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…

@Jezzzasorry to hear this! It’s very hard in the moment when this happens but don’t get too discouraged - with boys you have plenty of opportunities at 7+ to enter some of the best schools. It really seems like your nursery / pre school let you down a little bit (if you don’t mind me saying) - it’s their job to ensure that children can write their names and recognise numbers 1-10 and some letters by the time assessments come. Or at least to tell you that it will be needed for 4+ and ask you to support at home.
Have your looked at Hereward House? It’s an academic school with lots of very smart boys. A school like that + some tutoring in Year 1 will set you up perfectly to pass 7+ for the most selective schools.

I have heard that Hampstead Hill has phenomenal results with Highgate at 7+

We also got through to the second round at Highgate. I feel just as confused as I did with the first round, I still don’t know what to expect and how to prep. I was sure we weren’t going to get through round 1 as we haven’t tutored. I obviously think my ds is great but he’s not necessarily doing the things everyone else is describing

Congratulations @KnackeredBunny- we too were surprised as it’s so competitive and we also didn’t tutor. I guess the staff know what they’re looking for, we won’t tutor for the second round either. Fingers crossed for our little ones in the new year, it’ll be what it’ll be

I'm happy for people to DM and I can suggest things to focus on, if you are not planning on using a tutor for round 2. 🤗

Wow, never heard of a child skipping the second round before! What school was this, do you mind me asking?

Thank you for your comment and recommendation. I really appreciate it.

im a bit confused- should a 3- 4 years old know how to write their names and numbers before they start school? Where i come from we start primary school from 6+ so i thought we were going to teach him when he started school in September.

my DH started looking at schools this September (my DS will start reception in September 2026) and we decided to view the Highgate school. We have never asked the nurseries to train/coach him for the assessment. On the open day they told not to tutor kids. We took that literally. We weren’t aware that people actually prepare their kids for the assessment in terms of writing and reading. We told our son the night before briefly that he was going for a bit to this school. They will ask him for some numbers, maybe draw etc. also didn’t talk too much as we didn’t want to make it a big deal.

i am aware that the state schools in North London do very well academically. Given from what i am reading here, is it the case that children in state schools also get tutoring or alot of help from their parents/caretaker? I would like to know so that we also give our son the same help.

Thank you for the suggestion. We will check that out. We decided to try Highgate School because it’s close to our house. This was the only assessment that we took our DS to and did not prepare him in any form for it. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

Any good tutoring teachers/company for 7+ would be appreciated or tutoring in general

@sheepi when you say you didn’t prepare at all , how does your daughter knows how to write her name and count/write numbers in hundreds? Of course she has been taught at home. So that’s preparing a kid for the assessment. Please don’t go around saying we didn’t prepare at all when you did. And that’s the right thing and i wished i had done the same (and again it’s not guaranteed that my DS would have gotten a place).

@Jezzzasorry again you’ve had such a disappointing experience. Let me try and help hopefully.

Prep: Children sitting 4+ are expected to write their name, know basic shapes and colours, numbers up to 10, recognise some letters. In 95% of cases they will be taught these things in their pre school or nursery as in most cases they are sent to a pre school or nursery that prepare them for 4+ assessments. At the parent meetings those nurseries will discuss 4+ readiness with you and how you can support at home. In most cases again it’s very light support eg making them sign few Xmas cards with their name. Some parents are more involved and practice phonics or letter recognition at home. Again - most of work if being done by the nursery. In your case it seems like this hasn’t happened and the nursery / pre school didn’t prepare you DC or told you what is needed.

Tutoring. In the last 2-3 years some parents started to actually tutor their children for 4+. Which means paying someone to have 1-2-1 or small group classes with your DC to teach them how to write their name neater, how to write simple words, do simple additions up to 10 or maybe be better at describing or drawing a picture. This is what the schools mean when they say “please don’t tutor”.

People aiming at highly selective schools at 7+ would start tutoring their children somewhere in Year 1 - around Xmas or spring so you have plenty of time to re group. Reception is a trying time for little ones settling in so everyone (except for tutors themselves of course) will recommend you don’t tutor in reception.

