top of page
Reading Books in Library
ACS International School
Founded in 1967 to serve the needs of global and local families, ACS International Schools educate over 3,700 students, aged 2 to 18, day and boarding, from more than 100 countries. Our schools – 3 in Greater London and 1 in Doha, Qatar – are all non-sectarian and co-educational. Our world-renowned curriculum includes all International Baccalaureate (IB) Programmes, and top US programmes including Advanced Placement (AP) courses and the new AP Capstone & International Diplomas. Academic success enables ACS graduates to attend the college of their choice, and many of the world's finest universities. ACS International Schools offer a unique educational experience for students 3-18 years old - a bold international approach that’s informed by a proud American heritage. At its heart is our commitment to provide the right personal challenge within a culture of high expectations for the personal and academic success of every student. ACS schools are inclusive communities that value diversity. We support a wide range of student interests and abilities, and we value the complex language profiles of globally-mobile students and their families. At ACS, we focus on assessment for learning. An ACS education does not centre around never-ending preparation for a prescribed series of high-stakes examinations covering an already over-crowded curriculum. We use high-quality data to provide feedback about student achievement, inform and adjust teaching strategies, improve performance and celebrate learning.

Co-Ed

Aldenham
Within this caring and well-disciplined community, set in over 110 acres of Hertfordshire countryside within the M25 yet only 13 miles from central London, it is our aim that each pupil should be known as an individual and encouraged to develop their all-round gifts to the full. Founded as a traditional boarding school in 1597, Aldenham today offers both Day, Boarding and Flexi-Boarding options for girls and boys on the same original glorious site with easy access to central London and all that the capital offers. Pupils are able to enjoy the best of both worlds; the wide open spaces allow room to breathe, without any feeling of isolation. It really is an ideal location where both boys and girls can enjoy continuity of education from 3-18 years all on the same site. Here we remember that achievement is an individual matter, be it entry to an Oxbridge college, a sporting or cultural goal or it may simply involve growing up into a well-balanced individual. Dedicated teaching is at the heart of this endeavour as we help our students to focus on their own plans, while our teachers focus on our students. A recent visit from The Good Schools Guide described Aldenham as “An unpressurised environment (which) makes for some of the most contented pupils we have met … self-motivated children can fare well academically ... if it’s a rounded and happy child you’re after, then Aldenham’s definitely one to consider.” It was as a Christian school that our founder conceived of Aldenham, and like him we continue to search not only for learning, but for wisdom and virtue. Places Available at 11+
80

Co-Ed

Alleyn’s
We are a leading HMC co-educational school for children aged 4 -18, At Alleyn’s, academic excellence shines through a modern and enterprising curriculum, powered by the continued pursuit of curiosity and rooted in our tradition. Passion is nurtured from a young age with an extensive co-curricular offering as Alleyn’s pupils are encouraged to ‘find their thing’ whether through sport, the arts or a whole host of other activities. Holistic pastoral care is an essential part of everyday life at Alleyn’s with pupils empowered with the tools they need for happiness and success in learning and life. At Alleyn’s we are proud to be All We Can Be: the spirit of possibility is boundless. Our school values, the Alleyn’s ROCCK (Respect, Opportunity, Curiosity, Courage and Kindness), are embedded across every aspect of School life and bring power and purpose to everyone in the Alleyn’s community. We recognise wonderful exam results are a by-product of an outstanding values-driven education, an education which aims to: Promote respect, wellbeing and diversity in a caring community where every individual can flourish; Develop curiosity, wonder, creativity and a love of learning; Inspire ambition and intellectual rigour through excellent teaching and learning; Cultivate discovery and opportunity through an outstanding co-curriculum; Foster awareness, leadership and connection through partnership and enterprise; Cherish the wide Alleyn's family and honouring our historic commitment to Edward Alleyn's charitable foundation of God's Gift. 11+ Assesses Stage 1 -English, Maths, Reasoning Stage 2 - Group Activity and One-to-One Interview 13+ Assess English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Science, Modern Foreign Language (French or Spanish) Places Available at 11+, 100.

