Prep School Admissions
Prep School Registrar:
email Mrs Sarah Waller
+44 1483 899665
Steps to Apply
PREP SCHOOL
- Visit us – the best way to learn more is to visit us. Join us for an Open Event or contact our Registrar to arrange a 1:1 tour.
- Discovery Event – Register your daughter for a discovery session where she can explore our school, join us for lessons and activities, meet our teachers, make new friends and learn more about the opportunities at St Catherine’s.
* 4+ / Reception Discovery Afternoon (for girls and parents)
For September 2025 entry: Friday 28th February 2025 1.30pm - 2.45pm Register
For September 2026 entry: Friday 3rd October 2025 1.30pm - 2.45pm
* Years 1-6 Discovery Events (for girls only)
For September 2025 entry: Friday 28th February 2025 1.30pm - 2.45pm Register
For September 2026 entry: Tuesday 11th October 2025 1.30pm - 2.45pm
For more discovery events, please contact our Prep School Registrar, Sarah Waller.
- Apply – Complete our online application form. You will need to set up a parent account to access the application form. Apply here
- Assessment - Admission is by age-appropriate assessment in literacy, numeracy and reasoning. For entry into Years 1-6 a confidential report from your daughter's current Headteacher will also be requested.
For September 2026 entry:
* Reception / 4_ Informal Play Assessment,
for girls only - Saturday 11th October 2025, 10am to 12noon.
* Years 1-6 Assessment Day - Friday 16th January 2026
- Offer and acceptance - offers are made shortly after assessments. To accept a place, an acceptance deposit of £1,000 is payable when parents return the Acceptance Form, agreeing to the School’s terms and conditions. It is refunded (less any outstanding charges) when the pupil leaves, or is credited if a full term’s fees in lieu of notice is paid.
- Post Offer –We are delighted to welcome girls back to see us again for a variety of events to help them feel part of our school before they join us, and to ensure a happy and successful transition to St Catherine’s.
Overseas Applicants
We are happy to arrange a ‘virtual visit’ to meet us and learn more about our school. Alternatively, individual visits can be arranged while you are in the UK. Girls can be assessed while they are overseas. Please contact our Registrar for more information. Please note that we do not issue Child Student Visa numbers to girls in the Prep School.
Accessibility
Applicants with a disability will be assessed on their academic performance as outlined above. Parents of applicants with a disability should make this clear on the application form so that the School can make every reasonable effort to adapt its admissions procedures to accommodate the applicant on the Assessment Day. Any parent of an applicant who has a disability is also asked to let the School know so that proper access can be arranged for pre-admission school visits/information mailings, and subsequently for school events, should the applicant be successful in the entrance tests.
Joining Pre-School / 3+
- Visit us – the best way to learn more is to visit us and meet our early years team. Contact our Registrar to arrange a tour.
- Apply – contact our Registrar for an application form. A registration fee of £150 is payable with your completed application.
- Stay and Play – your daughter is invited for a stay and play session, along with one of her parents. This is an opportunity for your daughter to enjoy activities and explore our colourful classrooms, and for you to meet our early years team and see the Pre-School class in action.
Our future Stay and Play events:
* Saturday 8th February 2025 2pm to 3.30pm. Click here to register.
* Saturday 7th June 2025, 2.30pm to 4pm
* Saturday 15th November 2025, 2pm to 3.30pm
* Saturday 7th February 2026, 2pm to 3.30pm
- Offer – Following a successful stay and play session, offers are made to girls who we believe will thrive in our Pre-School. Offers are only made subject to there being available space.
- Acceptance – Offers must be accepted by the date outlined in your offer letter. In order to secure your daughter’s place you will be asked for a deposit of £1000, which is refunded (less any outstanding charges) when she leaves, or is credited if a full term’s fees in lieu of notice is paid.
- Post offer – we will be delighted to welcome you and your daughter back to see us for a variety of events to help you feel part of our school community before joining us. We will also invite girls in with their parents for a settling-in session shortly before their first day to ensure her happy and successful start in our Pre-School.
Click here to learn more about our Pre-School
Joining Reception / 4+
Joining us at 4+/Reception
Join us for our Discovery Afternoon where your daughter will enjoy a fun-filled afternoon of creative activities in our reception classrooms, and you will have the opportunity to meet key members of our teaching team. Following a discovery session, your daughter will be invited for an informal play assessment. Through play, teacher observation and teacher/pupil interaction, girls’ literacy, numeracy, physical and social skills are assessed.
Key Dates for entry at 4+ in September 2025
- Reception Discovery Afternoon - Friday 4th October 2024, 1.30pm - 2.45pm
- Reception Discovery Afternoon - Friday 28th February 2025, 1.30pm - 2.45pm Register
Key Dates for entry at 4+ in September 2026
- Reception/4+ Discovery Afternoon, for parents and girls - Friday 3rd October 2025, 1.30pm - 2.45pm
- Reception/4+ Informal Play Assessment, for girls only - Saturday 11th October 2025, 1.30pm - 2.45pm
- Post-offer afternoon, for parents and girls - Friday 7th November, 1.30pm - 2.45pm
Overseas Applicants
We are happy to arrange a ‘virtual visit’ to meet us and learn more about our school. Alternatively, individual visits can be arranged while you are in the UK. Girls can be assessed while they are overseas. Please contact our Registrar for more information. Please note that we do not issue Child Student Visa numbers to girls in the Prep School.
Joining Year 1-6
Key Dates for joining in Year 1-6 in September 2025
- Discovery Afternoon - Friday 28th February 2025, 1.30pm - 2.45pm Register
For girls to join us for lessons and activities, make new friends and get to know our school and teachers.
Key Dates for joining in Year 1-6 in September 2026
- Discovery Day – Tuesday 11th October 2025
For girls to join us for lessons and activities, make new friends and get to know our school and teachers. - Assessment Day – Friday 16th January 2026
- Post-Offer Visit for Year 3 (7+) – Friday 30th January 2026 - 1.30pm - 3pm
Overseas Applicants
We are happy to arrange a ‘virtual visit’ to meet us and learn more about our school. Alternatively, individual visits can be arranged while you are in the UK. Girls can be assessed while they are overseas. Please contact our Registrar for more information. Please note that we do not issue Child Student Visa numbers to girls in the Prep School.