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!

Thank you @picklesandcheeseforever - I will try at the start of next week. Has anyone on the waitlist been contacted yet?

I have heard of a place being offered to a girl from the waitlist on Wednesday around lunchtime. The deadline they were given to accept was midday yesterday (Friday 6th).

Hope that info helps people still waiting. Have most people accepted other schools now?

Do you think the calibre of the students at WUS will be strong? Especially for girls? My hypothesis is that a lot of the strong girls will get plenty of other offers and will choose others schools like NLCS, SHHS, Alleyns, JAGS, Bute etc over the uncertainty of WUS (given it’s the first reception + girls cohort). Any thoughts?

We got a call Friday morning from Mrs Selbi offering a spot to our son and were told a formal mail will follow, likely next week.

We weren’t communicated a deadline over the call, Mrs Selbi in fact invited us for a chat with her next week since we could not attend the offer holders day.

Interesting. I think that when you screen 520 children down to 100 and then down to 32 with some more on the waiting list, you should have a good solid cohort.
Yes, I agree that more girls have declined and accepted elsewhere but I still believe the waiting list should have enough 'strong' girls in it. It is more about what they do with them once they start the Pre-Prep. They whittled the children down to 10% of the original applicants (offers and WL) and any thorough 4+ assessment should prove successful - but that is where there could be a weak link in the chain - was the assessment thorough and focussed enough in the first place (particularly in stage 1)? In my opinion; no. The staff seem not to have been involved in 4+ assessments before (some weren't even teachers) and so Mrs Selbi can only design the assessment from her own teaching knowledge plus what she thinks she would like to see the children do. I wonder if we will see some adaptations in next year's assessment....?

Having spoken to WUS about my child I was amazed at the very accurate picture they had built up of them so I felt that their assessment process must have been very strong at least in our case.

They also explained some of their process and it sounded well thought through and I got the impression that they had good methodology. There was a focus on teaching the children something new and on their reasoning rather than current knowledge. They also seemed to be trying actively to avoid people tutoring.

I would have thought that the numbers alone would make for an exceptionally strong cohort. Of course some people will prefer schools more local to them and some might prefer single sex but for most people applying to WUS it will have been their first choice. They are really no other Co-ed schools of its calibre and none that offer 4-18.

I'm pleased that you go that impression from speaking with WUS at lot of information we get is through hearsay, so it's good to get a more positive expression.

I think my beef sits mainly with stage 1. I just don't see how they can quantitatively select 100 children from 500+ using the methods they did (I have heard from 9/10 parents on their experience if stage 1). There were some children that didn't get invited back that I was surprised about and conversely, some children that did get in invite to stage 2, that I was equally surprised about.
Plus they whole logistics of how drop off went and moving to the assessment room just doesn't sound like they had the experience and knowledge of 3 year olds coming to a new building with new adults to interact with.

Having said that, it was their first time (not that you all wanted to be guinea pigs!) and hopefully they will make some adjustments next year.
I agree, the second round did seem much more thought through (and long) and I can see why they chose the elements they did for the assessment. It is a very good school and I am sure they will take the new Pre-Prep equally seriously and the new children will no doubt flourish.

@chelseamom2026 the tutoring world is quite unique to London 4+. I do blame the schools for asking for advanced concepts such as CVC words which don't get taught traditionally until first term of Reception. And yet, they tell parents not to prepare! There are lots of examples like this. Since leaving my role as Head of Pre-Prep and entering the 4+ tutoring arena I have found out just how widespread the tutoring is. When I was still in school, I would tell parents that there isn't a need to prepare (I didn't have CVC words in my 4+ assessment in case you wondered! lol). And here I find myself doing the opposite as a 4+ tutor (among other things lol).

The fact is, that if you are applying to schools which have hundreds of applicants for only 30-40 places, you are going to have to prepare your child to be able to stand out - whether that is with home prep or using a tutor! Yes, there are families that say they 'didn't do any prep'. Their children will have picked up lots at home and nursery to be able to show in the assessment, and also be a confident, independent 3yr old. In reality not all children are like this (mine certainly wasn't) and so that is where the preparation is needed!

@chelseamom2026 - so you know 4 girls who got WUS offers and declined for Falkner House? Just goes back to my hypothesis that the strongest kids (esp girls) will just not take WUS at 4+ given the uncertainty.

@chelseamom2026 The Falker head and her mother are a bit eccentric?

Sorry, but your post is equally a disservice to future parents reading here.

You don't have to tutor your child, and they don't need to have attained the skills you list for the assessment. We are at one of the schools mentioned, and can attest to this. It just cannot be true if children turn up to school on day 1 and many can't read or write (my child included in this). Our cohort is filled with confident, outgoing and sparky children. Majority, but not all, are autumn/winter born. And all went to nurseries that lean towards being more 'academic'.

