Entrance Exams
Below you will find specific information on Prep Schools.
Guide to London Prep Schools
Firstly, this London Prep Schools Guide 2019 lists school names with links to the Independent School Council sites for each school as well a link to the school’s Independent School Inspection (ISI) report.
Below you will also find specific information on London Prep Schools.
There is a huge range of Independent/private schools spread out over Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. These schools are fee paying and most of them are members of the ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate). Private schools are run by governors and independent of many regulations that apply to state schools. The biggest of these regulations that they are independent of is the National Curriculum.
Private London Schools
Prep schools emerged in the early 19th century as boarding schools to prepare boys for leading Public Schools. In its modern form prep schools can be for boys, girls, co-education, boarding, day schools or any combination of those.
Generally, prep schools fall into these categories:
- Firstly, completely independent prep schools, both charitable and ownership
- Secondly, junior schools connected to senior schools
- Thirdly, choir schools, which educate child singers of cathedrals and some other large religious institutions; they all accept non-chorister pupils with the exception of Westminster Abbey Choir School;
- Schools offering special educational provision or facilities
- Schools with particular religious affiliations
Prep (Preparatory) schools are those that cater for students up to the age of 13 to ‘prepare’ learners for school entrance to the public (expensive and exclusive schools for 13-18-year-olds), independent secondary schools or selective state selective grammar schools. The term ‘preparatory’ refers to the preparation for the Common Entrance Exam.
You can find the Website and Admissions pages for these schools by going to our various pages like:
London Prep School Guide
London Prep School Admissions
As each private school also manages their own admission procedures, these vary greatly. Most private schools are however academically selective and administer some kind of assessment. The ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate) inspects most of these prep schools. Ofsted subsequently oversees this. All independent schools in England are however registered with the Department of Education. They are therefore regulated by the Secretary of State for Education.
Consequently for children, up to 7, a prep school would usually ‘assess’ prospective students through an interview and a taster day at the school. There are however schools the make use of 7+ formal assessments.
A – G London Prep Schools
Abercorn School
Aberdour School
Abingdon House School
ACS Cobham International School
ACSEgham International School
ACS Hillingdon International School
Alleyn’s Junior School
Alpha Prep School
Arnold House School
Avenue House School
Avon House School
Bancroft’s School
Beehive Preparatory School
Blackheath Preparatory School
Broomfield House School
Broomwood Hall School
Buckingham Preparatory School
Bute House Preparatory School for Girls
Buxlow Preparatory School
Cameron House School
Caterham Preparatory School
Channing School
Chinthurst School
City of London Freemen’s School
Cty of London School For Girls
Claremont Fan Court School
Coworth Flexlands School
Cranmore School
Croydon High School GDST
Cumnor House School
Danes Hill School
Devonshire House Preparatory School
Dolphin School (inc Noahs Ark Nursery Schools)
Donhead School
Dulwich Prep London School
Eaton House The Manor School and Eaton Square School
Elmhurst School For Boys
Fairley House School
Finton House School
Francis Holland School, Sloane Square
Frensham Heights School
Glendower Prep School
Grange Park Preparatory School
Greenfield School
Guildford High School for Girls
London Prep Schools H – R
Hall Grove School and Hall School
Halstead Preparatory School for Girls
Hampton Court House School and Hampton Pre-Prep & Prep School
Heath House Preparatory School
Hereward House School
Highgate School
Hoe Bridge School
Holy Cross Preparatory School
Homefield Preparatory School
Hornsby House School
Hurlingham School
Hyde Park School (busy transitioning to Eaton Square)
Ibstock Place School
James Allen’s Girls’ School
Keble School
Kensington Prep School GDST
King’s College Junior School and King’s House School
Laleham Lea School
Lanesborough School
Latymer Prep School
London Christian School
Lyndhurst House School
Merton Court Preparatory School
Moon Hall School,Dorking and Moon Hall School, Reigate
Newton Prep School
Northcote Lodge
Notting Hill and Ealing High School GDST and Notting Hill Preparatory School
Old Palace of John Whitgift School and Old Vicarage School
Oliver House School
Orchard House School
Palmers Green High School
Park Hill School and Park School for Girls
Pembridge Hall School
Portland Place School
Prospect House School
Queen’s College London
Ravenscourt Park Preparatory School
Reigate St Mary’s Preparatory and Choir School
Riverston School
Rosemary Works School
Rowan Preparatory School
Royal Russell School
Prep Schools (S)
Seaton House School
Shrewsbury House School
Snaresbrook Preparatory School
South Hampstead High School GDST
St Andrews (Woking) School Trust
Saint Anthony’s School for boys
St Aubyn’s School
St Benedict’s School
Saint Catherine’s School, Twickenham
St Christopher’s School – Hampstead
Saint Christopher’s School – Wembley
Saint Dunstan’s College and Saint Edmund’s School
St George’s Junior School
St Helen’s School
St Ives School
Saint James Junior School
Saint Joseph’s Convent Independent Primary School
St Margaret’s School, Hampstead
Saint Olave’s Preparatory School
St Paul’s Cathedral School
Saint Paul’s School
St Teresa’s Prep School Effingham
Streatham & Clapham High School GDST
Surbiton High School
Sutton High School GDST
T London Prep Schools
The Falcons School for Girls
The Lady Eleanor Holles School
The Mall School
Pointer School
Tower House School
Trevor-Roberts School
U – Z London Prep Schools
University College School Junior Branch
Ursuline Preparatory School
Vita et Pax Preparatory School
Wandsworth Preparatory School
Westminster Abbey Choir School and Westminster Cathedral Choir School
White House Preparatory School
Wimbledon Common Preparatory School and Wimbledon High School GDST
Woodford Green Prep School
London Prep School Entrance Exams
Firstly, City of London. Then, Croydon. Also, Ealing / Plus, Hampstead. Next, Haringey. Also, Harrow. And Havering. Then, Islington. Plus, Kensington & Chelsea / And Kingston-upon-Thames / Also, Lewisham. Merton. And then Notting Hill. Plus also Redbridge. And next Streatham. Also Southwark / Plus Sutton. Next Wandsworth. Finally Wimbledon.
Our Other Which School guides
Firstly, private Sixth Form Admissions, top private sixth Forms Guide , private London Sixth Forms blog and London Sixth Forms Guide.
Secondly, London Prep Schools Guide, Prep schools, London prep schools guide and Top London Prep schools blog.
Thirdly, London private schools, Private London School Admissions (A-M), Sunday Times Private Schools League Table and top private girls schools in London.
Plus, London Independent Schools Guide, and London’s top independent school A-Level results.
Then, Grammar Schools Guide, London 11 plus practice tests, 11Plus GL Guide,Grammars using 11 plus GL Assessment Guide , Guide to Grammar School Entry.
Also, UK Boarding Schools Guide, and primary school league tables,
Finally, London Pre-Schools Guide,
Our Which School Guides