Prep Admissons
At Berkhamsted Prep, we encourage our pupils to grow in self-confidence, having developed the courage to discover themselves and most importantly, to be the best they can
Changes to Y5 intake from 2023
Why choose Berkhamsted Prep?
Berkhamsted Prep is part of a supportive community which fosters a strong sense of belonging in every pupil.
We provide a high quality educational experience for our pupils, enabling them to achieve their best. Our exceptional pastoral care means your child will feel happy and secure, with a learning experience tailored to their needs.
Wherever your child’s interests or abilities lie, they are encouraged to believe that anything is possible through diligence and perseverance.
Our pupils leave us equipped with the independence, skills and knowledge required to equip them for life at Senior School.
Future Developments
In recent years, our Prep School has been growing. When this growth concludes (circa 2023) the Prep School is projected to have 360 pupils in Years 3 – 6 on the Doctors Commons Road Site. Ten years ago, the site hosted more than 450 children aged 3 -11 before we moved our Pre-Prep offering to its current site on the Haresfoot campus. This provided our youngest with an open spacious environment at the Pre-Prep and has allowed us to develop the Prep site appropriately to meet the needs of this key stage, providing subject specific classroom facilities, enabling the latest pedagogical practice, with space for co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. The transition between the Prep School and Berkhamsted Senior Schools, is a continual focus for Berkhamsted; maximising the use of the Senior School facilities, for Sport, Chapel Services, Outdoor Education, Drama and plays an integral part in preparing our young people for the next stage of their educational journey. We would like to further improve the experience of our Prep School children many of whom come from the lovely, green, and spacious environment of our Pre-Prep at Haresfoot.
As a result, we will be changing the shape of our Prep School in two ways in the coming years:
First, we will be seeking to re-landscape the area between the Prep buildings and the King’s Road to provide more dedicated outdoor play areas for the children, and a greater sense of space on the campus. An artist’s impression of our outline plans is shown below. Please bear in mind that consultation, planning permission, tender and implementation are all necessary before this will be ready for the children… it will take us a little while which we hope to complete in 2022/23.
Changes to Year 5 intake from 2023
Secondly, we will be limiting the number of pupils in Year 5 and Year 6 to four forms (currently we offer 5 forms in these age groups) from 2023 onwards, with a maximum of 22 pupils in each form. The Prep School will therefore have 80-88 children in each of the year groups which will reduce the maximum size of the school to about 335 pupils – and give these children a little more space too.
One of the effects of this change is that the Year 5 entry point in 2023 will reduce to a very small number. We are therefore reaching out to parents of potential entrants into Year 3 in 2021 or 2022 now, because these will be the first two-year groups affected by the reduction in the size of the intake in Year 5 from 2023. Ensuring you can consider the options for your child’s entry point to Berkhamsted School is important to us.
These actions are intended to make sure we can continue to provide for, and develop, each child as an individual, and provide them with a school experience which combines outstanding development of character and intellect, sector leading pastoral care and a day-to-day school environment which is equally excellent. These changes will help us to invest further in our pupils’ quality of experience.
Changes to Entry Assessment for 2025
We will not require Berkhamsted Prep pupils entering our Senior Schools to take any entrance exams from the 2025 Year 7 entry onwards: this affects pupils in Year 3 in September 2021, and following years.
Please do not hesitate to contact our admissions department should you have any further questions on 01442 358001 or at admissions@berkhamsted.com.
How to apply
Prospective Berkhamsted Prep pupils may be registered for admission at any time after their birth and ideally a full year before the desired date of admission.
Registration takes place by completing the registration form using the link below along with a registration fee.
Open Events
We hold Open Events to give prospective students and their parents the opportunity to find out more about what we offer at the School.
If you have any questions or would like to join our mailing list to remain in touch so we can keep you updated on our upcoming open events please complete the form or call Admissions on 01442 358001 who will be happy to assist.
Entry Requirements
We will invite all children seeking admission to Berkhamsted Prep from 7+ (Year 3) to attend appropriate entry assessments (excluding those children currently attending Berkhamsted Pre-Prep). The entrance assessment at 7+ to 10+ for entry to Berkhamsted Prep is made up as follows:
- A morning of tests in English and Mathematics which take place in mid October
- A group interview with the Head and/or Deputy Head
The tests are age-standardised and are appropriate for children working through the National Curriculum programmes of study in Key Stage 2.
A progress report from your child’s current school will be requested before places are formally allocated.
Scholarships and Awards
We award Scholarships and Awards on merit to pupils whom we wish to attract to Berkhamsted because of the contribution they are able to make to school life.
The Scholarship value is usually 10% of the tuition fees and higher awards may be given. Exhibitions may also be awarded for music and drama.
All awards may be varied at the absolute discretion of the Principal.
Where there is a demonstrated need, additional means-tested funding may be available to those awarded Scholarships.
School Uniform
The school uniform for the Prep school consists of a grey, single-breasted blazer with the school crest, grey trousers/shorts/kilt, a white shirt, school tie and a navy v-neck jumper. We also have a blue dress for the summer months.
Additional items are required for games and for outdoor weather.
The School has a school uniform supplier which holds stock of all items of uniform, and an on-site school uniform shop (located at Berkhamsted Prep) with uniform samples available, along with the option to buy or sell previously used items.
The full uniform lists and details of our school uniform supplier can be found on the Parent Handbook, accessible via the Parent Portal.