Westminster Under School: entry, tests, dates and fees

The Under School is the prep school linked to Westminster School. There are three ways in, each at the start of a stage: Reception in the Pre-Prep, Year 3 at the start of Prep, and Year 7. The assessments grow with the child, from play sessions for four-year-olds to written papers and an interview at 11+.

Girls have been able to join at every entry point since September 2026 entrySource for Westminster Under School: Coeducation fromWestminster Under School: Coeducation fromCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster School.The source says: From 2026, Westminster Under School will have girls entering Year 3 at 7+ and Year 7 at 11+, as well as at 4+ in the brand new Pre-Prep for girls and boys.View the official source, when the school became co-educationalSource for Westminster Under School: PupilsWestminster Under School: PupilsCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster Under School.The source says: Westminster Under School is a co-educational, independent prep school in London for day pupils aged 4–13View the official source. Year groups that began before then were boys only, so the school is becoming mixed one year at a time.

11+ (Year 7)

At 11+, one offer covers both schools. The place covers Year 7 (Under School), then Westminster School in Year 9Source for Westminster Under School: JoinsWestminster Under School: JoinsCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster School.The source says: They enter the Under School in Year 7 before progressing to Westminster School in Year 9, with no further entry testing.View the official source, so a child spends Years 7 and 8 here and then moves up with no further entrance test. For September 2028 entrySource for Westminster Under School: Current cycleWestminster Under School: Current cycleCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster School.The source says: 11+ Entry for 2028View the official source, the 11+ has these parts:

• ISEB Common Pre-TestSource for Westminster Under School: Iseb pretestWestminster Under School: Iseb pretestCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster School.The source says: The assessments, used by many senior schools, are set by the ISEB (Independent Schools Examination Board) and are called the Common Pre-Tests.View the official source
• the school's own English paperSource for Westminster Under School: Own englishWestminster Under School: Own englishCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster School.The source says: They will be invited back to the School in January to take additional written papers in Mathematics and English; these papers can only be taken at Westminster Under School.View the official source
• the school's own maths paperSource for Westminster Under School: Own mathsWestminster Under School: Own mathsCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster School.The source says: They will be invited back to the School in January to take additional written papers in Mathematics and English; these papers can only be taken at Westminster Under School.View the official source
• interviewSource for Westminster Under School: InterviewWestminster Under School: InterviewCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster School.The source says: Based on the results of the written papers, in February, the School invites back selected children for an interview with two senior members of staff – one from each school – who will encourage them to talk about themselves to find out about their genuine interests and enthusiasms.View the official source
• reference from the current schoolSource for Westminster Under School: ReferenceWestminster Under School: ReferenceCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster Under School.The source says: The head teacher of the pupil’s present school will also be asked to send a report.View the official source

The pre-test. Everything starts with the ISEB Common Pre-Test in November of Year 6. Many senior schools use this online test, which has four sections: English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Your child can sit it at the Under School or at their own school. Our ISEB Pre-Test guide describes what it looks like.

The written papers. Children picked after the pre-test return in January for the Under School's own English and maths papers, which can only be sat there. The English paper checks reading and writing. The maths paper assumes a child knows the Key Stage 2 curriculum and looks closely at how they use it to solve problems. The school's 11+ page describes each paper in more detail. We do not publish past papers; if the school shares examples, you will find them on its own site.

The interview. In February, selected children meet two senior members of staff, one from each school. It is a relaxed chat about the child's own interests. The head of the child's present school is also asked for a report.

Registration for this round opened on 1 September 2026Source for Westminster Under School: Registration opens (2028)Westminster Under School: Registration opens (2028)CloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster School.The source says: The first step in the 11+ entry process is for a parent to register their child online from 1 September two years before their intended year of entry; registration for that year will close on 30 September of the following year.View the official source. Bursary applications and any SEND reports are due by the same date that registration closes. The school's published figures for the number of 11+ places differ, so we have left the number out and asked the school to confirm.

