Admissions Process 

A recent educational visitor said, “there was a feeling that this was a school that was comfortable in its own skin and oozed professional competence.  With that comes the freedom to let children be children within the context of high achievement.  In this sense, based on my experience, Twyford School is the Prep School against which other Prep Schools (at least in the context of the UK system) should be measured.  Families who have the chance to be part of that community should move heaven and earth to be so.”

When to Join

The main points of entry are Nursery (pre-school year, 3+), Reception (4+) and Year 2 (6+), with a small number entering in Year 3 (7+). Children are very welcome to join us in other year groups, subject to availability. We also have a number of children that join us for Years 7 and 8 (11+) to prepare them for their next step up to senior school or to experience boarding.

Visits

We welcome individual visits to the School. You will meet the Head of Pre-Prep and tour Pre-Prep followed by a conversations with the Headmaster, Andrew Harvey and a tour of the Prep School. These can all be arranged through the Registrar, Rebecca Andreae; 01962 712269 or registrar@twyfordschool.com. 

Open Mornings are a good opportunity to see the School in action in a relaxed and informal way and also to meet with staff and pupils; they take place termly in October, March and May. Please look out for details about these days on our website and register your interest.

Registration

We encourage families to register as soon as possible. Following a visit to the School, or upon request, parents are asked to complete a Registration form and kindly pay the registration fee, which is a non-refundable single payment of £100. Registration does not guarantee a place at the School but once a registration has been received, your child can be placed on the appropriate admissions list. For those looking for entry into Year 1 and above, parents will then be advised of the assessment date (usually in the Autumn term before starting) and asked to confirm if they wish to proceed. All children must be registered before they can attend an assessment.

Joining our Nursery or Reception

We do not hold specific assessments for Nursery or Reception pupils; however, pupils are invited to attend a taster session, so we are able to carry out observations within a play setting. Places are offered and/or guidance is given to parents after the taster session and a follow up discussion with the Head of Pre-Prep. In the event that demand exceeds the number of Nursery spaces available, places are offered based on the date of registration, with priority given to siblings.

Joining Year 1 and Year 2

If places are available, children who wish to join the Pre-Prep are invited to spend a taster day with us. We keep the visit relaxed and friendly, joining a class for the day for their usual timetable of lessons, activities, sport and playtimes. During the course of the day, the children will engage in Maths and English activities and read with a teacher. We also ask to see their most recent school report and invite the parent to fill in a parent questionnaire. It is important to us that your child has a fun and enjoyable day with us and feels happy to participate in the range of activities which gives us an opportunity to see their full character, interests and behaviour.

Joining Years 3 – 8

Children wishing to join Twyford at Year 3 or above are invited to an assessment day, usually in the Autumn term, before starting. The taster day is designed to be enjoyable giving your child plenty of time to get to know the School. Your child will be met by a current pupil who will give them a friendly welcome and introduce them to their class for the day. Our aim is for children to experience a typical Twyford school day of exciting lessons, fun playtimes and a delicious lunch as well as to participate in sport and the other activities on offer. At some point during the day, your child will work with a senior member of staff to complete a short English writing task, a Maths paper and a non-verbal reasoning test. There is no need to prepare your child for these entry tests. Before their visit, we ask for the child’s latest school report and for parents to complete a short questionnaire about their child, all of which is taken into consideration. We are looking for children whose character and personality will see them thrive here at Twyford.

Offer of a place

Offers are made in writing soon after the taster day. When a place is offered, a signed acceptance form and deposit of £1000 will be required to secure the place.