Step 1: Visit Us

We believe the best way to experience the unique environment at Austin Friars is to visit us. We offer different opportunities for you to see our school in action and immerse yourself in our special atmosphere.

Individual Tours: We welcome families to arrange a private tour at a mutually convenient time during the school day, with our Headmaster, Head of Junior School or other member of the Senior Management Team. This is a great opportunity to ask specific questions and explore our facilities in detail. The ‘visit us’ tab has a form for requesting a tour date.

Open Week: For those looking ahead, you can visit us during our Open Week in October, where you can join small group tours at set times over the week to view either Pre-School, Junior School or Senior School. During the tours you can meet our dedicated staff, view classes in action and engage with current students. The ‘visit us’ tab changes to the ‘Open Week’ tab in the run up to Open Week and you can book onto one of the available tours online.

Step 2: Register

Once you have decided that Austin Friars is the right fit for your child, the next step is to register them which will hold their place in that specific year group until the admissions procedures have been completed.

Simply complete the appropriate Registration Form provided by our admissions team and return with the registration fee.

There is a £75 non-refundable registration fee for Junior and Senior School entry, and a £250 registration fee to reserve sessions in the Pre-School which is refunded once a pupil takes up those sessions.

It is non-refundable in the event that they do not take up the reserved place.

Step 3: Taster Days

We invite all prospective students to attend Taster Days with us. This experience allows your child to spend some time in the school, participate in classes, and get to know their potential future classmates and teachers. Taster Days are tailored to each child’s interests and year group, ensuring a positive and informative experience. For Pre-School entry, the taster sessions will match, as far as possible, the sessions you have reserved for your child upon registering.

Step 4: Entrance Assessments (Senior School entry only excluding VI Form)

To ensure we can meet your child's educational needs, all candidates for Senior School entry are required to sit entrance assessment papers in Maths, English and Non-Verbal Reasoning. We are not an academically selective school and there is no required ‘pass’ mark for these papers. Rather we use the results of the papers to appropriately set pupils into the correct class for their ability and to ascertain if there are any areas where some additional support may be beneficial. Entrance Assessments are usually completed during Taster Days. Entry to the VI Form is based on projected performance at GCSEs.

Step 5: School Reference (excluding Pre-School and Kindergarten entry)

As part of our holistic admissions process, we request a reference from your child’s current school. This helps us understand their academic progress and any additional support they may need, as well as aiding their transition and learning a little bit more about them. Our admissions team will provide a reference form for your child’s current school to complete after confirming with you that it is appropriate to do so.

Step 6: Offer and Acceptance

Once all of the above processes have been completed, successful candidates will receive an offer of a place at Austin Friars and discuss a potential start date. To secure your child’s place, you will need to complete and return the acceptance form along with an acceptance deposit of £250, and the required admissions paperwork. We will need to verify your child’s birth certificate or passport upon accepting a place as the final stage of the admissions process.