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Pre-prep, prep, and senior school: how the independent school pipeline works, what it costs, and what every parent needs to know before stepping in.
Key facts
£700k
Maximum cost, nursery to sixth form
10:1
Application ratio at top London preps
5
Entry points: 4+, 7+, 11+, 13+, 16+
13
Years in the system (pre-prep to A-levels)
The independent school system runs to a different timetable from the state system. Understanding the stages is the first step to planning your child's education.
Unlike the state system (where you simply apply and are allocated a place), the independent sector assesses children at every entry point. Each age has a different format.
Play-based assessment. Children are observed in small groups of 4–6 for about an hour. Assessors look at separation from parents, social interaction, following instructions, early name recognition, and fine motor skills.
Competition: Extremely competitive in London (10:1 at top schools). Less intense outside the M25.
Start preparing: 9–12 months before
Academic assessment: English (comprehension + creative writing), Maths (mental arithmetic, word problems, fractions), and Reasoning (verbal + non-verbal). Typically 3 hours of testing plus an interview.
Competition: The main entry point from state primary to prep school. Highly competitive in London.
Start preparing: 12–18 months before
School-specific exams or ISEB Common Pre-Test. Written papers in English and Maths, often with reasoning. Interviews are standard. Different from the grammar school 11+ (which uses multiple-choice GL/CEM tests).
Competition: The dominant transition point for day schools. Families typically apply to 3–6 schools.
Start preparing: 18–24 months before
ISEB Common Pre-Test (taken in Year 6/7), followed by a conditional offer, then confirmed via Common Entrance exams in Year 8. Some schools set their own papers instead of CE.
Competition: The traditional boarding school entry point. Pre-testing happens 2–3 years before entry.
Start preparing: Pre-test in Year 6 (age 10–11)
The prep and state systems are parallel worlds. Here are the structural differences that matter.
| State System | Independent System | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary/prep end | Year 6 (age 11) | Year 6 (age 11) or Year 8 (age 13) |
| Secondary start | Always Year 7 | Year 7 or Year 9 |
| Entrance exams | None (except 163 grammar schools) | At every entry point: 4+, 7+, 11+, 13+, 16+ |
| Curriculum | National Curriculum (mandatory) | Freedom to set own curriculum (Latin, Greek, broader enrichment) |
| Class sizes | 30 (infant), 30+ (secondary) | Typically 15–20 (prep), 12–18 (senior) |
| Key transition test | SATs (Year 2 and Year 6) | ISEB Pre-Test, Common Entrance, school-specific papers |
| Teacher naming | Must hold QTS | No QTS requirement (many do hold it) |
Primary/prep end
State
Year 6 (age 11)
Independent
Year 6 (age 11) or Year 8 (age 13)
Secondary start
State
Always Year 7
Independent
Year 7 or Year 9
Entrance exams
State
None (except 163 grammar schools)
Independent
At every entry point: 4+, 7+, 11+, 13+, 16+
Curriculum
State
National Curriculum (mandatory)
Independent
Freedom to set own curriculum (Latin, Greek, broader enrichment)
Class sizes
State
30 (infant), 30+ (secondary)
Independent
Typically 15–20 (prep), 12–18 (senior)
Key transition test
State
SATs (Year 2 and Year 6)
Independent
ISEB Pre-Test, Common Entrance, school-specific papers
Teacher naming
State
Must hold QTS
Independent
No QTS requirement (many do hold it)
Some prep schools have formal or informal relationships with particular senior schools. Understanding these links is critical — they can significantly influence your child's options.
Feeders are not guarantees
Even at linked schools, places are not automatic. If a prep school does not believe a child will keep up academically at the senior school, they will typically advise parents — usually in Year 5 — to start looking at alternatives. The head's reference is the most important factor in the admissions chain.
The prep school system is not the same everywhere. London is a world apart from the rest of the country — and Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland each have their own dynamics.
All figures include 20% VAT (since January 2025). Add 10–30% for extras: uniform, trips, music tuition, exam fees, and lunches.
| Stage | London/year | Regional/year | Boarding/year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-prep (Reception–Y2) | £15,000–£22,000 | £8,000–£14,000 | N/A (too young) |
| Prep (Y3–Y6/Y8) | £18,000–£33,000 | £10,000–£20,000 | £36,000–£48,000 |
| Senior (Y7/Y9–Y11) | £25,000–£42,000 | £15,000–£25,000 | £40,000–£65,000 |
| Sixth form (Y12–Y13) | £25,000–£42,000 | £15,000–£25,000 | £42,000–£66,000 |
Pre-prep (Reception–Y2)
London: £15,000–£22,000
Regional: £8,000–£14,000
Boarding: N/A (too young)
Prep (Y3–Y6/Y8)
London: £18,000–£33,000
Regional: £10,000–£20,000
Boarding: £36,000–£48,000
Senior (Y7/Y9–Y11)
London: £25,000–£42,000
Regional: £15,000–£25,000
Boarding: £40,000–£65,000
Sixth form (Y12–Y13)
London: £25,000–£42,000
Regional: £15,000–£25,000
Boarding: £42,000–£66,000
All-through (nursery to sixth form)
14 years
London day school (Reception–Y13)
14 years
Regional day school (Reception–Y13)
14 years
Boarding from 11+
7 years
Boarding from 13+
5 years
Prep school only (Reception–Y6)
7 years
You do not have to do the whole journey
Many families “mix and match”: state primary, then independent secondary. Or prep school, then grammar school (free). The prep system is not all-or-nothing — the most cost-effective approach depends on your area, your child, and your goals.
The prep school model is predominantly English. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland each have fundamentally different dynamics.
Whether you are considering the prep school system or already in it, these are the things experienced parents wish they had known.
Sources
This guide draws on the ISC Annual Census 2025, IAPS published guidance, the Good Schools Guide, ISEB published information on Common Pre-Tests and Common Entrance, SCIS data on Scottish independent schools, the Welsh Independent Schools Council, and admissions information from leading prep and senior schools. This guide is for general information only. Admissions policies, inspection frameworks, and school structures change regularly — always verify current details with the relevant school, local authority, or official body. Last reviewed April 2026.
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