At Oxford High Prep School, we welcome girls with innovative minds who are enthusiastic to learn, imagine, explore and care for the world around them. We believe in our pupils and understand that they are passionate about learning and eager to take risks.
We welcome girls from ages 4 – 11 years old. The majority of our pupils join the Prep School via Reception (4+).
Beginning the Admissions Process
We encourage you to book onto one of our virtual ‘All About Us’ sessions and to join us for a family tour or Open Day, before applying, to give you an insight into life at Oxford High Prep School. We recommend applying as early as possible in the year preceding entry. The first step is to complete our online application form here.
A non-refundable registration fee of £100 (£150 for overseas applicants) is payable at the time of applying. Once you have completed this form you will receive confirmation of receipt. Following the confirmation email, your daughter will be invited for an Assessment Day where they will spend time in their current year group and will complete some assessments. Girls in Years 3-6 will also have a meeting with our Head of Prep, Mrs Jessica Williams.
Reception (4+) Applications
Applications for Reception for September 2024 are now open.
To register your daughter for Reception, please click on the apply now button below.
Year 1 to Year 6
We accept pupils in any year group throughout the school year, provided we have spaces available.
Year 3 (7+) Applications
When a space opens up, your daughter will be invited to an Admissions Day during which she will complete a piece of extended writing. She will also complete an online CAT4 test (Cognitive Ability Test), followed by a short interview with our Head of Prep, Mrs Jessica Williams. She will also have the opportunity to participate in classroom-style lessons with her current year group too.
Occasional Vacancies
Applicants are able to join the Pre-Prep and Prep schools at other entry points throughout the academic year, depending on spaces in the preferred year group being available. If you are looking for a place for your daughter from Reception to Year 6, please contact Tash Watson, Prep Marketing and Admissions Registrar, at admissions@oxf.gdst.net.
Please note, our main intake is in Reception and we are therefore unable to guarantee the availability of spaces in the other year groups. If a candidate is successful in their entrance assessments, but no spaces are available in the year group for which they have applied, they will be placed on a waiting list.
Admissions Day
All applicants sit the school’s entrance assessments on an Admissions Day, which are arranged through our Marketing and Admissions Registrar. Assessment Days for Reception to Year 2 take place on Tuesdays and on Thursdays for Years 3-6. We do not recommend any specific preparation for these.
Girls hoping to join the Early Year Foundation Stage will join a Reception class for a few hours and take part in our morning routine and lessons. They will also complete a short, teacher-led, informal assessment.
Girls hoping to join a Year 1 or Year 2 class will spend the morning with the current Reception or Year 1 class undertaking some phonics and early numbers assessments in an informal setting. They will also be able to interact with the current students and experience a typical school day.
Girls hoping to join the Prep School in Years 3-6 will join a class in their current year group to get a flavour of the day and take part in lessons, with a ‘buddy’ to show them around. During the day, she will sit assessments, as well as having a short interview with the Head of Prep, which will usually involve discussing her interests.
Completing the Admission Process
Offers of places will be sent to parents within two weeks of the Admissions Day.
Upon acceptance of a place, a refundable deposit of £1,000 is payable, which the school retains until the end of your daughter’s final term in the school. This deposit is refunded within 12 weeks of her leaving, less any sums owing to the Girls’ Day School Trust or Oxford High School. It is forfeited if the pupil does not take up the accepted place. Once the acceptance letter and deposit are received, your daughter’s place at Oxford High Prep is confirmed.
Settling in to your new school
We believe it is crucial to ensure girls settle quickly and happily into their new surroundings. We aim to send out all relevant information to new parents well in advance and, once your place has been confirmed as accepted, we will invite you to come along to age-appropriate events or concerts in school so you can meet your future classmates or fellow parents. Buddy systems, parent handbooks and ‘Getting to Know You’ events are all part of the warm welcome you will enjoy when you join Oxford High Prep School.
If you have any further questions regarding the admissions process, please do contact Tash Watson, Prep Marketing and Admissions Registrar, at admissions@oxf.gdst.net
