St Mary’s School Admissions Process (Nursery, Reception & 7+)
Joining St Mary’s School
St Mary’s School Hampstead is a warm and inclusive community. Our Admissions Team are very experienced in advising local families throughout the admissions process, including helping those who are relocating to London.
The main points of entry to St Mary’s School are Nursery (2-3 years), Reception (4+ years) and Year 3 (7+ years). Very occasionally, places may arise in Years 1-6, for example, when a family relocates from London.
Applicants for admission should normally register by 15th September of the year preceding the desired year of admission. Registrations received after this date will be considered but, depending on the timing of the application and the intended date of entry/year group, this may not be until after other applicants have been considered.
For all admissions queries, please contact the Head of Admissions, Mr Tom Wood, on: 020 7435 1868 or send an email to: admissions@stmh.co.uk.
Visiting St Mary’s School
Please join us at one of our Open Days or visit us for a private tour before you register for a place. Tours are organised regularly, and prospective families will meet the Headmistress and our pupils.
Contact our Head of Admissions to arrange your visit: admissions@stmh.co.uk
Registration
To register your child, please complete and return the Registration Form to the Head of Admissions. A non-refundable payment of £150 is required to accompany your registration.
Once submitted, you will receive confirmation of receipt of your application from the Head of Admissions. Registration does not guarantee a place. Nevertheless, every girl will be invited to the School for either a taster visit or an assessment.
Early Years Entry
After returning the Registration Form, you will be invited to St Mary’s for a short visit. This visit will provide an opportunity for the child to experience the School they will be joining.
Taster visits for entry into our Early Years Department (Pre-Nursery, Nursery and Reception) take place approximately one year before the date of intended enrolment.
The taster visits are designed to be informal and fun, rather than an assessment. This allows us to focus on each child’s well-being. Typically, this involves playing some games and listening to a story with a member of our teaching staff. Our aim is to see the child in a natural and calm environment in which they can interact with their peers and teachers.
7+ Entry
The Assessment Day for 7+ applicants takes place in the January before entry. Children are invited to join a class to experience our teaching, and will also be asked to complete a short reasoning assessment.
Occasional Places
Applications for other points of entry are considered on an ad-hoc basis. Parents looking for an occasional place should contact our Head of Admissions to register interest.
If there are places available, and you are abroad at the time of our taster visits, we will ask for a copy of a recent school report in lieu of your visit. The acceptance deadline for any occasional place is usually two weeks after the offer is issued.
Offers
Offers of places are made following the taster visits.
St Mary’s is an inclusive school and we are supported by a family-oriented Admissions Policy. We give priority to Catholic families or those with siblings in the School before others on the Registration List. If there are places available beyond these criteria, the List operates according to the time of registration.
If a year group is full, you may be allocated a place on the Waiting List. The Admissions Team actively manage this list and you will be informed as soon as possible should a place become available.
A letter confirming your place will be issued upon receipt of a signed acceptance form and acceptance deposit payment of £2,000.
Welcome Visit
In the term before your child is due to start at St. Mary’s School, a Welcome Pack will be sent to you alongside an invitation to join us for a Welcome Visit.
The Welcome Pack contains all the essential information you will need prior to joining the School. This includes the Uniform List and the Pupil Information Form.
At your Welcome Visit, your child will have the opportunity to visit their new classroom and meet with their teachers.
If you have any further questions about the admissions process or would like to visit our remarkable school, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Thomas Wood, the Head of Admissions.
