prominent day schools at 11+. Eton and Winchester take their main intake at 13+. Westminster and St Paul's Boys' consistently rank among the highest-performing schools in national league tables.

Co-educational schools admit both boys and girls. This is increasingly the norm. Godolphin and Latymer, King's College School (KCS) Wimbledon, Habs, and Alleyn's are co-ed examples in London. Outside London, King Edward's Birmingham and Manchester Grammar School also have strong Year 7 intakes.

There is no right answer between girls-only, boys-only, and co-ed — it comes down to your child's personality, learning style, and where you feel they'll thrive. Many families visit both types before deciding.

Registration deadline: October of Year 6 (the year of the exam).

Exam window: October through January of Year 6. Different schools set their own papers — there's no single 11+ exam.

Offers: January to February of Year 6.

Preparation matters. Most children will benefit from working through past papers in the year before the exam — usually starting in Year 5. The four standard components are English, maths, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning. The key is steady preparation over several months — last-minute cramming rarely works at this level.

Feeder schools: the quiet advantage

Some prep schools have long-standing relationships with specific senior schools. They're known as feeder schools — and the advantage is real.

A child leaving a recognised feeder school arrives at the senior school assessment with something valuable: familiarity. The prep school head's report carries weight. The curriculum has been deliberately aligned. The admissions team recognises the name on the application.

Some of the most well-established feeder relationships in the UK:

• Colet Court (now St Paul's Juniors) → St Paul's School, one of the UK's most academically selective boys' schools
• Sussex House → feeds a wide range of top London day schools including St Paul's Boys, Westminster, and King's College School
• Thomas's Battersea and Thomas's Kensington → strong pipelines into competitive London senior schools including Godolphin and Latymer, St Paul's Girls', and Francis Holland
• The Dragon School, Oxford → feeds leading boarding schools including Eton, Winchester, Radley, and Marlborough
• Ludgrove School → historically one of the strongest feeders to Eton College
• Summer Fields, Oxford → long-standing feeder to Eton College and other top boarding schools
• Garden House School (girls, London) → feeds several top London girls' senior schools including Wycombe Abbey and St Paul's Girls'

If you have a specific senior school in mind, it's worth working backwards. A quick call to the senior school's admissions office will usually tell you which prep schools they see most applicants from.

The 13+ path — and the deadline everyone misses

This is the most important section. Read it carefully.

If you're aiming for a traditional English boarding school — Eton, Harrow, Winchester, Wycombe Abbey, Rugby — or a selective day school that takes its main intake at Year 9, the 13+ pathway is the one you need to understand.

The deadline that matters most is not the Common Entrance exam in May of Year 8. It's the initial registration deadline, four years earlier.

Most schools ask you to register by 30 June of Year 5 — when your child is just 9 or 10 years old. Yes, really. That is four years earlier than the exam they'll eventually sit.

The sequence for 13+ entry looks like this:

1. Year 5, by 30 June: Register with senior schools. Pay registration fee.
2. Year 6, October–November: ISEB Common Pre-Test — a two-hour computer-adaptive assessment in English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Sat at the prep school.
3. Year 6 or Year 7: Conditional offer issued, subject to Common Entrance performance.
4. Year 8, May–June: Common Entrance exams (or school's own paper). French, Spanish, Latin, English, Maths, Science, plus optional humanities.
5. Year 8, June–July: Final places confirmed.

The ISEB Pre-Test can't be rescheduled for individual pupils. If your child is unwell on the day, the school may accommodate a later sitting — and they're not obliged to. Plan accordingly.

What about occasional places?

Not every family plans years ahead — and that's okay. Most prep schools keep a small number of spaces available for in-year or off-cycle applications. These are called occasional places.

They come up when a registered family moves away, changes plans, or chooses a different school. They're not advertised widely. The best way to find out is to call the admissions office directly and ask whether they hold an occasional places list.

It's never guaranteed. But it's always worth asking.

The senior school journey — from Year 7 entry through GCSEs, A-levels, and sixth form.

