Prep School Admissions

Key Information for joining in Reception - Year 6 in September 2026

1. Visit Us – the best way to learn more is to visit us. Join us for an Open Event or, alternatively, private tours are available each week at the following times:
   Mondays:
   1.00pm - 2.30pm
   2.00pm - 3.30pm
   Fridays:
   9.00am - 10.30am
   10.00am - 11.30am
   
   To arrange a private tour, please contact our Registrar, Kate Bishop, here.
    
2. Discover – 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. 
   
   To arrange a discovery visit for September 2026 entry, please contact our Prep School Registrar, Kate Bishop, here.
    
3. Apply – Complete our online application form and pay our registration and administration fee. You will need to set up a parent account to access the application form.  Apply here
    
4. 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.  
    
5. 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.
    
6. Post-Offer – We would be delighted to welcome you and your daughter back to see us for a variety of events designed to help you both feel part of our school community before joining us, and to support a happy and successful transition to St Catherine’s.. 

Key Admission Dates for Entry in 2027

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.

Key Information for Joining 

1. Visit us – the best way to learn more is to visit us and meet our Early Years team at one of our future Interactive Early Years Open Events. 
   
   Alternatively private tours are available each week at the following times:
   Mondays: 
   1.00pm - 2.30pm     
   2.00pm - 3.30pm 
   Fridays:
   9.00am - 10.30am
   10.00am - 11.30am
   
   To arrange a private tour, please contact our Registrar, Kate Bishop, here.
    
2. Apply – Complete our online application form and pay our registration and administration fee. You will need to set up a parent account to access the application form.  Apply here
    
3. 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.

    

4. 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.

Click here to learn more about our Pre-School

Key Admission Dates for Entry in 2027

Joining us at 4+/Reception

Join us for our Discovery Event where your daughter will enjoy a fun-filled morning 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. 

Discover - To arrange a discovery visit for September 2026 entry, please contact our Prep School Registrar, Kate Bishop, here.

Apply - Complete our online application form and pay the non-refundable registration fee. You will need to set up a parent account to access the application form.  Apply here

Key Admission Dates for Entry in 2027

Discover - To arrange a discovery visit for September 2026 entry, please contact our Prep School Registrar, Kate Bishop, here.

Apply - Complete our online application form and pay the non-refundable registration fee. You will need to set up a parent account to access the application form.  Apply here