Kensington Park School 11+ guide

About Kensington Park School

Kensington Park School is an independent day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 11-18. Located in West London, it is a short walk from Kensington Palace, with its sixth form situated opposite the Natural History Museum. Kensington Park School prides itself on providing an intellectually stimulating environment giving students a place where they can learn, grow and reach their full potential.

The school’s broad and balanced curriculum promotes intellectual curiosity and creativity. From core subjects to Latin, Computing and the arts, students study a wide range of subjects to prepare them for their futures. Students can also take part in a wide array of clubs such as creative writing, debate club and numerous sporting activities.

With small classes and a personalised approach, Kensington Park School aims to excite, challenge, and inspire its students to be lifelong learners. Students are encouraged to become confident, caring, and independent young people who desire to make a positive contribution to society. The school also offers a range of scholarships for Art, Drama, Music, Sport and academics.

Kensington Park School 11+ Admissions Process

Kensington Park School welcomes boys and girls at 11+ entry from schools across London. To begin your child’s application, you will need to submit the registration form before the deadline in November. Registration costs £250 and is non-refundable.

Kensington Park School’s admissions process has two parts: an assessment and an interview (detailed below). During the registration process, the school will also request a reference from your child’s current school.

Part 1: Assessments

Registered children are invited to the school for an assessment day in late November in Year 6. This consists of an online assessment in maths, English and non-verbal reasoning.

• Maths: Questions are based on the national curriculum, and assess skills such as arithmetic and mathematical reasoning.

• English: Questions are based on the national curriculum, and assess skills such as reading and analysing a text, spelling, punctuation and grammar.

• Non-verbal reasoning: This includes problem-solving and spatial and visual reasoning.

The maths and non-verbal reasoning sections are adaptive. This means that the questions will get more difficult - or easier - depending on how your child answers. Your child will not be able to skip questions or go back and change their answers.

The English section will be non-adaptive. All children will see the same questions, although some might move through them quicker than others. Your child will be able to move backwards and forward between questions and change their answers during the test.

Part 2: Interviews

All applicants will have an interview with the Head or Head of Senior School at Kensington Park School. During the interview, your child will be asked about their academic and co-curricular interests. This is also an opportunity for your child to ask any questions they may have about the school.

International students will also have an interview, but for those unable to travel overseas, this will take place remotely, at the applicant’s current school or a British Council office.

For top tips and advice, take a look at our guide to senior school interviews.

Offers

When deciding which children to offer places to, the admissions team will take into account your child’s performance during the interview, the entrance assessment, your child’s school reports and the reference from their previous school. Offers will be communicated by the end of the Autumn Term.

Our top tips to prepare for 11+ entry to Kensington Park School

Feeling overwhelmed about where to begin with your child’s exam prep? Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. Check out our top tips to start their journey to exam success with confidence and ease!

Small steps to big success

Building a solid foundation is essential for entrance exam success. Before tackling practice tests, it’s important for your child to feel confident in the school-taught content they’ll be tested on.

Here’s the good news: learning in bite-sized chunks is scientifically proven to work! Child psychologists recommend 20–30 minute study sessions for 10–11-year-olds. This “little and often” approach helps the brain absorb and retain new information more effectively.

With Atom Home, creating a study routine is effortless. Enter your target schools, and we’ll build a personalised learning plan aligned with their entrance exam requirements. Know exactly what to focus on each week – and give your child the tools to shine.

Unlock a love of reading

Did you know that entrance exams often assess a child’s ability to analyse and interpret text? Regular reading isn’t just fun – it’s a secret weapon for exam prep!

Encourage your child to explore books across different genres and authors. This variety helps them understand diverse styles, tones, and purposes while boosting their vocabulary and critical thinking. Even 10 minutes a day can spark creativity and sharpen analytical skills.

Need ideas? Browse our Key Stage 2 reading list for inspiration and take the guesswork out of picking the perfect book.

Fuel curiosity and confidence

Selective schools value children who are curious and engaged with the world. Supporting your child’s broader learning is a great way to nurture their intellectual curiosity and develop lifelong skills. Talk about current events using age-appropriate journalism or plan outings to libraries, museums, and galleries. These experiences can broaden their horizons and build an authentic love for learning.

Perfect their practice

When your child is ready to put their knowledge to the test, mock exams can make all the difference. These practice runs teach time management, problem-solving, and exam-day strategies while identifying areas for improvement.

With Atom Home, you’ll get targeted mock tests tailored to your chosen schools. You’ll get your child’s results instantly, including their standardised age score and a breakdown of which topics to practise next. Help your child step into their exam day prepared, confident, and ready to excel.

Celebrate every milestone

Big wins start with small steps! Celebrating your child’s progress – no matter how small – keeps motivation high. A growth mindset is key: praise their effort and resilience, not just their achievements.

Mistakes are opportunities to learn, and challenges are stepping stones to success. With regular encouragement and the right tools, your child will build confidence and thrive.

Atom Home tracks every milestone so you can focus on what matters most—cheering them on every step of the way.