From September 2021, entry to Highgate Pre-Preparatory School will be at 4+ (Reception), rather than 3+ (Nursery). An additional class of 20 will join the 40 children progressing from the final 3+ Nursery class 2021. From September 2022, around 60 children will be able to join Reception.
Why is Highgate making this change?
• For 25 years, Highgate Pre-Prep has welcomed around 40 children, aged 3, into the Nursery class each year. 3+ entry pupils attend morning or afternoon sessions, which can be unhelpful for working families who then need additional childcare to cover the rest of the day. Moving to 4+ entry means Highgate will be able to offer a full-day to all pupils.
• In moving to 4+ entry, the school can welcome an additional class to the Pre-Prep, giving more children a chance to experience a Highgate education.
• The school hopes that children undertaking 4+ entry will be readier for assessments than those at 3+ sometimes are.
• Very few North London schools offer 3+ entry and, those that do, often offer 4+ as well. Highgate has never had capacity to do this before.
• By removing the two Nursery classes, and gradually welcoming an extra class in each subsequent year group, the Pre-Prep will have grown by 20 pupils by 2023. The school will be making appropriate changes to its physical space.
Highgate’s first 4+ entry will be September 2021.
If your child is born after 1 September 2016, you may apply to enter the Pre-Prep in the September after their fourth birthday.
For children born between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017, this will be September 2021 and 20 places will be available.
For children born between 1 September 2017 and 31 August 2018, this will be September 2022 and around 60 places will be available.
Highgate’s first 4+ applications (for entry in September 2021) will be accepted in the Michaelmas term preceding entry (ie autumn 2020), with assessments taking place in the January preceding entry. Details of 4+ assessments are still to be confirmed but it is likely that, after shortlisting applicants, if necessary, the school will offer first and second round assessments, similar to current 3+ assessments. Parents will not be interviewed.