Co-Ed

Bablake
At Bablake we have been nurturing children since 1344, and our 3-18 education is characterised throughout by the same values of high expectations, rich opportunities and a mutually supportive community. Our boys and girls achieve great things, both within and beyond the classroom – but, above all, they leave Bablake as fulfilled and generous young adults, with the natural self-confidence which equips them well for success and happiness in a rapidly changing world. AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR SCHOOL Pre-Prep pupils are members of one of the country’s leading independent schools. From an early age your children will share in the ambition the School has for all of its pupils; that within an ethos of care and community, our shared aspirations help assure academic and all-round success.  A GREAT START Set in six acres of beautiful grounds just a short drive from the Junior and Senior School sites, the Pre-Prep is a perfect place for your child to start their educational journey.  Inspirational and dedicated teachers, within our idyllic environment, allow us to fully celebrate the learning process. The children take ownership of their learning journey, they are highly motivated and inquisitive, with a love of learning that starts at a young age. Bablake and King Henry VIII Pre-Prep is a great start to the educational experience and this is the route through which many pupils begin their time with us. Boys and girls join anytime from the September after their third birthday, as space permits. Prospective pupils are expected to visit the school for a morning prior to their being offered a place. Progression through to Bablake Junior School or King Henry VIII Junior School is then the norm. AN ALL-ROUND EDUCATION The School has high expectations of its pupils within the setting of a balanced academic and creative timetable. The curriculum is broad with the emphasis on pupils gaining a good understanding of the core subjects but also offering opportunities for them to develop other interests and talents. French, PE, Music, ICT and PSHE are all included within the school day. Educational visits, concerts, visitors, sports days, fayres and other festival celebrations are also all part of the Pre-Prep's exciting educational experience. There is more to an education than our core formal lessons. At the Pre-Prep children have the opportunity to take part in many extra-curricular clubs, all taught by qualified specialists, through which they can pursue interests and further expand their horizons. Tennis, Martial Arts, Football, Dance, Choir, Art, Computers, Speech and Drama and individual music lessons are all options which are available. VALUING ALL ACHIEVEMENT The School is proud of the pupils' academic and other achievements and rewards children for endeavour, progress and achievement through consistent positive interaction. Reinforcement of commendable behaviour is further enhanced during Assemblies and Prizegiving.  Junior School  We are very conscious of the need to equip pupils for future challenges and learning – as such we emphasise the development of skills and application as well as acquiring understanding and knowledge. Pupils at our school are very successful academically. Extension work and challenge means that many pupils achieve significantly above expectations. The vast majority of our children are offered places at the Senior School, with some receiving scholarships. 11+ Assesses English Comprehension, Writing, Maths

Co-Ed

Bancroft School
Bancroft’s School was founded by the Drapers’ Company in 1737 on the Mile End Road as a day-school for local boys from a diverse range of backgrounds; the School has come a long way geographically and institutionally since then but the School remains committed to enabling pupils from a wide range of backgrounds to enjoy our education and has a long tradition of excellence. We are now a co-educational independent day school for around 1000 pupils from 7 to 18 and an unashamedly aspirational school, devoted to scholarship and intellectual inquiry. We aim to provide an atmosphere in which each child can flourish and we believe that children succeed when they take full advantage of the huge range of different opportunities we provide – whether immersed in academic research, being out on the sports fields, taking part in charitable activities, acting on the stage, playing music and attending some of our numerous clubs and societies, our pupils challenge themselves and learn by taking part wholeheartedly in school life. We have the highest expectations for every child in the school and we support, encourage and nurture each individual; we want our pupils to enjoy life to the full, make enduring friendships and grow up in a friendly, safe but challenging environment. Simon Marshall “At Bancroft’s we continually strive to ensure that all our pupils leave here with the confidence, self-awareness and knowledge to thrive in the world beyond, as well as taking with them an awareness of others and an abiding curiosity about the world.” Places available at 7+ 60 Places Available at 11+ 60 11+ Assesses English, Maths, Reasoning

Co-Ed

Bedford Girls School
Choosing the perfect school is a life-forming and life-enhancing decision. You will want to be confident that your choice is the right one and we are here to support you through that decision making period. As the only academically selective all-girls’ school in Bedfordshire we offer a unique learning environment. Our philosophy is to be innovative, outward looking and open minded. From Years 3 to Sixth Form it is our belief that learning should be exciting and spark a life-long desire to engage in the wonder of the world around us. Sitting on the edge of Bedford town centre on the banks of the River Great Ouse, Bedford Girls’ School is ideally placed for families from Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Milton Keynes, East Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire, with a number of bus and train routes providing easy and accessible transportation links for our students. We are a future inspired school; underpinned by the International Baccalaureate philosophy of education and at the forefront of integrating technology and innovation into teaching. We will nurture your daughter so she develops the attributes, intellect and self-confidence to seize every opportunity and to take-on every challenge. We achieve outstanding examinations results but these are no longer enough to guarantee success, your daughter must be ready to build a career in roles that do not yet exist; to work with technology that has yet to be invented. She will need to be agile, to communicate effectively, work independently, demonstrate empathy, question deeply and to have the ability to think creatively to find solutions.

