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 us
If you are interested in your son joining us in September 2025 for the 4+ entry, please come and visit us at our Open Day on Saturday 5 October or on one of our School in Action days.
General information
Joining our community in Reception offers boys an academically outstanding education filled with awe and wonder.
We offer approximately 40 Reception places each year.
We have high expectations for our students, so it is important that we ensure your son would be given the space to thrive at Habs.
Entry is for candidates aged 4 and below the age of 5 on the 1st September in the year of entry.
Play based assessment
In the Autumn term prior to the year of entry, your child will be invited to a play-based assessment which lasts around an hour and a half.
These sessions are led by members of our teaching staff, who will help your child feel comfortable so their suitability for a place can be assessed fairly.
They will take part in a range of individual and small group activities. Children with birth months in close proximity are placed in the same group. Twins will be placed in separate groups for their assessments.
We will also request a written reference from your child’s nursery or pre-school.
There will also be an opportunity for parents to meet the Head of the Prep and Pre-Prep and other members of our Senior Leadership Team. During this time, you can ask us questions and decide if you think we are right for your son.
These meetings are also an important way for us to get to know your family, making sure our ethos and values are aligned with yours.
Parent interviews and child assessment
A select number of children will return for a second round, where they will be seen on a one-to-one basis with senior members of staff. This stage will last approximately one hour.
Key dates for Year 3
Key dates for Year 3
Visit us
If you are interested in your son joining us in September 2025 for the 7+ entry, please come and visit us at our Open Day on Saturday 5 October or on one of our School in Action days.
General information
Joining Habs Boys in Preparatory School
is an academically ambitious introduction to lifelong learning and interests beyond school.
Each year, we look to welcome approximately 20 new pupils to join our Year 3 cohort.
Entry is for candidates aged 7 and below the age of 8 on the 1st September in the year of entry.
Formal assessments
In November your son will join us for a formal assessment morning which includes Reasoning, Maths and English.
Second round assessments
Around half of the participants of the formal assessment will return for a second stage at the end of the Autumn Term.
During this time, your son will participate in an English and STEM assessment. We will be observing how they work together in groups and also individually.
There will also be an opportunity at a later date for parents to meet the Head of the Prep and other members of our Senior Leadership Team whilst your son takes part in some one-to-one activities. In the meeting, you can ask us questions and decide if you think we are right for your son.
These meetings are also an important way for us to get to know your family, making sure our ethos and values are aligned with yours.
Key dates for Year 7
Key dates for Year 7
Visit us
If you are interested in your son joining us in September 2025 for the 11+ entry, please come and visit us at our Open Day on Saturday 5 October or on 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 usually able to make around 100 places available to external candidates for entry in Year 7.
11+ deferred entry means that students in Year 6 can take our 11+ entrance exam and – if offered a place –defer their place until Year 9 (age 13) rather than entering in Year 7.
Entry is for candidates aged 11 and below the age of 12 on the 1st September in the year of entry.
Although our Senior School remains predominantly an 11+ school, if your child attends a school that finishes at the end of Year 8, you may register for 11+ deferred entry.
If your child is offered a deferred place, there will be no further tests. However, we will need a satisfactory reference or report provided by their Headteacher, confirming acceptable standards of achievement and behaviour.
If your child is unsuccessful at 11+, they are welcome to reapply for 13+ (Year 9) entry.
Please find out more about the 13+ assessments.
Assessment
Your son will sit a 90-minute computer-based 11+ entrance assessment covering:
- Verbal reasoning
- Non-verbal reasoning
- English
- Maths
Sample tests are not provided, but we will send you a familiarisation test just before the exam.
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 2025 for the 13+ entry, please come and visit us at our Open Day on Saturday 5 October or on 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 :
- English
- Maths
- Humanities
- History
- Geography
- Theology and Philosophy
- Science
- Biology
- Chemistry
- 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.
