Independent school entry dates 2026–27
Every upcoming registration, test, bursary and offer date in our school guides, month by month. Each one links to the school's own page.
Checked against the schools' own pages, most recently on . Always confirm with the school before you rely on a date.
October 2026
ISEB Pre-Test window at schools
St Paul's School13+13+
Source: stpaulsschool.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
October to November 2026
November 2026
Registration and bursary deadlineDeadline
Hampton School13+13+
Source: hamptonschool.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
Registration closesDeadline
Sevenoaks School13+13+ Later Decision
Source: sevenoaksschool.org · checked 21 October 2026
noon
Registration closesDeadline
Dulwich College10+11+13+10+, 11+, 13+
Source: dulwich.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
noon
Registration closesDeadline
King's College School11+13+11+, 13+
Source: kcs.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
Registration closesDeadline
Haberdashers' Boys' School11+13+11+, 13+
Online; £150 non-refundable fee (£200 overseas). Deferred 11+ must be chosen before this date
Source: habselstree.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
Scholarship application deadlineDeadline
Haberdashers' Boys' School11+13+11+, 13+
Forms for art, drama, music, sport and (13+ only) design and technology; academic scholarships need no form
Source: habselstree.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
Open morning
St Albans School11+13+11+, 13+
Book through the school's visit page
Source: st-albans.herts.sch.uk · checked 21 October 2026
Registration closesDeadline
St Albans School11+13+11+, 13+
Online via OpenApply; £150 + VAT, non-refundable. Bursary applicants should contact Admissions before applying
Source: st-albans.herts.sch.uk · checked 21 October 2026
Bursary application deadlineDeadline
King's College School11+13+11+, 13+
Source: kcs.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
ISEB Pre-Test at St Paul's
St Paul's School13+13+
For boys who cannot sit it at school.
Source: stpaulsschool.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
Late November 2026
Bursary application deadlineDeadline
Haberdashers' Boys' School13+13+
Source: habselstree.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
ISEB pre-test window endsDeadline
Sevenoaks School13+13+ Early Decision
Window 1 September to 27 November 2026.
Source: sevenoaksschool.org · checked 21 October 2026
ISEB pre-test window endsDeadline
Sevenoaks School13+13+ Later Decision
If not already taken in Year 6.
Source: sevenoaksschool.org · checked 21 October 2026
December 2026
Early December 2026
Exam day information emailed to parents
St Albans School13+13+
Source: st-albans.herts.sch.uk · checked 21 October 2026
Assessment Day
St Albans School13+13+
Includes a 1:1 interview
Source: st-albans.herts.sch.uk · checked 21 October 2026
Mid December 2026Date not yet published
Stage one outcome
St Paul's School13+13+
The school's 13+ important-dates page now says "To be confirmed"
Source: stpaulsschool.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
Mid December 2026
Further-test and interview invitations
Westminster School13+13+
Source: westminster.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
January 2027
Assessment day at Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks School13+13+ Early Decision
Source: sevenoaksschool.org · checked 21 October 2026
Written maths and English papers
St Paul's School13+13+
Source: stpaulsschool.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
Early January 2027
Further maths and English tests
Westminster School13+13+
Source: westminster.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
Alternative assessment day, Hong Kong
Sevenoaks School13+13+ Early Decision
Source: sevenoaksschool.org · checked 21 October 2026
Interview invitations emailed
King's College School11+13+11+, 13+
Source: kcs.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
January 2027
Scholarship assessments
St Albans School11+13+11+, 13+
11+: 8–21 January; 13+: 8–27 January, with academic papers on 26 and 27 January
Source: st-albans.herts.sch.uk · checked 21 October 2026
2nd week
Bursary home visits
St Albans School11+13+11+, 13+
Second week of January 2027.
Source: st-albans.herts.sch.uk · checked 21 October 2026
January to February 2027
January 2027
Open day
Westminster School13+13+ · September 2030 entry
Booked through the school's enquiry form
Source: westminster.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
Results emailed
Hampton School13+Year 7 Pre-test
Source: hamptonschool.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
noon
Acceptance deadlineDeadline
Hampton School13+Year 7 Pre-test
Source: hamptonschool.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
Interviews
St Paul's School13+13+
Saturday interviews.
Source: stpaulsschool.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
February 2027
Firm offers
Wycombe Abbey13+13+
By Tuesday 2 February 2027.
Source: wycombeabbey.com · checked 21 October 2026
Early February 2027
Second-stage invitations sent
Sevenoaks School13+13+ Later Decision
Source: sevenoaksschool.org · checked 21 October 2026
Results posted
Dulwich College13+13+
Posted first class on 11 February and emailed on 12 February 2027. Deferred entry results come on the same dates
Source: dulwich.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
Offers emailed
Haberdashers' Boys' School11+13+11+, 13+
Source: habselstree.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
Decisions sent
Sevenoaks School13+13+ Early Decision
Source: sevenoaksschool.org · checked 21 October 2026
w/c 22 Feb
Interview outcomes
St Paul's School13+13+
Week commencing 22 February 2027.
