4+ Assessments 2025

[KnackeredBunny]

Main thread for 2025 applications. Can’t find the previous thread for 2025 but from memory it has a typo in the title. I’ve only made this one to make sure everyone finds it easily!

Advice from previous assessments gladly taken. This is our first time applying. It’s a little early still so why don’t we start with where everyone is applying?

We’re looking at The Hall, Alleyn’s, Habs, Highgate UCS, and Manor Lodge. Have looked at some prep from previous threads and starting to think we’re seriously under-prepared…

Hey everyone, could I ask if anyone has anecdotes on how summer born children did. Our daughter is Aug and have thought 4+ might be a bit early for her but would love to be wrong !

@QuaintLilacHelper my son august born got into all the schools that we applied to including Highgate, UCS, Habs etc. While there are more older kids (sep-dec) in a lot of schools, classes appear to be be a mix. Good luck!

@angpat @Fairy12456 so today we received letter from habs confirming due to high demand and calibre they had this year during assessment they added one more class in reception . So around 66 students will start in reception rather the 40-44. It felt strange as people have accepted offers and now they are disclosing about this decision. Wanted to check if you guys were aware and how?
or any thoughts if you have received this news?

@Gracefulgreen this is interesting news! Is it for both boys and girls?

My school did the same a couple of years ago. We knew we would be expanding at the start of the school year, but we didn't make it public until around now, once all the places had been accepted. So Habs would have had it in mind since the autumn. There are lots of logistical things that need to be considered such as which classrooms are available, staffing, dining hall space, timetables etc.

There are pros and cons to these types of expansion, the biggest pro is that more parents have the opportunity for a place!! There are more cons though that I wont go into here (message me if you are interested). Just to update, this year, my school announced they are going to be dropping this extra class from September!

@Gracefulgreen I had heard from a friend a few weeks ago already that habs boys had over offered by a lot resulting in 3 reception classes rather than 2. I believe my friend was aware around the time of the offers event.

Interesting! Highgate has 3 reception classes, each with 20 children. Involved a lot of building works a few years ago to accommodate so I reckon it must have been pre-planned

to be clear they over offered deliberately.

Yes they offered deliberately and it was a planned decision it seems. I can recall they mentioned 3 form during offer holders day but i was not very sure. Now it’s all out in mail so it is clear now.
Just to add they will be starting nursery as well this year.

@Gracefulgreen We did receive the letter but I am not so surprised that they did the extra class as the school is really in demand. I do think that they should have sent the letter earlier though. But I don’t think it would have changed our minds either way. It is an excellent school with high calibre pupils.
Hopefully it doesn’t affect the boys learning and experience pathway.

I was aware as my friend told me who has a girl at Habs. Does that mean they would take less students at 7 plus? As I’m assuming this is when it increased from 2 to 3 classes previously but can’t imagine it would increase from 3-4?