I would really question whether a school is right for your child if you need to tutor them at age 3 or 4 just to gain entry. The curriculum is very fast paced, and doesn't slow down. If your child is not naturally suited, then they will struggle.

My other (summer born!) child did not pass 4+ at these academic schools, we went elsewhere and thank goodness we did as they just would not have coped with a faster pace in the academics. At the time it was disappointing, but I do now see that I was too concerned with getting in to a 'top' school rather than the 'right' school.

Anyway - a post for any future parents to encourage them to hold on to their sanity and not buy in to these hysterical, London school, tutoring arms races for 4+!

Thanks for sharing those examples Chelseamom2026. I think families will turn down WUS (or accept it) for many different reasons: feeder nursery ties, siblings at other schools, a preference for single-sex education, commute, or financial considerations.

I'm also surprised that a child could successfully pass two rounds of WUS assessment to be offered one of 32 places (plus a very small waitlist) from ~520 applicants, yet not receive a single other offer. If that does happen, it arguably highlights the inconsistency of 4+ assessments and the variability of 3 to 4 year olds on the day, rather than saying anything definitive about the children or the schools.

For what it’s worth, we actively chose not to tutor our DC. Our personal view is that we’d rather they are offered a place at a school where they can genuinely thrive and develop a lifelong love of learning, rather than needing large amounts of tutoring to keep up. That’s our opinion and I appreciate it won’t work for everyone. We’ve accepted a place at WUS because there simply aren’t comparable co-ed options in our area, and it feels like the right fit for our child at this stage.

@chelseamom2026 - so WUS is now offering to rejects too? You know if it’s boys or girls? That must be tough for the school to digest

Agree it is not essential to tutor for 4+. My DC received firm offers from 5 schools without tutoring.

However, I'll admit that I did panic after hearing how common 4+ tutoring has become when chatting to other parents during the assessments and questioned our decision not to tutor. It seems to have worked out OK for us.

@Rainbowgarnet I agree that the right school is one that develops a lifelong love of learning in a child. Academics is one part of it but it is also inspiring a child to explore, ask questions, and think critically that is important.

Congratulations on being offered a place. I recall that your child was on the waitlist. Do you mind me asking when you received the offer? I believe we're the only ones on this thread still on the waitlist and it sadly feels like a 'close but no cigar' moment.

@chelseamom2026 thank you for your kind words 😃my aim is always to offer useful advice, as I know the 4+ assessments are so different to other entry point assessments (7+ or 11+). Being someone who has seen it from both sides of the fence - parent with my child sitting the 4+ and Head of Pre-Prep - I hope I can explain things from a well-rounded point of view.

Yes, we can discuss at great length the pros/cons and should we/shouldn't we tutor debate (perhaps that should have its own thread!) but I always go back to putting the emphasis on the schools as they are the ones raising the benchmark and causing the confusion and panic. If I hadn't of prepped my own son, he wouldn't have scored so highly. Children of three don't need to know hexagon and pentagon or CVC words, let alone ALL of the single letter sounds (these are usually taught in the preschool class and focus on one sound per week, then revised over in term one of Reception).

It's not even about getting them ready for the academic school - I'm sure a huge % of the children not passing the 4+ will do exceptionally well once they start Reception wherever that may be, it's about the schools catching children that will really struggle and, let's face it, it's a good cash earner for the school! (WUS earnt over £156k from their 4+ applications this year).
To each their own, I say. All children are different and all family set ups are different. 🤗🤗🤗

@picklesandcheeseforever @Rainbowgarnet

Quote
And all went to nurseries that lean towards being more 'academic'.
Unquote

Another example of “tutoring” - even if people don’t want to call it that. If you’re aiming for the most selective schools, it does take a lot of parental involvement. It’s not always a private tutor: it could be academic nurseries (e.g. 4+ feeder nurseries), parents teaching at home, or external tutors.
Bottom line: extra support is needed in one form or another — it’s all tutoring, even if some parents feel uncomfortable admitting it.

@chelseamom2026hasnt said that at all?

Did you contact the school to let them know how interested you are?

I know I said this up thread, but to anyone unsuccessful please do not despair, as more relaxed and less pressured schools than the London 4+ scene can be the right answer for many children.

@chelseamom2026
I visited Falkner, Glendower, Bute, and I don't quite get what is it about Falkner that makes it so popular. Its 11+ result is stellar, but I couldn't see what else is on the offer. The children (and teachers) didn't look happy during my visit, compared to Glendower.