Choosing the right school for your child is an important decision, and we are delighted that you are considering Thomas’s Kensington.
This Admissions Guide gives you a clear overview of our admissions process and answers the practical questions you may have, from applications to our discovery assessments. Our aim is to ensure you feel confident and well informed at every stage.
Alongside the practicalities, we hope this guide conveys something of our community. At Thomas’s Kensington, children flourish when they are happy and known, inspired by academic ambition, enriched by a broad and balanced education, and nurtured by kindness.
We look forward to welcoming you, and warmly invite you to visit us so that you can experience first-hand the energy, joy, and spirit of Thomas’s Kensington.
At Thomas’s Kensington, children flourish through three key aims:
1
2
3
Values that shape us
With kindness at the heart of our approach.
Strong foundations, bright future
Every child is encouraged, challenged and supported to discover their passions.
Opportunities that Inspire
Academic success built on breadth, and high expectations.
Alex Matthews Head
At-a-Glance Admissions Pathways
Thomas’s Kensington is an independent, fee-paying, fully co-educational day School. We welcome applications from children who will contribute fully
ENTRY POINT YEAR GROUP ON ENTRY
and enthusiastically to the ethos and wider life of the School, regardless of disability, ethnicity, sex, religion, belief. Please discover our admissions pathways below.
AGE ON ENTRY PLACES AVAILABLE
Reception 4+ Reception 4 - 5 66 (3 classes of 22) Birth Selective September
Occasional Places
Years 1 - 6 Varies Ad hoc Enquire with Admissions Individual assessment Rolling
Registration fee: £150, non-refundable
Entry-Specific Information and Assessment
RECEPTION (4+)
Selection is based through Discovery Sessions. This is overseen by the Early Years Team carefully to ensure a fair and equal process for all applicants.
OCCASIONAL PLACES
(YEARS 1 - 6)
Please call the Admissions Office on 0207 361 6500 or email Head of Admissions, Amy Boyer (aboyer@thomas-s.co.uk) to discuss current availability before registering.
Procedure for Entry into Reception at Thomas’s Kensington
There is a £150 registration fee to register with us per child. Should you wish to do so please click here for our online registration form. Those who register early will be allocated to the Main List.
Thomas’s Kensington runs an assessment process (Discovery Sessions) for entry into Reception.
THE PROCESS IS OUTLINED BELOW:
Each year, parents of children on our Main List will be contacted to confirm their continued interest in Thomas’s Kensington.
If families from the Main List withdraw, applicants on the Reserve List will be contacted and moved to the Main List.
Children on the Main List will be invited to attend for a Discovery Session before they are due to start Reception.
This is a play-based session, held in small groups of no more than 12 children, and is always thoroughly enjoyed by those who attend. It is a gentle, informal assessment in which our staff observe each child’s play, interactions, and approach to a few simple independent activities, helping us to gauge their readiness for school. Our priority is to put every child at ease and ensure they enjoy their time with us. Before the Discovery Session, we will also be in touch with your child’s nursery or kindergarten to inform them of their application.
Each session will last approximately 45 minutes and is led by our Lower School Team. We find that the majority of children we meet would thrive at Thomas’s Kensington. Regrettably, we see more children than we can accommodate at the school.
Offers will be made once all Discovery Sessions have been held, with priority given to the siblings of existing pupils. Children may also be placed on a Waiting List and offered a place after the deadline for accepting initial offers have passed.
Key Dates for Your Diary
Parents are able to register from birth but the Reception selection process begins one year before starting.
4+
(Reception Entry)
Tours and Registration
Tours are available throughout the year. Registration from birth. Please click here to request a visit.
Summer (one year before starting)
Main list applicants - Completion of Child Information Form (CIF).
September (one year before starting, children are 3.5 years old)
Sibling Discovery Sessions & sibling results.
November
Deadline for acceptance/deposit.
October
Non-sibling Discovery Sessions & results.
August Whole School Welcome Picnic.
June
Reception Welcome Events, Summer Fair & Meet the Teacher.
September School begins.
Entry Procedure for an Occasional Place at Thomas’s Kensington
Thomas’s Kensington runs an assessment process for occasional entry into Years 1 - 6.
Occasional places are offered on an assessment basis and are dependent on current children withdrawing. Places offered are based on a positive assessment and a space being available.
There is a £150 registration fee to register with us per child. Should you wish to do so please click here for our online registration form.
For entry into Years 1 and 2 children are assessed against the standard currently being achieved in the year group and, particularly if they are moving from a different education system, for evidence of potential. Written reports are requested from the previous School, generally prior to assessment.
For entry to Years 3 - 6 children are assessed for evidence of academic potential and against the standard currently being achieved in the year group. Information about their previous education experience, a meeting with a senior member of staff and a written reference from the previous School are taken into account when making a decision.
In order to access the curriculum, the applicant will have to demonstrate that they have a fluent knowledge of written and spoken English comparable to pupils in the year group they will be entering.
We welcome overseas pupils, who can study at Thomas’s provided that they have the legal right to enter, live and study in the UK. Thomas’s does not sponsor visa applications.
Admissions Journey
Occasional (Year 1 - Year 6 Entry)
Tours and Registration
Tours are available throughout the year. Please click here to request a visit.
Registrations are ad-hoc throughout the year. Registration is limited to only one of the Thomas’s Prep Schools. If you would like to register for an occasional place please click here
Registration Acknowledgement and Child Information Form (CIF)
Your registration will be acknowledged by email. A CIF form will be requested so that we can get to know your child better. Birth certificates, previous school reports and passport information will be requested. A reference from your childs current school will be requested.
Assessment
We invite your child for an age appropriate assessment with one of our friendly teachers
Result
A result will be provided. Should the result be positive, an offer letter will be emailed. A non refundable £2950 deposit is required on order to accept a place. Signed acceptance forms will also be requested in line with our terms and conditions.
Fees
THOMAS’S KENSINGTON FEES
Current tuition fees (2025–26) are from £10,883 per term
A full list of fees can be found here
FAQs
Q: Does my child have an automatic through-route to Thomas’s College?
A: There is no automatic right, but it is an assessed route. Pupils may apply in Year 6 or defer to Year 9, for which we provide tailored guidance and preparation.
Q: Do you prepare children for 11+/13+ exit to other schools?
A: Absolutely – our Future Schools team has an excellent record of securing scholarships and offers from leading day and boarding schools. A full list of recent destinations can be found on our website.
Q: Are children’s individual learning needs, including SEND, taken into account?
A: Yes – please discuss any needs with us in advance so we can make appropriate arrangements.
Q: What is your sibling policy?
A: Thomas’s Kensington gives priority to siblings of current pupils, offering them places whenever possible, provided they meet the standard entry criteria and spaces are available.
Q: Can parents register for all four Thomas’s Prep Schools?
A: No - Parents may only register for one Thomas’s Prep School.
Q: Do you have a Kindergarten?
A: Yes - There is a Thomas’s Kindergarten based in Battersea. Thomas’s Kensington takes from a wide variety of kindergartens and nurseries.
Q: I live abroad and cannot attend an in-person assessment.
A: We do prefer to see the children in person however a Zoom assessment can be arranged. We may ask to meet the child in-person before an offer is made.
Get in Touch
For more information, please contact our Head of Admissions, Amy Boyer at: E: aboyer@thomas-s.co.uk T: 0207 361 6500
