Admissions process
We welcome applicants to join Habs at any of our five formal entry points: 4+, 7+, 11+, 13+ and 16+. Occasionally, we also have spaces in other year groups. You can learn more in the Occasional Places and Overseas information sections further down.
Below, you will find a step-by-step guide to visiting our school, applying, assessments, interviews and accepting an offer.
and Overseas
Key dates for Reception
Key dates for Reception
Visit Habs
Attend an Open Event or book a visit to experience our school community first-hand. It is the best way to see our pupils in action, meet staff and discover what makes Habs such a special place to learn and grow.
Register
We receive in the region of 150 applications for approximately 40 places each year.
Our 4+ admissions process is designed to help us get to know your son as an individual and identify boys who will thrive within our Reception community.
We recognise that young children develop at different rates and often show their strengths in different ways. Our aim is to build a rounded picture of your son, considering not only his emerging skills and understanding, but also how he engages with others, approaches new experiences and responds to challenge
Entry is for candidates aged 4 and below the age of 5 on the 1st September in the year of entry.
Learning and discovery assessment
Every boy who applies is invited to attend our 45-minute learning and discovery assessment.
Taking place in small groups with children of a similar age, this stage enables us to observe how your son communicates, collaborates and engages in a range of age-appropriate activities. Children may work independently, alongside their peers and as part of a group, giving us insight into how they approach new experiences, respond to challenge and interact with others.
We are interested in how your son explores, investigates and engages with activities; how he listens and contributes; and how he responds to opportunities for creativity, problem-solving and developing his own ideas.
Alongside these emerging skills, we look for qualities that reflect both the characteristics of effective learning and our Habits framework, including curiosity, resilience, collaboration, initiative and a willingness to have a go.
While your son is with us, parents are invited to remain on site and learn more about life at Habs.
Individual discovery assessment
Following the learning and discovery assessment, roughly half of the children will be invited to return for an individual discovery assessment.
Building on the observations made during the first assessment, this 30-minute, one-to-one session allows us to gain a deeper understanding of your son’s communication and language skills, early mathematical understanding, reasoning and problem-solving, alongside the ways in which he engages with and responds to different activities.
Consistent with both the characteristics of effective learning and our Habits philosophy, we are interested not only in what your son knows, but in how he learns. We look for children who are curious and willing to explore, who remain engaged and persevere when faced with challenge, and who show creativity, independence and growing confidence.
While assessments are taking place, parents are invited to enjoy a tour of the school and learn more about our educational approach.
Offer and offer holder event
Families who receive an offer will also be invited to an Offer Holders’ event. This gives your son an opportunity to return to Habs, spend more time in the Reception environment and begin getting to know the people and surroundings that will become part of his school life.
For parents, it is another opportunity to meet staff, ask questions and learn more about how we will support your son as he begins his journey into the Habs community.
Key dates for Year 3
Key dates for Year 3
Visit Habs
Attend an Open Event or book a visit to experience our school community first-hand. It is the best way to see our pupils in action, meet staff and discover what makes Habs such a special place to learn and grow.
Register
Our 7+ admissions process is designed to help us get to know your son as an individual and identify boys who will thrive within our Year 3 community.
We are looking for boys who demonstrate strong academic potential and the readiness to flourish within an ambitious and enriching learning environment. Our aim is to build a rounded picture of your son, considering not only his academic skills and understanding, but also how he engages with others, approaches new experiences and responds to challenge.
Entry is for candidates aged 7 and below the age of 8 on the 1st September in the year of entry.
First round written assessment
Every boy who applies is invited to attend an assessment morning covering Reasoning, Mathematics and English. This stage enables us to understand your son’s current academic development and his readiness to flourish within our academically ambitious environment.
Through these assessments, we gain insight into his understanding of key concepts, his ability to apply knowledge in unfamiliar contexts and his aptitude for reasoning and problem-solving. Alongside academic attainment, we look for evidence of the qualities that underpin success at Habs, including intellectual curiosity, resilience, critical thinking and a willingness to engage positively with challenge.
Second round assessment: Group lesson, activities and interview
Following the Academic Assessment, a number of boys will be invited to return for a English and STEM assessment.
Building on the academic assessment, this stage allows us to gain a deeper understanding of your son’s strengths, interests and potential. Through a range of English and STEM activities, we observe how he approaches challenge, engages with others and responds to new experiences.
Consistent with our Habits framework, we are interested not only in what your son can achieve academically, but also in the attitudes and qualities that will help him thrive at Habs. We look for boys who are curious, resilient and engaged learners, who show initiative and creativity, and who are ready to contribute positively to our school community.
Parents will also be invited to meet the Head of Prep and Pre-Prep and members of the Prep Leadership Team. This gives us an opportunity to get to know your family and allows you to learn more about our educational approach, ethos and values.
Offer and offer holder event
Families who receive an offer will also be invited to an Offer Holders’ event. This gives your son an opportunity to return to Habs, meet other prospective pupils and begin getting to know the people and surroundings that will become part of his school life.
