8+ 2026

[JustNewt]

Hi - are any taking the SPJS or WUS 8+ exam? Any idea how many boys sit the exam and how many seats?

No 8+ now at WUS. only 7+

Not true. There actually was an 8+ entry available at WUS this year (but I think it's the last one). I know because my son was part of it.
R1 / Exam took place 6 January 2026.
R2 / Classroom visit & interview: 21 January 2026.

As for the places, the stats seemed roughly the same at both schools:
Roughly 200 boys came at Round1 in both schools (±estimate), 50-60 were in R2, and each school said there's about 20-25 places available.

How did those that took the 8+ get on? Any idea regarding reserve list movement?

How did the results pan out for you?

We were very lucky: got firm offers from both WUS and SPJS.

Decided to go with SPJS, so I imagine at least one place at WUS was released to the waitlist.

Great news! Congrats, why did you choose SPJS over WUS?

Great news! Congrats, why did you choose SPJS over WUS?

We went through many rounds of debates and hesitations, spoke to multiple people, did quite a bit of research (including a scan of career trajectories of alumni on LinkedIn), but ultimately it was down to three factors:

1. SPJS is more affordable / better fit for our long-term-family circumstances: we have two sons and even a theoretical option of paying £100k in school fees for two of them at the Westminster Great School was not looking realistic.
2. We really enjoyed every interaction with SPJS Head, Mr Snowball and other teachers: we feel it is important for the boys to have good role models around them, and have an impression that Mr Snowball could be one. He comes across as an intelligent, committed, generous and fair Head of School.
3. We generally felt that SPJS was a more well-rounded and adaptive school, and that everything was just a bit more intentional and better structured there: from facilities to the experiences that the boys had at the Open Day and during tests, and the clubs that suit modern kids’ expectations.

Having said that, WUS has many other amazing advantages. One for sure being co-ed.

Hope you get to the school of your choice!

We recently got to know through PrepPlus's webinar that there are just 8+ entries for KCS, not in SPJS and WUS.