Prep School Admissions

PREP SCHOOL 

1. 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.
    
2. 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 2026 entry: Friday 3rd October 2025 1.30pm - 2.45pm   Register
   
   * Years 1-6 Discovery Events (for girls only)
       For September 2026 entry: Tuesday 11th November 2025 1.30pm - 2.45pm  Register
     
   For more discovery events, please contact our Prep School Registrar, Sarah Waller.
    
3. Apply – Complete our online application form. 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.  
   
   For September 2026 entry: 
   * Reception / 4_ Informal Play Assessment,
      for girls only - will take place by arrangement throughout October
   * Years 1-6 Assessment Day - Friday 16th January 2026
    
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 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.

1. 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.
    
2. Apply – contact our Registrar for an application form. A registration fee of £150 is payable with your completed application.
    
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.
   
   Our future Stay and Play events:
   * Saturday 7^th June 2025, 2.30pm to 4pm
   * Saturday 15^th November 2025, 2pm to 3.30pm
   * Saturday 7^th February 2026,  2pm to 3.30pm
    
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.
    
5. 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.
    
6. 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 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 2026

• Reception/4+ Discovery Afternoon, for parents and girls - Friday 3^rd October 2025, 1.30pm - 2.45pm    Register
• Reception/4+ Informal Play Assessment, for girls only - will take place by arrangement throughout October.
• Post-offer afternoon, for parents and girls - Friday 7^th 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.

Key Dates for joining in Year 1-6 in September 2025

• Discovery Afternoon - Friday 28^th 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  11^th November 2025 Register
  For girls to join us for lessons and activities, make new friends and get to know our school and teachers.
• Assessment Day – Friday 16^th January 2026
• Post-Offer Visit for Year 3 (7+) – Friday 30^th 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.