Introduction
School Name: Latymer Upper School
Description: Co-educational independent day school
Acceptance Ages: 11+
Overview
Latymer Upper School is a fully co-educational independent school located in Hammersmith, London. The school is maintained by a charitable trust, The Latymer Foundation, which has a long history. It was founded in 1624 when a wealthy lawyer named Edward Latymer bequeathed money for the education of eight poor boys from Hammersmith.
The school educates around 1200 students, girls and boys, aged 11 to 18. The Latymer Foundation awards a number of bursaries each year to ensure that the school remains accessible to students of all backgrounds. With its 400th anniversary just a few years away, the Foundation recently launched a campaign to raise sufficient funds to be able to support 1 in 4 students with a bursary.
Despite being a city school, Latymer Upper School has a large campus on which historic buildings sit side-by-side with exceptional modern facilities, including a sports centre and two arts centres. A virtual tour of the school is available on its website.
The school won the TES independent school of the year award for 2018.
A video about student life at Latymer Upper School can be viewed on the ‘Our School’ pages of its website.
Latymer Upper School 11 Plus Admissions
Latymer Upper School has approximately 170 places available in Year 7 each year. Admission is highly competitive, with over seven applications received for each available place last year.
All applicants sit an entrance exam in January which consists of papers in English and Mathematics, which are set by the school. Shortlisted candidates are then invited back for an interview in late January / early February. School references are also taken into consideration as part of the selection process.
Offer letters are sent out in mid-February. All applicants who are offered a place are invited to attend an offer holders’ evening at the school in February and can visit the school during a working day, to take a tour and meet with the Head, ahead of the acceptance deadline in early March.
Places are offered to selected students regardless of background and means-tested bursaries, which vary from 25-100% of fees, are available. Academic and music scholarships are also available at 11+.
A copy of the school’s full admissions policy can be downloaded via its website.
How to Apply for 11 Plus Entry to Latymer Upper School
Two open days hosted by Latymer Upper School for prospective students and their parents in September and October. Booking starts in April.
Registration deadline of the 11+ entrance exam for Latymer Upper School is in mid-October of the year preceding entry (while the applicant is still in Year 6) with a non-refundable registration fee of £125.
Information about exam day will be sent out to all registered applicants in mid-December.
For further information about application and admissions process, please contact the admissions office: admissions@latymer-upper.org or 020 7993 0063
Latymer Upper School 11 Plus Exam Format
Latymer Upper School creates its own exam papers in English and maths which intended to identify students with natural ability rather than focusing on prior learning.
- The English paper evaluates both reading comprehension and writing skills. The latest sample papers indicate that the exam is multiple-choice.
- The Mathematics paper focuses on problem-solving. Section A is in multiple-choice format and Section B is open-answer.
The format of the tests changes each year. However, relevant sample papers are sent to parents when they register their child.
