At Breaside Preparatory School, we welcome applications from families of all cultures, ethnic groups and religions. We are an academically selective school with waiting lists for some year groups and places are offered in accordance with our Admissions Policy.
Entry into Kindergarten (2½-4 years)
Children can join Kindergarten from the age of 2½ and take advantage of the crucially important early years where children learn and play in a safe, friendly and structured environment. Our Early Years Curriculum is broad and balanced and great emphasis is placed on the child’s individual needs and progress.
Entry into Pre-Prep (4-11 years)
In additional to our children moving up from the Kindergarten, entry into Pre-Prep, Reception and Years 1-6 is according to the availability of places and the meeting of our entry requirements.
Step 1: Make an Enquiry & View our Prospectus
Step 2: Book a Visit/Open Days
We welcome the opportunity to show you round our wonderful school and to discuss all aspects of school life and experience the atmosphere.
Regular Open Mornings are held throughout the year, please complete our enquiry form to join us at one of our school events or contact Mrs Greaves (0208 460 0916).
Step 3: Register for a place
If you would like to proceed with an application, simply download, complete, and return the registration form or contact Mrs Lucy Greaves on 020 8460 0916.
Step 4: Assessment
Where applicable, we may ask your child to complete an assessment and request a report from your child’s previous school. This can be arranged as we continue through the process.
Step 5: Offer of a place
If your child is offered a place, a payment of £1000 is required upon acceptance to secure your place at Breaside. This is refunded when your child leaves the school.
Entry at 7+ is subject to availability and assessment. All candidates are assessed in English, Comprehension, Mathematics and Reading. We also observe the children’s behaviour, their communication skills and how they interact, socially, with their peers and teaching staff throughout the morning.
Your child will be formally invited to assessment, and this will take place in early January each year. Only those children registered will be invited for assessment.
The assessment takes place in the morning and lasts approximately 3 hours. It is designed to test numerical, language and reading skills which underpin a child’s ability to cope well with the pace and level of the curriculum and the organisational demands of the school’s busy curricular and co-curricular programme. Children’s behaviour during the assessment will also be taken into consideration when making final decisions.
All prospective candidates are assessed by the Executive Principal, Deputy Headteachers, and other senior members of staff. By meeting all the children in a group setting, the school team is better able to gain a fuller insight into their relative abilities, confidences and any needs they may have.
Generally, those who are successful in being offered a place have above average reading ability, are adept with using language in different forms; spelling, writing and possess a good grasp of basic concepts appropriate to their age and schooling.
Some children are inevitably stronger in some areas than others, but chronological differences may be taken into consideration as are reports from their current school.
How to apply
We would encourage all prospective families to visit us prior to registration by attending an open morning or via private tour.
To apply please download and complete a Registration Form and pay a non-refundable Registration Fee of £100. This can be paid via bank transfer, the school bank details can be found on this page. Please be aware that when registering for a place this does not guarantee a place in school, but a place on our waiting lists only and for attendance at assessment.
Following registration, we will contact all prospective families with details of arrangements for the assessment day. If successful, subject to availability, your child may be offered a place at Breaside.
Upon acceptance, parents are required to pay a deposit of £1000 and sign a parent contract outlining the standard terms and conditions under which their child is accepted as a pupil at Breaside. An offer of a place is also subject to satisfactory reports from their current school.
We regularly welcome international students* from a variety of countries to join our school community. International families choose Breaside Preparatory because of our commitment to academic excellence, character development, global perspectives, and British values, as well as our excellent exam results, university destinations and strong focus on wellbeing. All students – British, EU and international – are charged the same fees, regardless of nationality or immigration status.
*International students are those with nationalities other than UK or Irish who are subject to immigration control
Students who are non-native English speakers will be asked to meet online with a member of our parent company, Cognita’s, international team, who will informally assess their English language level. The international team will then advise the school whether the student would benefit from additional support with their English prior to enrolment and/or during the first year of their studies.
Breaside Preparatory and Cognita work with a range of international student recruitment agencies, education consultants and relocation agents. Agents and consultants are invited to contact the international admissions team at Cognita about representation.
English as an Additional Language
Students who need support with English as an Additional Language prior to enrolment and/or during the first year of their studies may be referred to Cognita’s English language school, Ardmore. Ardmore have over 35 years’ experience supporting young English learners and have recently developed an online platform – Ardmore X – to support teacher-led and independent study. Ardmore can support international students prepare for life at school in the UK in the weeks and months prior to the start of term. They can also support students throughout their first few terms with us, scheduling online English lessons outside of the standard school day.
Inernational Deposit
International students who receive an offer to study at Breaside Preparatory will be asked to accept their place by completing and returning an acceptance form and paying a deposit equal to one term’s fees. The international deposit will be returned at the end of a student’s time at the school, providing appropriate notice has been given and all fees have been settled.
UK Visa & Immigration
Breaside Preparatory’s parent company, Cognita, has a licence to sponsor Child Student visas. Please contact Cognita’s international team if you would like to discuss visa sponsorship. The team will be glad to support you throughout your application and subsequent studies. Families are asked to settle the academic year’s fees in full and pay a £500 administration fee for each Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) in advance of sponsorship.
The international team can support parents of students aged 4 to 11 years old who wish to join their children in the UK under the Parent of a Child Student visa route.
We also welcome international students who are dependents of their parents’ investor, skilled worker, and diplomatic visas, as well as those who come to the UK under many other immigration routes.
If you are unsure whether your child needs a Child Student visa, we recommend taking the UK Visas questionnaire to establish the most suitable immigration route for your family.
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