Hampton School entrance guide
Hampton School is a popular day boys’ school which is conveniently situated in south-west London and educates around 1500 children between the ages of 11 and 18. Founded in the 16th century, Hampton School briefly became a state grammar school in the 20th century, before turning back to an independent school in 1975. Hampton School has 27 acres of grounds and even shares a boat house with the local girls’ school. It has an enviable reputation for success at university entry to Russell group universities, with 90% of pupils achieving this following their time at the school. Competition for entry at 11+ and 13+ is fierce, and there are various options for those looking for a place. Entry is also possible at 16+, although there are fewer spaces at this stage. Below you can read our guide to Hampton School and meet some of our experienced tutors who can help you through the admissions process.
Open Days and Events at Hampton School
There are regular open events at Hampton School. These take place throughout the year and are bookable on the school website. Open events consist of a talk from the Head, a tour of the school and a pupil question and answer session. Hampton School encourages all prospective pupils and their families to visit the school prior to an application, and the school sees this as part of the admissions process. A special Sixth Form open evening also takes place in the Autumn Term. If a visit in person is not possible then a virtual tour is available on the school website.
11+ Entry to Hampton School
There are two options for 11+ entry to Hampton School. The first option is to sit a 10+ exam in the Autumn Term of Year 5 alongside attending an interview and providing a reference from the child’s current school. Passing this stage gives advance entry into Year 7. There are two papers: English and Maths. The English paper is a creative writing task based on a response to a picture. The Maths paper is non-calculator, and consists of a mix of short calculation questions and more complex problem-solving questions. Both are based on the National Curriculum for Year 5. If a pupil is successful in these exams then they will be invited for a short 20 minute interview with one of the teachers at the school. Offers are sent out by the end of the Autumn Term and must be accepted promptly.
If a child is unsuccessful at the 10+ early entry to Hampton School then they are invited to sit the 11+ entry exam, which takes place the following year, in the Autumn term of Year 6. This consists of three papers: English, Maths and Reasoning. The English paper contains both comprehension and creative writing, the Maths is made up of basic calculations and problem solving, and the Reasoning paper uses multiple choice and is based on reading and understanding data and word sets. Success in these exams means being invited to a two short 30 minute interviews with two separate members of staff. These take place in the early part of the Spring term. Offers for 11+ entry are sent out after this and must be accepted promptly. If a child is unsuccessful at 11+ entry they are not eligible to apply for 13+ entry.
13+ Entry to Hampton School
There are two options for 13+ entry to Hampton School. A pre-test (designed by the school) is available in either Year 6 or Year 7. This is not to be confused with the ISEB pre-test, which Hampton School no longer uses. If a pupil is unsuccessful in the Year 6 pre-test, they may sit the Year 7 pre-test. The pre-tests take place in the latter part of the Autumn term of either Year 6 or 7. Both tests consist of English, Maths and Reasoning papers. The English paper is made up of both comprehension and creative writing, whilst the Maths paper is a mix of basic calculations and problem-solving, and is non-calculator. The Reasoning paper uses a mix of verbal and non-verbal style multiple choice questions to assess the child’s ability. Success in these pre-tests means being invited to an interview with Hampton School staff, which will take place in the early part of the Spring term. Offers for 13+ entry are sent out shortly after this and must be accepted promptly.
16+ Entry to Hampton School
16+ entry to Hampton School is possible through a staged process. Following application, prospective pupils are asked to write a personal statement with details of their interest in Hampton School. This is accompanied by a report from their current school. The second stage is an assessment day in the Autumn Term of Year 11 which consists of Reasoning (verbal, non-verbal and spatial) and papers in three of the candidate’s proposed A-Level subjects. The third stage is an interview with senior staff, after which offers are sent out. These offers are usually conditional on specific GCSE grades being achieved.
Scholarship and Bursaries at Hampton School
Scholarships are available at Hampton School. A small fee remission of between 5% and 15% is attached to each scholarship. At 11+ and 13+, scholarships are available in Art, Chess, Music, Performing Arts and Sport alongside Academic awards. Choral awards are also available at 11+ only. Academic scholarships are awarded following the entrance exams at 11+ and 13+; other scholarships are by application, assessment and interview.
Bursaries are available at Hampton School for entry at 11+, 13+ and 16+. They are means-tested and involve a staged application process including an interview and home visit. There are specific named awards with associated conditions including awards which offer 100% fee remission.