7+: Year 3 (start of Prep)Source for Westminster Under School: JoinsWestminster Under School: JoinsCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster Under School.The source says: Year 3 is a traditional entry point to Westminster Under School, marking the end of Pre-Prep and the beginning of Prep.View the official source

About 60Source for Westminster Under School: PlacesWestminster Under School: PlacesCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster Under School.The source says: Every year, about 60 boys and girls join our independent prep school at 7+.View the official source children join at 7+ each year. For September 2028 entrySource for Westminster Under School: Current cycleWestminster Under School: Current cycleCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster Under School.The source says: 7+ Entry for 2028View the official source, assessment includes:

• the school's own English paperSource for Westminster Under School: Own englishWestminster Under School: Own englishCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster Under School.The source says: In mid-October, all 7+ candidates sit tests in Mathematics, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.View the official source
• the school's own maths paperSource for Westminster Under School: Own mathsWestminster Under School: Own mathsCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster Under School.The source says: In mid-October, all 7+ candidates sit tests in Mathematics, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.View the official source
• the school's own reasoning paperSource for Westminster Under School: Own reasoningWestminster Under School: Own reasoningCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster Under School.The source says: In mid-October, all 7+ candidates sit tests in Mathematics, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.View the official source
• group activitySource for Westminster Under School: Group activityWestminster Under School: Group activityCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster Under School.The source says: Based on the results of the written papers, in November the School invites back approximately 120 children for classroom activities and an interview.View the official source
• interviewSource for Westminster Under School: InterviewWestminster Under School: InterviewCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster Under School.The source says: Based on the results of the written papers, in November the School invites back approximately 120 children for classroom activities and an interview.View the official source
• reference from the current schoolSource for Westminster Under School: ReferenceWestminster Under School: ReferenceCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster Under School.The source says: Following our various tests, the interview, and the receipt of a report from each applicant’s current head teacher (where available), the pupils are then considered.View the official source

Every candidate first sits short written tests at the school in small groups. In English, children read and write, perhaps carrying on a story or writing a diary entry. Maths covers problem solving, place value, the four operations, measuring, shape and simple fractions. There are verbal and non-verbal reasoning tests too. Based on these results, some children come back for classroom activities, run much like an ordinary school morning, and an interview. The school then weighs the tests, the interview and a report from the current school.

4+: Reception (Pre-Prep)Source for Westminster Under School: JoinsWestminster Under School: JoinsCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster Under School.The source says: 4+ (Reception) Entry StepsView the official source

The Pre-Prep is new: its first Reception class joined for September 2026 entrySource for Westminster Under School: Coeducation fromWestminster Under School: Coeducation fromCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster School.The source says: From 2026, Westminster Under School will have girls entering Year 3 at 7+ and Year 7 at 11+, as well as at 4+ in the brand new Pre-Prep for girls and boys.View the official source. The school takes up to 32Source for Westminster Under School: PlacesWestminster Under School: PlacesCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster Under School.The source says: The School will accept up to 32 pupils at 4+ into Reception from September 2026View the official source children into Reception. For September 2028 entrySource for Westminster Under School: Current cycleWestminster Under School: Current cycleCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster Under School.The source says: 4+ Entry in 2028 is now openView the official source, assessment includes:

• play-based assessmentSource for Westminster Under School: Play observationWestminster Under School: Play observationCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster Under School.The source says: For stage one 4+ entrance assessments, we run play-focused classroom activities in the Play (Autumn) term that allow children to actively engage with members of the School team and other children.View the official source
• group activitySource for Westminster Under School: Group activityWestminster Under School: Group activityCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster Under School.The source says: how the children engage in free-flow and group activities, a sample Phonics lesson, and some short individual testingView the official source
• other assessmentSource for Westminster Under School: OtherWestminster Under School: OtherCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster Under School.The source says: how the children engage in free-flow and group activities, a sample Phonics lesson, and some short individual testingView the official source
• reference from the current schoolSource for Westminster Under School: ReferenceWestminster Under School: ReferenceCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Westminster Under School.The source says: a reference from the child’s nursery setting, where available.View the official source

There are two rounds. In the autumn, children come to a play-focused classroom session, where staff watch how they get on with adults and other children. Some are asked back in January. That second round mixes free play and group activities with a sample phonics lesson and a few short tasks done one to one. The school also asks the child's nursery for a reference where there is one.