GCSEs: Year 10 and Year 11 (Fourth and Fifth Form)

Once your child is settled into senior school, the next major milestone is GCSEs. These are typically studied over two years — Year 10 (Fourth Form) and Year 11 (Fifth Form) — and sat at the end of Year 11, when most children are 15 or 16.

Most independent schools offer a broad GCSE curriculum with some element of choice from Year 9 onwards. Sciences, languages, and humanities are almost always compulsory. The arts and options vary by school.

Grades run from 9 (highest) to 1 (lowest), replacing the old A*–G system. A grade 4 is broadly equivalent to a C pass. Most sixth forms — whether at the same school or a new one — ask for a minimum of five or six GCSEs at grade 6 or above in relevant subjects.

There's no separate admissions process for GCSEs — your child sits them at their current school. But if you're considering a move to a different sixth form, GCSE results are the main currency. It's worth having that conversation with your child in Year 9, before option choices are made.

Sixth form entry: 16+

Sixth form — Lower Sixth (Year 12) and Upper Sixth (Year 13) — is where students study A-levels, the International Baccalaureate (IB), or sometimes Pre-U qualifications over two years before university.

Many children stay at their senior school for sixth form. But sixth form is also a genuine second entry point into the independent school system. Some of the most prestigious schools accept external candidates at 16+, including students who have been in the state sector their whole lives.

Schools with notable sixth form intake include Eton College (a small number of sixth form scholars), Winchester College, Wycombe Abbey, Marlborough College, and many London day schools including Westminster, St Paul's Girls', and NLCS.

Registration deadline: Usually October to November of Year 11 — when your child is 15 or 16.

Assessment: Typically a combination of GCSE predicted grades, a school's own entrance paper in chosen A-level subjects, and an interview. Some schools also require a reference from the current head.

Offers: January to February of Year 11, conditional on GCSE results.

GCSE results confirmation: August — schools confirm or withdraw offers based on actual results.

The 16+ route is less competitive than 11+ and 13+ at most schools, partly because fewer families consider it. If your child has thrived in the state sector and you're considering a move for sixth form, it is absolutely worth exploring.

A different path: all-through schools

Some families sidestep the admissions treadmill entirely by choosing an all-through school — one that takes children from nursery or reception all the way through to sixth form, often without further competitive assessment at each transition point.

The appeal is obvious: register once, settle once, and let your child grow through the same community from age 3 to 18. No Common Entrance. No Year 6 pre-tests. No reapplying at 13.

Schools that offer this include Alleyn's School in Dulwich, Habs (Haberdashers' Boys' and Girls') in Hertfordshire, and City of London School for Girls. All-through schools vary — some still require internal assessments at key transition points, so always confirm what the journey looks like once you're in.

It won't suit every family. If your ambitions include Eton, Winchester, or Wycombe Abbey, you'll need to plan the traditional prep school route. But for parents who value stability and continuity over a specific brand name, all-through can be a genuinely excellent choice.

Open day seasons

Open days typically run in two windows:

Autumn: September through November — the busiest season, coinciding with the start of the school year. Most schools hold their main open day here.

Spring: February through March — useful for a second visit or for families just beginning their research.

Beyond open days, schools also offer coffee mornings (smaller, more informal) and private visits for registered candidates. Attending an open day before registering is strongly recommended. You can't meaningfully shortlist schools without seeing them in person.

One practical note: most open days take place during term time, on weekday mornings. You'll need to let your child's current school know in advance if they're attending with you. Most schools are understanding — just give them enough notice and keep it brief.

Why a personalised timeline matters

Every deadline above is relative to your child's date of birth and the UK school year cutoff of 1 September. A child born on 31 August and a child born on 1 September are in different year groups — which shifts every single deadline by twelve months.

The biggest risk in prep school admissions isn't failing an exam. It's missing a registration deadline and finding out too late that a school is now closed for your child's cohort.

That's where preptimely comes in. You've just read the map — we help you follow it.