The Admissions Secretary (TAS) is a weekly newsletter for parents navigating the competitive and confusing world of London school admissions. Every Friday, I cover the preparation, papers, interviews, assessment days and school news that matter - with help from a team of canny insiders (mainly teachers!).
I talk to students emerging from assessments and teachers from top schools, I read school websites and scrape forums, meticulously every report, have weekly conversations with teachers, and then I tell you what I found (and what I'd do about it!).
I’ve spent over a decade working in admissions at some of London's most competitive independent schools, so I like to think I know how these decisions actually get made. Over this time, I've built up fantastic sources across London's prep and senior schools who tell me things that won’t appear on a website or in a prospectus. Moreover, I’m an Oxbridge graduate who (once upon a time!) went through the system myself.
TAS exists because I’ve witnessed first-hand how incoherent, opaque and panic-inducing this process can be. I believe parents deserve better information than they're currently getting. The forums are full of anxiety and guesswork and consultants can be expensive and often vague. The schools themselves tell you as little as they possibly can in order to protect their processes.
Having recently gone part time at my current school, I’ve started TAS. I am completely obsessed with admissions and spend entire days each week doing the research for you.
Hopefully this saves you many hours agonising over incomplete info from your class Whatsapp group!
Parents (and tutors) preparing children for 11+ or 13+ entry to London's most competitive independent schools. If your child is bright, ambitious and anywhere between Year 3 and Year 8, there is something in here for you every week.
· West London Westminster
· St Paul's Girls' School
· St Paul's Boys' School
· Latymer Upper
· Godolphin & Latymer
· Lady Eleanor Holles
· Hampton
· Merchant Taylors'
· North London Collegiate
· South Hampstead High
· University College School
· Highgate
· City of London School
· Putney High
· City of London School for Girls
· Alleyn's
· Dulwich College
· King's College Wimbledon
· Wimbledon High
· Francis Holland Sloane Square
· Francis Holland Regent's Park
· Queen's Gate
· Eton College
· Wycombe Abbey
· The Grey Coat Hospital School
I also cover prep schools across London.
Don't see yours? Reply and let me know! Every school on this list has been requested by parents, and when I get enough requests, I start covering the school.
Each Friday I go deep into London schools and their admissions processes, including:
Actual interview questions (with good and bad answers!)
Exam intel and updates
Teacher insights from inside the schools
Successful applications and failed ones (I show you the actual work)
What the most competitive prep schools are covering this month
What prep schools are saying to parents privately
What I would do this week if my child were applying
Your questions answered
And more! So many articles are inspired by your questions, so do let me know. I don’t have a business if I’m not helping you.
Read everything with no payment until day seven.