Latest Info on the new Westminster Under 4+ Assessments

[MyTwoDads]

Very little clear info has been released on the new 4+ assessment that WUS are going to be holding this autumn, so I spoke to them to find out some more info (why not go straight to the source!). I explained I am a tutor and some of my parents are going for the 4+ assessments this autumn or thinking about it, but are unclear about content, dates, number of places they have etc.

These are the main points:

It will be capped at 500 applications. This is a lot! But they said they are almost reaching this number now (so apply if you haven't already)

They have 32 places available (this was not on the website as all)

There will be 2 classes of 16 pupils starting Reception 2026. Each class will have one teacher and one TA (this is a good ratio)

There will be two rounds (they call them stages) and will be similar in format to other schools that do 2 rounds for their 4+.

Offers will be made at the end of Jan 2026 and they will take into consideration birth month, EAL and proximity to the school.

At least we have some clearer info on numbers now and what the Pre-Prep will look like once it gets going!

My DC said “we played” but our friends’ children mentioned that they were asked to write a five word sentence and calculate change in the shop. I do hope this is a product of their imagination otherwise I would find it quite concerning that these are their expectations of 3-4 year olds as there won’t be enough geniuses living around SW1 and able to pay £30K pa which would mean the children will have to be heavily tutored from nursery onwards to be able to meet the school expectations.

@Londonmamma22 writing 5 word sentences ? That is a high bar.

Reading 2 stories? Is it to test comprehension?

Anyone know what time we will hear back today? Thank you

Most schools I know do 4-6pm usually so I suggest we all relax and don’t refresh our phones every 10 mins till about that time (easier said than done haha)

The waiting is so excruciating. Good luck to everyone who is waiting to find out!
Our child didn’t reveal much but I do know they changed it up for the groups, so each session was different!

We just got the mail saying our son has been put on the Waitlist; any idea how long the waitlist is likely to be / any real chance of movement?

We are also stuck in the waitlist limbo. Does anyone know when the deadline is for those with offers to accept?

4th Feb is the deadline for many of the schools that have just released their results. There will be a lot of movement in the days that follow that as everyone shuffles around. Then there could be movement at any point from then to the summer. When state schools release their results (16th April) there can sometimes be a place or two come up then.

Reading this thread, is it fair to say WUS 4+ is the most competitive among all London preps?

Our son has also been waitlisted, so that would make at least three. I believe some schools sometimes waitlist the same number of places as are offered. I don't know whether the WUS list is ranked or waitlist places are offered based on the child's birthday, ie a boy born in May declines and they try to match like with like

This is helpful, thank you! Do you know whether selective co-eds have separate waitlists for boys and girls to maintain a gender balance?

@Rainbowgarnet yes, that is how it usually works.
To try and be fair we would always go for an equal split when offering and choosing from the WL, but it was allowed to fluctuate with a slight imbalance of one or two

Has anyone gotten through the waitlist yet? We are on the waitlist so wondering if it has started to move. Am aware of at least one offer being declined.

I have heard of 3 people declining WUS (2 were offers and 1 from the WL) but they were all girls. Things will start shifting from today as the deadlines begin for many of the schools. Fingers crossed for anyone on a WL!

We have also heard several families are declining offers for their daughters and the offer pool was already a bit boy heavy. Apparently about half the offers went to siblings of current pupils. We have now paid deposit for another school. Did anyone from the WL received an update?

half of the 30 places gone to siblings?
So 15 for 500 applicants?

I just heard that a sizeable amount of the places offered went to siblings. I don’t know the precise number and assume the siblings went through the same assessment process as everyone else. IF this is true, I would expect the sibling offers are highly likely to be accepted and is something I am taking into account when considering likelihood of movement on WL. Best of luck everyone!

There doesn't seem to be a sibling (automatic) policy.

Where do the declining families go?

I failed my 4+ back in the ‘70s. I then squeaked through to Seniors largely because my father advocated. Throughout my school life I was told I was slow, not allowed to do the “difficult” sciences etc. But I went to Oxford and went on to have a triple scholarship at the Bar. My point is (and I suspect it will fall on deaf ears) you can’t tell much at many ages right through to seniors, certainly not at 4+ or 7+, although both will weed out those with a learning difference. Both my sons are at academic private schools, so this isn’t an anti-Indy thing. One was weeded out at 4+ and 11+ but achieved top grades in his GCSEs (he took 11), and out-performed his nursery mates who sailed through the 4+.

It sounds as though chances are slim for boys on the WL. Do you know when schools send out these offers? Is it as and when one is declined? Or do they wait and send a second tranche of offers at a later date?

Is it recommended to call the school? Or would this put you in the 'pushy parent' category?

@SW11Mum92 I would wait until next week before calling. For now, you could send a short email into admissions saying how you love the school and it would be a perfect fit your for DC and that you are still very keen and would jump at the chance should they make you an offer.

Some deadlines were yesterday and some are tomorrow. At my school, we would call people from the WL as soon as someone declined, I feel that WUS are waiting for the deadline before they call people on their WL (not sure why). We know that there have been a few girls decline their offers but I haven't heard about any boys declining (that's not to say they haven't), A lot will start happening from today onwards. Schools will also go to the waiting list at any point from now up to the summer - so don't give up hope if you don't hear anything in the next few days.

@MyTwoDads Thank you, that's very helpful advice.

Definitely contact the school to emphasise that you would wish to take up a spot should it become available. It doesn't put you in the pushy parent box. But it does put you in the ready and willing box, which should last minute places come up it may just get you the phone call before other names that haven't reiterated their interest. You have nothing to lose in my opinion.