Latymer Upper School 11+ entry guide

Considering Latymer Upper School for your child? We’ve collated everything you need to know about 11+ entry. Learn how to apply, what’s on the entrance exam, and how to help your child prepare for success.

Key information for Latymer Upper School

• Address: Latymer Upper School, King Street, London, W6 9LR
• Age range and gender: boys and girls aged 11–18
• Type of school: independent day
• Number of students: 1,400+
• Admissions contact: [email protected]
• 11+ open days: September/October
• 11+ selection criteria: entrance exam, interview and school reference
• Financial assistance: means-tested bursaries
• 11+ scholarships: academic and music

About Latymer Upper School

Latymer Upper School is one of London’s leading private day schools for boys and girls. It was founded in 1624 by Edward Latymer, who wanted to educate local children from disadvantaged backgrounds. This vision is still prominent today, with the school aiming to provide financial assistance to 25% of pupils. This makes Latymer Upper one of the most socially-inclusive independent schools in the country.

Students at Latymer Upper study a broad and stimulating curriculum. This includes contemporary studies in Mandarin, computer coding and design. At GCSE, a tailor-made course on World Perspectives gives students a broader understanding of modern world issues. Exam results are high, with students going on to study at universities including Oxford, Cambridge, and Ivy League colleges.

Dates for your diary

• Registration opens: May in Year 5
• Registration closes: October in Year 6
• Entrance exam: December in Year 6
• Interviews: January in Year 6
• Offers of places: February in Year 6

Latymer Upper School 11+ entrance exam

All children who are registered for 11+ entry to Latymer Upper School take an entrance exam in December in Year 6.

Latymer Upper School sets its own exam papers. There are three papers in total – one maths paper and two English papers.

Maths

One of the Latymer Upper School 11+ papers tests maths. 60 minutes are allocated for this paper.

There are two sections to work through. The questions in Section A are multiple choice, while the questions in Section B require free responses. Your child should show their working out in Section B.

All of the questions in the Latymer Upper 11+ maths paper are aligned to the Key Stage 2 curriculum. Some questions might be more challenging than the ones your child is used to, as they are designed to show your child’s potential and ability to work through challenging problems.

English

The other two Latymer Upper 11+ papers test English. One paper assesses reading comprehension and lasts 35 minutes, while the other tests creative writing and lasts 45 minutes.

The reading comprehension paper is multiple-choice. Your child will need to read a passage of text and answer questions to show their ability to understand and analyse what they have read.

The creative writing paper skills such as spelling, punctuation, grammar, vocabulary, and originality. The task can vary year-on-year, but might include continuing a story from a prompt.

Children who perform well in the entrance exam are invited back to the school for an interview and further learning activities in January in Year 6. Children take part in immersive activities and have a one-to-one interview with a member of school staff. Learn top tips in our guide to independent school interviews.

Atom’s top tips for applying to Latymer Upper School

Latymer Upper School is a popular selective school in West London, and competition for places can be high. Here are our top tips to help your child prepare for the selection process.

Bitesize learning

It’s important to build a good knowledge base before school entrance exams. Your child should have a good understanding of the content they’ve been taught at school before testing their knowledge with practice tests.

Using a ‘little and often’ approach when learning is key – our brains encode new information more effectively when dealing with smaller ‘chunks’ of information. For children aged 10–11, child psychologists recommend regular study sessions of 20–30 minutes.

With Atom Home, you don’t need to worry about creating a study schedule. When you enter your target schools, you’ll get a bespoke learning plan tailored to your schools’ entrance exams. Know exactly what your child needs to do each week to confidently pass.

Read widely

Entrance exams test children’s ability to analyse and interpret written information. Regular reading is a great way to help your child build these skills.

Encourage them to read books from different genres and by a diverse range of authors. Increasing the variety of your child’s reading will help them understand different styles, tones and purposes. Meanwhile, reading a little every day will help widen their vocabulary, sharpen their analytical thinking, and enhance their imagination.

Looking for reading inspiration? Check out our Key Stage 2 reading list.

Hone curiosity

Selective schools are often looking for children who are interested in learning. You can help by supporting your child’s broader learning, their intellectual curiosity, and their passion for developing an understanding of the world.

Talk to your child about the world we live in and inspire an interest in current affairs with age-appropriate journalism. It’s also a good idea to make sure they’re benefitting from a rich variety of experiences, such as visiting libraries, museums and galleries.

Refine exam technique

When your child feels confident with their knowledge of the exam topics, they’ll be ready to put their knowledge to the test.

Mock tests can help your child develop problem-solving skills and refine exam technique. They’re also a great way to consolidate learning, while highlighting any knowledge gaps they might want to tackle before exam day.

When you set Latymer Upper School as a target school on Atom Home, your child will get tailored mock tests for Latymer Upper School as part of their learning plan. Know what to expect on exam day.