EDUCATION TIMELINE
Education timeline Key decisions to be made at different stages of your child’s scholastic journey
Birth to preschool (rising four) Visit local nurseries and
Age 4½-7 Talk to your child’s current school about their progress and ask for advice on future schools. Visit prep schools (usually from year 2) and note registration deadlines (they are normally in the autumn term of the preceding academic year). Check for details and dates of any assessments that may be required.
childcare providers – register as soon as possible. Visit local pre-preps and remember to check deadlines for registration. It is important to plan ahead – popular schools may have an official deadline but, if oversubscribed, they will offer places based on the date of registration.
Age 7-11 If your child attends a fee- paying school, use teachers as a sounding board for senior schools. Attend meetings covering potential future schools (normally taking place from year 4). Visit senior school open days (from year 4 or earlier) and check deadlines for 11+ registration, which are normally the November or December prior to entry. If you wish to apply for a scholarship, note any separate deadlines, together with 11+ entrance exam dates (these are normally held in November to January of year 6). Liaise with the school about preparation and flag any concerns you might have. Children that will be sitting the 11+ Common Entrance exam in year 6 will need to be registered (in October or December for examination in November or January, respectively).
62 AUTUMN/WINTER 2026
Powered by FlippingBook