Children in state or private schools who do well at 11+ receive extra support at home. In some cases it’s group tutoring (eg Yellowbird), in many cases it’s 1-2-1 tutoring and in some cases it’s a very involved usually non-working parent who dives deep into the prep and does it themselves (tends to work best but obv very difficult for the said parent). Again this starts in year 3 or so to prepare for Year 6 exams.

I hope this is helpful to you and I hope you will find a lovely pre prep for you DC before they sit 7+ into your school of choice.

We tutored and didn't get through Highgate first round, unfortunetly theres no magic answer i think!

I’m sorry you didn’t get the outcome you hoped for.

I’m not sure whether it will be of any reassurance to you, but remember that this thread is speaking to a tiny proportion of parents with children starting in schools that are not representative of typical UK state or even prep schools.

We almost got sucked into the London educational arms race, so I can understand the pull that these schools have when you want to do the “best” for your child. And I’m sure they are the best choice for some children, including those of the parents posting here. But do consider all of your options! I am glad that my children have had the opportunity to go to an “average” state primary. Tutoring isn’t really a thing until well into juniors. Children with engaged and supportive parents obviously have an advantage, as is the case in general.

We got a second round at Highgate. We applied last minute, and only to Highgate so we weren't really expecting to get through the first round. We didn't do any formal prep for the assessment over and above what his nursery (not a prep-nursery) have been teaching him and what myself and my husband do as part of our usual parenting style at home, by encouraging learning activities that he shows a particular interest in. I'm not saying this isn't preparation itself, but I'm not doing anything differently just so that he can pass the assessment.

He is summer born but I think he is fairly bright, although I imagine most parents think the same about their own children too :) He loves elaborate role playing games and I imagine this is one of the primary reasons he was selected for the second round as its very obvious when you observe him play. I think he may struggle somewhat in the second round though as his fine motor skills in particular are definitely lacking from what I see versus other children.

Can anyone share what came up in the first round at Highgate / south Hampstead etc?

we did not sit them but hoping it may help for future assessments.

Would also be interested to hear whether anyone has had success with a shyer child. My son (aged 2.5 so 4+ a year away) takes a while to warm up to new people so I can’t imagine he would do well in an assessment but wondering whether they account for this (or perhaps he’ll change a lot in a year!).

@northernlass1001shy children can do very well at the assessments - the teachers are skilled at helping them open up. However if I were you I would ensure you are doing as many drop off activities as you can next 12 months - drop off clubs, kids clubs in the hotels, holiday clubs like Tarka. This would help him to feel more comfortable in unfamiliar environment and talk to people he hasn’t met before.

Thanks @Londonmamma22! He’s starting as a feeder pre prep in Jan and some of the activities he does now are drop off next September so maybe those two things will help. If not, we can hold off and try at 7+. I don’t want to push him at 4+ if actually a smaller pre prep would suit him better.

We have a second round assessment at Highgate and ds takes a while to warm up. I think they like to have a mix of kids but we will see after round 2.

I don't think you'll get much luck here telling you exactly what came up....

Does anyone have any tips for UCS and Alleyn’s? My little one didn’t get through Highgate, which was expected albeit disappointing as he caught the flu a few days before the assessment - persistent high fevers, myositis, nosebleeds, et al. We tried asking for a second chance due to mitigating circumstances as he was still severely unwell on his assessment day but they won’t be reconsidering their decision. Such is life. Alleyn’s is a classroom based assessment for 2026, does anyone have any insight on what to expect for both schools? Thanks in advance

@Bubblewrap2 Have you checked out previous year’s threads https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/primary/4938610-4-assessments-2023?utmcampaign=thread&utmmedium=share

for inspiration on what to prep? In general I’ve found little information on Dulwich schools, there seems to be a lot more information on the North London schools and what they look for in the assessments. There is also some info on @MyTwoDads instagram page.

Any insights on NLCS first assessment for 4+? We did not get through Highgate and they won’t share any feedback until next year, which is disappointing. My daughter is bright and knows phonics, writing her name. I am curious to know any information about NLCS assessment so I can start preparing my daughter for the same. Are there any suggestions on drop off activities/ holiday clubs during Christmas that we can make use to boost confidence?

I’m not sure if it’s running through Christmas but Little Gym on Finchley Road do drop off classes for 3 years old and up

@MumInlondon16tarka is great especially as they have different teachers and children every day for holiday clubs