For parents, it is another opportunity to meet staff, ask questions and learn more about how we will support your son as he begins his journey into the Habs community.
Key dates for Year 7
Key dates for Year 7
Visit us
If you are interested in your son joining us in September for the 11+ entry, please come and visit us at one our Open Days or at one of our School in Action days.
General information
At Habs we have a a unique offering at our 11+ entry point. You can either apply for 11+ (joining in Year 7) or 11+ deferred (joining in Year 9) for your child.
If your child attends a school that finishes in Year 6 you need to apply for our 11+ entry. If your child attends a Prep School that finishes at Year 8 we strongly recommend you apply for our 11+ deferred entry.
(We have strong relationships with our feeder Prep Schools that finish at Year 8, so we kindly ask you to inform your Prep School if you decide to apply to our 11+ entry instead of our recommended 11+deferred entry).
Habs Boys has approximately 160-175 children entering Year 7 each year. 60 of which will automatically move up from our Prep School and a small number of pupils, who have demonstrated the required academic standards from our Group (Lochinver House School and St Martin’s School), will have been awarded an automatic place via our Group Preferential Pathway. This leaves the majority of places available to external applicants who come from a wide range of other state primary and independent schools.
We have an additional number of external places available (approximately 25-30) for boys who join in Year 9 via 11+ deferred. (A very small number of these places, will have been awarded to boys who have demonstrated the required academic standards from within our Group (Lochinver House School and St Martin’s School) via our Group Preferential Pathway).
All our assessment, interview and offer dates have been published, please take note our key dates above. We cannot offer any other dates.
All SEND reports, Scholarships and Bursary applications must also be submitted by the relevant registration deadline, please take note of our key dates above.
Below is the detailed information about our 11+ entry to the School and to find out when to register your child.
Assessment
We have adapted our 11+ assessment for 2026. Habs Boys and Habs Girls will use the same QUEST first round assessment.
The 11+ assessment is a paper assessment and will consist of:
- Maths and NVR (45 minutes)
- English and VR (40 minutes)
- Creative Comprehension (20 minutes)
- Creative Writing (20 minutes)
The Maths and English questions will cover the range of topics which are based on the Key Stage 2 of the National Curriculum. These will be multiple choice.
We will provide paper and pencils for any working out during the assessment. Pencil cases are not required. Dictionaries, calculators, mobile devices may not be used.
Your child can familiarise themselves with the format and style of questions by trying our Familiarisation Test
Interviews
On the basis of the exam results, around half of the candidates are invited to come back for interview. Your child will not need to bring anything with them (such as books, projects or other work).
On the same day, we ask that one or both of parents also attend for an informal opportunity to meet members of our leadership team. These meetings are an important way for us to get to know your family and to ensure that our ethos and values are aligned with yours.
Financial support
Means-tested financial support is available to those joining us at 11+ who would greatly benefit from attending Habs, but for financial reasons would be unable to make an application.
A place will first need to be offered, based on students meeting the assessment criteria for their entry point.
Families will need to prove financial need by completing a confidential statement of income.
It is possible to gain access to financial support and be offered a scholarship simultaneously.
More about our financial support.
Scholarships
11+ scholarships are available for academic ability, art, design technology, drama, music and sports.
It is possible to hold a scholarship and gain financial support simultaneously.
More about our scholarships.
Key dates for Year 9
Key dates for Year 9
Visit us
If you are interested in your son joining us in September for the 13+ entry, please come and visit us at one our Open Days or at one of our School in Action days.
General information
Joining Habs Boys in our Senior School will prepare your child for university, a career, and a fulfilling life with broad interests and abilities.
Each year, we are able to make around 20 Year 9 places available to external candidates.
Entry is for candidates aged 13 and below the age of 14 on the 1st September in the year of entry.
Assessments
Your child will sit written entrance exams covering the following subjects (examples of the types of questions can be found below, linked to the subjects) :
- English
- Maths
- Humanities
- History
- Geography
- Theology and Philosophy
- Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics)
Interviews
Candidates who are successful in the first round assessments are invited for an interview. Your child will not need to bring anything with them (such as books, projects or other work).
On the same day, we ask that one or both parents also attend for an informal opportunity to meet members of our leadership team. These meetings are an important way for us to get to know your family and to ensure that our ethos and values are aligned with yours.
Financial support
Means-tested financial support is available to those joining us at 11+ who would greatly benefit from attending Habs, but for financial reasons would be unable to make an application.
A place will first need to be offered, based on students meeting the assessment criteria for their entry point.
Families will need to prove financial need by completing a confidential statement of income.
It is possible to gain access to financial support and be offered a scholarship simultaneously.
More about our financial support.
13+ scholarships are available for academic ability, art, design and technology, drama, music and sports.
It is possible to hold a scholarship and gain financial support simultaneously.
More about our scholarships.
