Selective independent schools in London: entry tests and dates

By ExamKind Editorial TeamFacts checked 19 October 2026Last reviewed 19 October 2026

In short

Every London independent school runs its own admissions. Among the schools we cover, the main entry points are 7+ or 8+, 11+, 13+ and 16+. At 11+, a London school usually uses one of three routes: the shared London 11+ Consortium test, the online ISEB Pre-Tests, or its own papers. Below, the schools we cover are listed A to Z under each entry point.

Facts used on this pageFacts checked between 9 and 10 Oct 2026sources in each row
Fact	Detail	Source
What a private (independent) school is	fee-charging schools that do not have to follow the national curriculum	Source: GOV.UK, checked 9 Oct 2026
Applying to private schools	apply to private (independent) schools directly	Source: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked 9 Oct 2026
London 11+ Consortium: Process	one 100-minute test, a reference and interviews	Source: London 11+ Consortium, checked 9 Oct 2026
London 11+ Consortium: Registration closes	Friday 6 November 2026	Source: London 11+ Consortium, checked 9 Oct 2026
London 11+ Consortium: Offers	Friday 12 February 2027	Source: London 11+ Consortium, checked 9 Oct 2026
ISEB Pre-Tests: format	four online adaptive tests, 2 hours 15 minutes in total	Source: ISEB (Independent Schools Examinations Board), checked 9 Oct 2026
ISEB Pre-Tests: Shared	results go to every senior school that asks for them, so children take the tests only once	Source: ISEB (Independent Schools Examinations Board), checked 9 Oct 2026
ISEB Pre-Tests: Testing starts	Tuesday 1 September 2026	Source: ISEB (Independent Schools Examinations Board), checked 9 Oct 2026
ISEB Pre-Tests: Testing ends	late May 2027	Source: ISEB (Independent Schools Examinations Board), checked 9 Oct 2026
City of London School for Girls: Cambridge select insight	Cambridge Select Insight	Source: City of London School for Girls, checked 9 Oct 2026
Royal Russell School: Online test other	another online test	Source: Royal Russell School, checked 10 Oct 2026
ISEB Pre-Tests: When taken	most children take the Pre-Tests once, in Year 6, for Year 7 entry; some senior schools use them ahead of Year 9 entry	Source: ISEB (Independent Schools Examinations Board), checked 9 Oct 2026

How does entry to a London independent school work?

Independent schools are fee-charging schools that do not have to follow the national curriculumWhat a private (independent) school isChecked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: Private schools (also known as ‘independent schools’) charge fees to attend instead of being funded by the government. Pupils do not have to follow the national curriculum.View the official source. The government's advice is that apply to private (independent) schools directlyApplying to private schoolsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: If you’re looking for a place at a private school (also called ‘independent schools’), contact the school directly.View the official source. In practice:

you register with each school, by that school's deadline;
your child sits that school's chosen test, often in the autumn or winter of Year 6 for 11+ entry;
most schools ask for a reference from your child's current school, and many hold an interview or group activity;
each school sends its own offers, with its own deadline to accept.

Every school page linked below has that school's dates, fees, bursaries and open days, checked against the school's own website. Our guide to independent school entrance exams explains the process step by step.

Which London schools use the London 11+ Consortium test?

These girls' schools share one test: one 100-minute test, a reference and interviewsLondon 11+ Consortium: ProcessChecked 9 Oct 2026 against London 11+ Consortium.The source says: In 2022 the Consortium introduced a new bespoke assessment process, for entry in September 2023 onwards, ... This test is 100 minutes in total and taken in the candidate’s current school,View the official source. Your daughter sits it once and every member school she is registered with sees the result. For September 2027 entry, registration closes on Friday 6 November 2026London 11+ Consortium: Registration closesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against London 11+ Consortium.The source says: Closing date for registrations: Friday 6th November 2026View the official source and offers come on Friday 12 February 2027London 11+ Consortium: OffersChecked 9 Oct 2026 against London 11+ Consortium.The source says: Offer date: Friday 12th February 2027View the official source.