Girls

Bedford School
Our mission is to teach boys to think intelligently, act wisely and be fully engaged in a challenging and changing world. In order to deliver this, we concentrate our efforts in three main areas: developing the young man within, realising his academic potential and providing sustainability over time. We are proud of our history. We have given an unbroken service to education since 1552 and our traditions still influence the way we work today. Founded in the reign of Edward VI, our school owes its existence to the generosity of Sir William and Dame Alice Harpur. Their charitable grant of land and finance became The Harpur Trust, and their vision continues through our scholarships and bursaries. In the centuries that have followed, the school has seen continual change and development. We introduced boarders in 1811 and moved to our current campus in 1891. Through the 20th century, we grew steadily, adding buildings and facilities, despite setbacks including the devastating fire of 1979. Since 2000, we’ve constructed a magnificent new theatre, The Quarry Theatre at St Luke’s, as well as a Library, Music School, Fitness Centre, Observatory and Planetarium. Significant bequests from two Old Bedfordians, Brian Saville and Professor John Roach, have also allowed us to introduce generous new scholarships for boys who demonstrate exceptional talent. Prep School Assesses English, Maths, “Underlying Ability” Upper School Assesses (13+) English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning

Boys
Boarding and Day

Belmont Mill Hill Preparatory School
We have created a rigorous, rich and diverse curriculum that goes well beyond the national curriculum, and gives your child the chance to excel in many areas. From the earliest age, we’ll encourage your child to embrace challenge, and to understand how hard work leads to success. When they try hard and persist, we reward them so they learn that this is the way to achieve their goals and dreams. We encourage pupils to take risks and to recognise that failure is inevitable when you’re learning something new, as long as you learn from it and keep on trying. When a child joins The Mill Hill Education Group at age 3, they begin a journey that will carry them through to age 18 and beyond. Our curriculum runs seamlessly through every school in The Foundation, and is designed to prepare your child for life in the 21st century. It teaches children to think creatively and critically, and builds flexible skills for a fast-changing world of new technologies. Just as crucial in our learning are the interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, teamwork and leadership skills, and the ability to think on their feet and work under pressure that will equip our pupils, no matter what the future brings. How to be a Belmontian The three most important qualities we expect from all Belmontians are to: * be kind * be brave * be you and we’re proud to say that the children more than live up to this. Pastoral Care is at the core of everything we do at Belmont and we pride ourselves on providing excellent support and guidance to pupils. Places Available at 7+ 50-60 Places Available at 11+ 60-70 11+ Assesses Part 1 - Creative Writing Comprehension Exercise  Part 2 - Online adaptive test - English, Maths, Reasoning

Co-Ed

Benenden
Benenden is one of the leading boarding schools in Britain. Founded in 1923, we are situated in 250 acres of attractive parkland in Kent, the Garden of England, just an hour from London. There are 560 girls in the School, aged 11-18.  Whilst instilling within the girls the values to which we hold firm of confidence, compassion, courtesy and courage, we prepare them to be professional young women in whatever field of work they choose to pursue in later life. Above all, Benenden is a home where our girls benefit from outstanding facilities and extensive grounds for them to enjoy, together with the intimacy and care that comes from being a community of no more than 560. At Benenden we aspire for excellence in all that we do. Motivational teaching through a dynamic and challenging curriculum is central to our educational offering. All of the girls are expected to engage in the extensive subjects we offer. They will leave us not only with excellent results at A Level, but very importantly with an understanding of the world in which we live, skills in critical thinking, practical skills such as financial management, a flavour of the world of entrepreneurship and business as well as the knowledge of professional skills which will support them in the world of work beyond university. Furthermore we pride ourselves on our extensive and imaginative co-curricular programme which offers every opportunity for the girls to learn, develop interests, excel in areas beyond the classroom and very importantly, have a great deal of fun!  Crucially, we work with every girl to discover and nurture the passion that will drive whatever path she may want to follow. We will support her in achieving more than she would have thought possible when she first entered the School and by that instil within her the self-belief that she can embrace her future with confidence. As we prepare the girls for life beyond Benenden, it is important to equip them with the skills to work effectively with others, lead with confidence, understand themselves and manage a healthy work-life balance.  For 100 years Benenden has been educating girls successfully. Our Seniors look back on their Benenden education as one that has taught them a great deal and offered them a wealth of very fond memories and friendships to take them throughout their lives. 11+ Assesses Stage 1 - Preview Assessment - English, Maths, informal interview  Stage 2 - ISEB Common Pretest

Girls
Boarding and Day

Bishop’s Stortford College
We do not look like most schools of our type. We do indeed have the huge campus with wonderful facilities and manicured pitches. We have the Pre-Prep, Prep School, Senior School, and Sixth Form on site. We have the academic track–record, which is already first-rate and is aiming ever higher. Bishop’s Stortford College offers boys and girls exceptional opportunities to become fulfilled, skillful and happy adults. It provides an all-round education that includes academic, moral, spiritual, athletic and creative growth.   By immersing in an environment of discovery and wholehearted participation, every child is given enough room to demonstrate their talents and abilities. The comprehensive curriculum covers art, design & technology, drama, English, geography, history, ICT/Computing, Latin, mathematics, modern foreign languages, music, PE, religious education and science.

