Guide to Prep Schools

What is a prep school?

Prep schools — short for preparatory schools — educate children from approximately age 7 (Year 3) to 13 (Year 8), preparing them for entry to senior independent schools, typically via Common Entrance at 13+ or Pre-Test at 11+. They are the engine room of the independent school system: children who attend good prep schools tend to be significantly more competitive at 13+ entry than those who join senior schools directly at 11. The curriculum is broader and more specialist than state primary, with dedicated teachers for different subjects from early in the school.

Entry routes: 7+, 8+, 11+

The main entry point is 7+ (Year 3), which is a competitive assessment involving verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English and maths. A number of prep schools also accept children at 8+ and 11+. The 7+ assessments for the most sought-after schools take place in January of Year 2, with offers typically made in February. Children are assessed over one or two days; preparation through tutoring and practice papers is the norm at competitive preps, typically starting in Year 1.

• 7+ (Year 2, January): verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, written English, maths
• 8+ (Year 3): similar format, less common entry point
• 11+ (Year 6): some preps accept mid-school entrants if places arise
• Register at least 18 months before your preferred entry point

Common Entrance and the route to senior school

Common Entrance (CE) is the examination sat by most Year 8 pupils (aged 13) applying to independent senior schools. It is a demanding academic test across eight subjects, marked by the senior school you are applying to, which sets its own pass mark — typically 55–70% depending on the school's selectivity. The CE process begins well before Year 8: most senior schools now require children to sit an ISEB Common Pre-Test in Year 6 (age 10–11), and some conduct their own Pre-Tests as early as Year 5.

• ISEB Common Pre-Test (Year 6): online tests in English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning
• Senior school own Pre-Tests: some schools (e.g. Winchester, Eton) run bespoke assessments
• CE examination: May/June of Year 8 across 8 subjects
• Scholarship exams: usually January–February of Year 8 — harder than CE, require dedicated preparation

What distinguishes a top prep school?

The quality of a prep school is most honestly measured by where its Year 8 leavers go. A school that sends the majority of its pupils to top-tier senior schools — Eton, Winchester, Wycombe Abbey, Cheltenham Ladies', Marlborough, Rugby — is almost certainly delivering strong teaching, pastoral care and exam preparation. Look also at breadth: music, drama, sport, art, DT and outdoor education are all hallmarks of the best prep experience.

• Senior school destinations list (ask for the most recent three years)
• Scholarship record — how many academic, music, art, sport scholarships per year?
• Average class size (12–18 is good; over 20 is a concern)
• Specialist subject teachers from Year 3 or 4
• Boarding options from Year 4–5 can be valuable for family flexibility

Boarding at prep school

Many prep schools offer full or flexi-boarding from Year 4 or 5 (ages 8–9). For families with demanding work schedules, boarding even one or two nights a week can be transformative. It also prepares children for full boarding at senior school. The boarding community at a good prep school is warm and deliberately fun — it is not a punishment. If full senior boarding is your plan, spending Year 7 and 8 as a boarder at prep school significantly eases the transition.

Open day checklist

Ready to explore schools?

Browse our full database and apply filters to find the right school.