See the London 11+ Consortium explained for how the test, references and interviews work.

Which London schools use the ISEB Pre-Tests at 11+?

The ISEB Pre-Tests are four online adaptive tests, 2 hours 15 minutes in totalISEB Pre-Tests: formatChecked 9 Oct 2026 against ISEB (Independent Schools Examinations Board).The source says: The tests cover English, mathematics, verbal reasoning (VR) and non-verbal reasoning (NVR) and will take 2 hours 15 minutes to complete.View the official source, and results go to every senior school that asks for them, so children take the tests only onceISEB Pre-Tests: SharedChecked 9 Oct 2026 against ISEB (Independent Schools Examinations Board).The source says: This means that children only have to take the tests once.View the official source. These schools list them as part of 11+ entry, often alongside an interview and sometimes their own writing task:

The ISEB testing window for 2026 to 2027 runs from Tuesday 1 September 2026ISEB Pre-Tests: Testing startsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against ISEB (Independent Schools Examinations Board).The source says: – Tuesday 1st September 2026: Live testing for the 2026-27 session commences.View the official source to late May 2027ISEB Pre-Tests: Testing endsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against ISEB (Independent Schools Examinations Board).The source says: – Late May 2027: Testing for the 2026-27 session ends.View the official source, but each school sets the date by which it needs results. Our ISEB Pre-Test guide explains how the tests work.

City of London School for Girls uses a different ready-made online test, Cambridge Select InsightCity of London School for Girls: Cambridge select insightChecked 9 Oct 2026 against City of London School for Girls.The source says: We do, however, recommend that applicants look at the familiarisation for the CEM assessment, the maths sample paper and English sample paper we provide so that they know what to expect on the assessment days.View the official source, alongside its own English and maths papers.

Which London schools set their own 11+ papers?

These schools write their own entrance papers, usually some mix of English, maths, reasoning and creative writing, and most add an interview. Where a school publishes its own sample papers, they show what that school's test looks like.

Alleyn's School, Bancroft's School, Blackheath High School, Bromley High School, City of London School, Colfe's School, Croydon High School, Dulwich College, Dulwich Prep & Senior, Eltham College, Emanuel School, Forest School, Hampton School, Highgate School, The John Lyon School, Kensington Park School, King's College School, Wimbledon, Kingston Grammar School, Latymer Upper School, Merchant Taylors' School, North London Collegiate School, Putney High School, St Benedict's School, St Catherine's School, Twickenham, St Dunstan's College, Surbiton High School, Sutton High School, Sydenham & Dulwich Girls, University College School, Wetherby Senior School, Whitgift School and Wimbledon High School.

A few schools describe their 11+ assessment in a way that does not fit these groups. Royal Russell School uses another online testRoyal Russell School: Online test otherChecked 10 Oct 2026 against Royal Russell School.The source says: We use the Quest platform to carry out these assessments on a PC during the assessment day.View the official source with a group activity and interview. Trinity School, Croydon and St James Senior Girls' School set their own assessment; see each school page for what it involves.

Which London schools take children at 7+ or 8+?

These schools have a 7+ or 8+ entry point, usually into a junior or prep school that leads on to the senior school. Each school page shows what its 7+ or 8+ assessment involves and how many places it expects to offer, where the school publishes this.

Alleyn's School, Bancroft's School, Blackheath High School, Bromley High School, Colfe's School, Croydon High School, Dulwich College, Dulwich Prep & Senior, Eltham College, Forest School, The Harrodian School, Highgate School, Ibstock Place School, James Allen's Girls' School, The John Lyon School, King's College School, Wimbledon, Lady Eleanor Holles School, Latymer Prep School, North London Collegiate School, Northwood College for Girls, Notting Hill & Ealing High School, Putney High School, Queen's Gate School, South Hampstead High School, St Augustine's Priory, St Benedict's School, St Catherine's School, Twickenham, St Dunstan's College, St Helen's School, Northwood, St Margaret's Hampstead, St Paul's Prep School, Streatham & Clapham High School, Surbiton High School, Sutton High School, Sydenham & Dulwich Girls, University College School, Westminster Under School and Wetherby Senior School.

