Make an enquiry
Please complete the form below and a member of the Admissions team will contact you to discuss your enquiry. Alternatively, you can contact the Admissions team directly on 01353 660707.
Please note that enquiries for all year groups in Junior can be made all year round, although visits during term-time are subject to availability.
Register
To register, please complete and return our Registration Form along with the appropriate registration fee.
Taster Days
Our Year 7 Taster Day for registered pupils in Year 6 will be announced shortly.
Our Year 3-6 Taster Day for registered candidates in the year below will be announced shortly.
Assessments
All registered children are invited to attend an assessment day during the Lent Term prior to September entry.
Our Prep School Admissions Assessments for 2024 places will take place on Saturday 20th January 2024. Candidates will be given specific details closer to the time. Assessments will be done in groups, which will be tailored to each individual. If you would like to apply for a 2024 place, please register by the 31st October 2023 to be added to the assessment list.
Assessments are carried out online in verbal, numerical and non-verbal skills using Atom. The day will also include an informal interview with the Head, Mr Whymark.
Children are invited to attend lessons and activities when not sitting assessments. Children should wear their current school uniform and bring a water bottle and snack for break time when visiting King’s Ely Prep for assessments.
Offer of a place
Offers are usually made by the start of February. Acceptances are due by the first Monday in March, in line with HMC (The Heads’ Conference) guidelines. Extensions cannot be offered. Waiting list candidates will be kept informed via email of the availability of places, but positions on the waiting list will not be revealed.
Acceptance of a place
Induction
Joining details, uniform lists and house allocation is sent out by the end of May. The main Induction Days for King’s Ely Prep children starting in September is in mid-June each year. We are aware that not all new pupils are able to attend due to individual circumstances.
Information evenings
For parents of King’s Ely Acremont children, an information evening is held towards the end of the Michaelmas Term prior to September entry to introduce parents to the Year 3 team and deliver information about life at King’s Ely Prep.
Further Parents Information evenings are held in June for all parents who have accepted places for the following September.
Late applications
Scholarships and Awards
11+ King’s Award A limited number of King’s Awards are made to current Year 6 pupils and applicants to Year 7. There is no separate application process as invitations to apply are made based on Year 6 September testing (for internal candidates) and the January Year 7 entrance process (for external candidates). As a rough guide, only candidates with standardised scores of 120+ and a strong reference from their current school/teachers are likely to be considered for an Award.
Candidates will be invited to King’s Ely Prep for a series of interviews with the Head and a range of specialist teachers, and may be asked to complete further assessments. Academic performance and ability will be the main consideration but candidates will also be given the opportunity to demonstrate how they will seek to contribute to the wider life of the school. All candidates at this stage will be guaranteed an offer of a Year 7 place even if they are unsuccessful in gaining an Award.
The King’s Award is a one-off award to the value of £500, deducted from the first term’s fees in Year 7. Subject to performance and contribution, Award holders then have the opportunity to compete alongside others for (a maximum of two from) the full range of 13+ Scholarships to King’s Ely Senior when they are in Year 8.
Prep FAQs
Do I need share school reports with King’s Ely when making an enquiry? We request that a copy of your child’s latest school report is emailed to us prior to a visit.
My child has Special Educational Needs. Can we still apply for a place?
Most recent school reports and an Educational Psychologist’s report are requested before a visit and assessments.
Will King’s Ely contact my child’s current school when we apply for a place? Confidential school reports are requested after Registration and are considered before a place can be offered. Therefore, it is advisable for you to contact your child’s school in advance of registering at King’s Ely.
How can I help my child prepare for the online assessments?
We advise parents that children can prepare for our online assessments by learning to work quietly on their own, completing homework set by their current school, and by reading and trying to understand all the words in any books they read. Older children should also, wherever possible, be encouraged to try to solve problems by looking things up for themselves. Please contact Admissions to request a link to a video explaining how the InCAS tests work.
Does King’s Ely recommend any practice papers for Year 7 assessments?
We do not feel that parents need to subscribe to any commercially available materials or tutoring services in preparation for our Year 7 assessments.
Is my child required to wear their current school uniform on Taster Days and Assessments and what should they bring with them on the day? We ask pupils to wear their current school uniform and will email details out to your before the day, so you can prepare with your child.
Is there school on Saturdays? Pupils do not have compulsory lessons on Saturdays. There are fixtures on Saturday afternoons which pupils are required to attend should they represent a team. Other compulsory Saturdays are published in advance, such as Open Events.
Further questions
Should you require a mid-term or mid-year start in a particular year group, please contact Admissions to enquire.
Day pupils can stay in school until 17:30, joining prep sessions and after school clubs. Following 17:30, day pupils can join the boarders for tea in the Monastic Barn, returning to Priory House thereafter. Flexi boarding and wraparound care are also available. See fees and charges for flexi boarding and wraparound care costs.
It is not possible to apply for a scholarship for entry into Year 7 or below. Following the CAT4 assessment, your child may be invited back to be assessed for the King’s Award. Please see the scholarship and awards section above.
Bursary applications are accepted for Year 7 upwards. In exceptional circumstances, applications may be considered for younger pupils.
All Junior pupils attend lunch in the Monastic Barn, where food is provided and inclusive of the fees. They are escorted there by a member of staff. Pupils do not bring packed lunches.
A deposit is payable to secure your child’s place at King’s Ely.
Please make Admissions aware of your request and allow a little over two hours for your whole visit.