Source: stpaulsschool.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
Offer holder event
Haberdashers' Boys' School13+13+
Source: habselstree.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
Offer holder evening
St Albans School11+13+11+, 13+
Source: st-albans.herts.sch.uk · checked 21 October 2026
Conditional acceptance deadlineDeadline
Haberdashers' Boys' School13+13+
Source: habselstree.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
noon
Acceptance deadlineDeadline
St Albans School13+13+
Source: st-albans.herts.sch.uk · checked 21 October 2026
Post-Offer Taster Day
Sevenoaks School11+13+11+, 13+ Early Decision
Source: sevenoaksschool.org · checked 21 October 2026
By end February 2027
March 2027
Initial acceptance of conditional placeDeadline
King's College School13+13+
Source: kcs.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
noon
Acceptance deadlineDeadline
Dulwich College13+Deferred
Source: dulwich.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
Early March 2027Date not yet published
Acceptance and deposit deadlineDeadline
Wycombe Abbey11+13+11+, 13+
£3,500 acceptance deposit; waived for 100% bursary awards. Date to be confirmed by the school
Source: wycombeabbey.com · checked 21 October 2026
Bursary Part B deadlineDeadline
Westminster School13+13+
The second Friday in March of Year 6 (the school's rule)
Source: westminster.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
March to April 2027
Second stage: international locations
Sevenoaks School13+13+ Later Decision
Source: sevenoaksschool.org · checked 21 October 2026
April 2027
Second stage at Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks School13+13+ Later Decision
Boarding candidates arrive on the afternoon of Monday 12 April 2027
Source: sevenoaksschool.org · checked 21 October 2026
April 2027
Registration opens
St Paul's School11+13+11+, 13+ · September 2028 entry
11+ for September 2028 entry; 13+ for September 2030 entry.
Source: stpaulsschool.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
April 2027
Open day
Westminster School13+13+ · September 2030 entry
Source: westminster.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
May 2027
Preliminary assessment
St Albans School13+12+
For Year 7 pupils for whom St Albans is first choice.
Source: st-albans.herts.sch.uk · checked 21 October 2026
Mid May 2027
Results sent
Sevenoaks School13+13+ Later Decision
The school's pages say both mid-May and late May; check with admissions.
Source: sevenoaksschool.org · checked 21 October 2026
June 2027
Registration closesDeadline
Wycombe Abbey11+13+11+, 13+, Deferred · September 2028 entry
School rule: 1 June in the calendar year before entry
Source: wycombeabbey.com · checked 21 October 2026
Mid June 2027
Acceptance deadlineDeadline
Sevenoaks School13+13+ Later Decision
Source: sevenoaksschool.org · checked 21 October 2026
Acceptance deadlineDeadline
St Albans School13+12+
Source: st-albans.herts.sch.uk · checked 21 October 2026
July 2027
From July
ISEB registration opens
St Paul's School11+13+11+, 13+ · September 2028 entry
From July 2027. 11+ for September 2028 entry; 13+ for September 2030 entry.
Source: stpaulsschool.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
September 2027
Bursary applications closeDeadline
Wycombe Abbey11+13+11+, 13+ · September 2028 entry
School rule: 1 September in the calendar year before entry
Source: wycombeabbey.com · checked 21 October 2026
September 2027
Open day
St Paul's School11+13+11+, 13+ · a later entry year
Source: stpaulsschool.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
September 2027
Final open day for Year 6
Westminster School13+13+ · September 2030 entry
Source: westminster.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
Before 1 Oct
Music award applications and recordingsDeadline
Wycombe Abbey11+13+11+, 13+ · September 2028 entry
Before 1 October 2027. School rule: before 1 October in the year before entry.
Source: wycombeabbey.com · checked 21 October 2026
Open morning
Wycombe Abbey11+13+11+, 13+ · a later entry year
Source: wycombeabbey.com · checked 21 October 2026
Registration closesDeadline
Sevenoaks School13+13+ Early Decision · September 2030 entry
Source: sevenoaksschool.org · checked 21 October 2026
Registration closesDeadline
Westminster School13+13+ · September 2030 entry
30 September of Year 6 (the school's rule)
Source: westminster.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
January 2028
January 2028
Acceptance deadlineDeadline
Hampton School13+13+
Source: hamptonschool.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
January 2028
Final acceptance deadlineDeadline
Sevenoaks School13+13+ Early Decision
Source: sevenoaksschool.org · checked 21 October 2026
March 2028
Mid March 2028
Main List acceptance and depositDeadline
St Paul's School13+13+
By mid-March 2028.
Source: stpaulsschool.org.uk · checked 21 October 2026
September 2028
Mid September 2028
Need the full picture for one school?
Each school guide sets out the entry points, the assessment and every date, checked against the school's own pages.