Which London schools take children at 13+?

Entry at 13+ is into Year 9. Some London schools start only at 13+, so children stay at a prep school until then: Harrow School, Mill Hill School, St Paul's School and Westminster School. Harrow, St Paul's and Westminster ask for the ISEB Pre-Tests as part of 13+ entry. That fits the ISEB's own description: most children take the Pre-Tests once, in Year 6, for Year 7 entry; some senior schools use them ahead of Year 9 entryISEB Pre-Tests: When takenChecked 9 Oct 2026 against ISEB (Independent Schools Examinations Board).The source says: Your child will most likely take the ISEB Pre-Tests once during their Year 6 for Year 7 entry (11+), however, some senior schools, such as Eton and Harrow, use the Pre-Tests as a precursor to Year 9 entry (13+).View the official source.

Other schools offer 13+ as a second way in alongside 11+. The full A to Z list of London schools we cover with a 13+ entry point:

Blackheath High School, Croydon High School, Dulwich College, Dulwich Prep & Senior, Emanuel School, Forest School, Francis Holland Sloane Square, Hampton School, The Harrodian School, Harrow School, James Allen's Girls' School, The John Lyon School, Kensington Park School, King's College School, Wimbledon, Latymer Upper School, Mill Hill School, Northwood College for Girls, Queen's Gate School, Royal Russell School, St Augustine's Priory, St Benedict's School, St Dunstan's College, St Paul's School, Surbiton High School, Trinity School, Croydon, Westminster School, Wetherby Senior School and Whitgift School.

Which London schools take students at 16+?

These schools admit new students into the sixth form. Sixth-form entry usually involves GCSE grade requirements and an interview, and sometimes subject papers. Each school sets its own deadline.

Alleyn's School, Bancroft's School, Blackheath High School, Bromley High School, Channing School, City of London School, City of London School for Girls, Colfe's School, Croydon High School, Dulwich College, Eltham College, Emanuel School, Forest School, Francis Holland Regent's Park, Francis Holland Sloane Square, The Godolphin and Latymer School, Hampton School, The Harrodian School, Harrow School, Highgate School, Ibstock Place School, James Allen's Girls' School, The John Lyon School, Kensington Park School, Kew House School, King's College School, Wimbledon, Kingston Grammar School, Lady Eleanor Holles School, Latymer Upper School, Maida Vale School, Merchant Taylors' School, Mill Hill School, More House School, North London Collegiate School, Northwood College for Girls, Notting Hill & Ealing High School, Putney High School, Queen's College, London, Queen's Gate School, Royal Russell School, South Hampstead High School, St Augustine's Priory, St Benedict's School, St Catherine's School, Twickenham, St Dunstan's College, St Helen's School, Northwood, St James Senior Girls' School, St Paul's Girls' School, St Paul's School, Streatham & Clapham High School, Surbiton High School, Sutton High School, Sydenham & Dulwich Girls, Trinity School, Croydon, University College School, Westminster School, Wetherby Senior School, Whitgift School and Wimbledon High School.

How can you keep a London shortlist manageable?

Group schools by test. One Consortium test can cover several girls' schools, and one ISEB sitting can go to several ISEB schools. Each school with its own papers adds another test day.
Write every deadline in one calendar, including bursary and scholarship deadlines, which can come earlier than you expect.
Visit before you register where you can, and register only for schools you would be glad to accept.
Keep your child's week normal around test and interview days, and talk about offers as a family decision.

Sources

Facts on this page come from archived official sources checked between 9 and 13 October 2026: GOV.UK (types of school; school admissions), the ISEB (Pre-Tests information for families), the London 11+ Consortium, and the admissions pages of each school listed.

ExamKind is independent and is not connected with any school, consortium or test provider. How we make our content.

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