Co-Ed
Boarding and Day School

Bute House
The non-competitive academic ethos at Bute House is unique and is something of which we are very proud.  This ethos, combined with our educational aims, commitment to diversity and inclusion, as well as our pastoral care, come together to create the very special atmosphere here. The Aims At Bute House our aims are: * To identify and foster every child’s abilities and talents, encouraging her to become a self-motivated learner and a confident communicator. * To help each child to do her best, to reach her potential and inspire her to achieve her personal best within a non-competitive academic environment. * To provide a broad and enriched curriculum which encourages a love of learning that goes beyond what is taught. * To maintain a happy, positive atmosphere by encouraging self-discipline, respect and consideration for others and a sense of community. The Philosophy At Bute House we have a long tradition of forward-looking, child-centred educational philosophy. We believe that children learn best when they feel confident, supported, liked and respected as individuals, and when their areas of both talent and challenge are recognised and acknowledged by the adults around them. Bute House teaches girls aged from 4 to 11 who have a broad range of talents, personalities and abilities. At every stage teaching is organised in mixed ability classes to allow each girl to experience maximum personal success in all areas. Our excellent results and high academic standards are achieved without unnecessary competition or pressure and girls are encouraged to discover and celebrate their natural talents, whether these are academic, sporting, artistic, musical or dramatic. Non-Competitive Academic Ethos – what does that mean in practice? In line with our philosophy, we never put girls into a situation where they might feel diminished by failure and so there are no marks*, grades, star charts, form ranking lists, setting, streaming, exams, sticker charts, prize-giving, prefects or honours boards – anything, in fact, which publicly promotes one girl above another. Every child is encouraged to do her best, to set her own targets with support from her teachers, to acknowledge her own progress, to be proud of herself, to recognise her personal strengths and weaknesses and not to compare herself with her classmates: that is, to run her own best race.  Everyone is treated as an individual, and valued for her own self.  The girls’ talents are celebrated, whether these are academic, musical, linguistic, artistic, dramatic or sporting. Girls at Bute House are ready to “have a go”, to stretch their boundaries and to try new experiences.  The girls are not afraid of failure and are confident about reflecting on how to approach something in a different way if they have not succeeded the first time. What is the end result? The girls who leave Bute House are confident, articulate, resilient, determined, empathetic, willing to express their opinions, tolerant and open-minded. The girls are educated about the diverse world in which we live; they understand that their privileged education means they will become young women who can make change happen in the world.They achieve academic success, no matter what their starting point, and move on to schools which will suit their personalities and academic skills in order that they can thrive. Secondary school Heads often remark very positively about Bute House girls, citing their enthusiasm, kindness, courage and humour.  It is often a Bute House girl who is willing to put up her hand in those first weeks at secondary school, when everything is rather daunting, and often a Bute House girl who encourages others to step up to a challenge.   The girls here are very kind to each other. There are occasional disputes and upsets, of course, but our philosophy enables them to genuinely value, like and respect each other and to celebrate their differences.  It also makes for an extremely happy atmosphere which visitors comment on as soon as they come through the doors – it is, in fact, tangible. *Girls being prepared for external examinations are of course shown how mark schemes work, undertake various timed tests (online and paper tests), are familiarised with various styles of examination paper and taught exam technique but always within our philosophy of no undue academic pressure, or comparisons with others. We do not believe in assessments at the 4+ level and instead run a ballot for 22-24 places at Reception entry. The girls are selected after a thorough 7+ assessment, including interviews and group exercises to model a normal school day. Places Available at 7+ 40-45

Girls

Caterham School
One of the top co-educational schools in England.  Learning at Caterham School is an exciting adventure, full of opportunities for personal development, achievement and enjoyment. We believe that all of our pupils can be successful in an environment which is caring, optimistic and encouraging.  Our results are testament to the uniquely supportive environment that is Caterham’s hallmark. Caterham is a happy school which provides an atmosphere which supports pupils and enables their success, their development of character and wellbeing.  Our supportive environment ensures that by the time Caterhamians leave school they are intellectually curious and emotionally intelligent thinkers, eager to engage with the world around them. The Harestone Valley, set in the Surrey Hills, provides a stunning location for the School’s extensive campus.  The School benefits from 200 acres including sports fields, woodland, high ropes course and outdoor learning centre.  Facilities matter because they enable the best teaching and learning to take place. At Caterham we benefit from inspiring Victorian architecture complimented with purpose built facilities including our science complex, a Sports Centre with indoor pool, fitness centre and double space sports hall, a new Centre for Performing Arts encompassing two theatres and a dance studio, the Maggs Library and a dedicated Digital Innovation Centre.   11+ Assesses ISEB Common Pre-Test - English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning

Co-Ed
Day and Boarding

bottom of page