When and how to apply

Entry points

There are three main points of entry into the school, in the autumn term of each academic year (defined as 1 September to the following 31 August):

• Kindergarten: For children turning 3 years old during the academic year, to attend 2-5 days per week. Early joining for 2-3 morning sessions is possible from the term after a child has turned 2 years old (see Kindergarten experience for further information).
• Pre-Reception: For children turning 4 years old during the academic year, at our main site.
• Reception: For children turning 5 years old, at our main site.

Chance vacancies are also available for Years 1 and 2.

Entry criteria

Offers of a place at our main entry points as well as allocations of requested Kindergarten days and half-day sessions are made on the basis of:

• Sibling priority (a sibling who is a present pupil in the Pre-Prep, i.e. in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2, or a past pupil who has graduated from Year 2)
• Date of registration
• Our perception of the family’s long-term commitment to Herne Hill School, including whether or not older siblings who attended the school transitioned to the next year group and stayed through to Year 2 graduation
• An informal assessment (this entails a visit where the children are invited to join a play session in which we observe their social interaction, language, numeracy, physical development and concentration skills, appropriate for their age).

For chance vacancies in Year 1 or 2, offers are extended following a more formal individual assessment.

Progression

Progression through the school is usually automatic, unless it is felt that the child would not be able to cope with the curriculum or that this would not be in the best interests of the child or the other children. In such cases, there would have been consultations with the Headteacher well in advance and the parents would have been given advice regarding their child’s needs.

Equality

In its admissions, as in all other policies, procedures and practices, the school operates an equal opportunities policy and will not discriminate against a child (current or prospective) on grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality or disability. With regard to disabled pupils, the School is committed to making reasonable adjustments so that disabled pupils would not be placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled pupils.

Registration 

Because the date of registration plays an important role in our entry procedures, we recommend you register your child as soon as you consider the possibility of attending Herne Hill School – however far in the future this may appear. For a relatively modest fee (£110 for the entry points of Kindergarten or Pre-Reception, £132 inclusive of VAT for entry into Reception, Year 1 or Year 2), you will substantially boost your chances of being offered a place, thereby creating an option for yourself of accepting or declining it. As a parent of a registered child, you will also gain access to the parent password-protected content on our website.

Our Registrar, Catherine Ross, will be happy to answer any questions you may have.