Your Guide to Kensington Prep School (GDST) 4+ Admissions
Kensington Prep is one of London’s most popular independent girls’ prep schools. Students, staff, and parents often affectionately refer to it as ‘Ken Prep’. Parents frequently ask questions, including ‘What is the 4+ assessment?’, ‘How competitive is entry?’, and ‘How do I prepare my child?’. This guide answers these questions and much more!
Blog Contents:
Is Kensington Prep School a Good School? What’s the History of Kensington Prep?
At What Age Does Kensington Prep Start?
What Is the Kensington Prep 4+ Assessment?
How Competitive Is 4+ Entry at Kensington Prep?
How Can Parents Help Their Child Prepare for the Ken Prep 4+ Assessment Day?
Do I need a 4+ tutor? How U2 Tuition Supports Kensington Prep Applicants:
Is Kensington Prep School a Good School? What’s the History of Kensington Prep?
Ken Prep has a reputation as one of the top London Prep Schools.
It’s valued for its nurturing environment, strong academics, stellar music and drama programme, and growing sports provision.
This enables it to fulfil its vision of ‘Growing Great Minds’.
Pupils are well supported, ensuring the school cultivates happy, healthy, curious, and creative minds.
A ‘think can, not can’t’ attitude encourages girls to make mistakes and see them as learning opportunities.
Its facilities are incredible, with an ‘Explore Floor’ for innovation and tech, a Greenhouse, and over an acre of grounds, including sports courts.
In its most recent inspection, the school was rated ‘excellent’, the highest grade.
Parents also offer lots of positive feedback about the school.
The school is the oldest school opened by the GDST:
The GDST – Girls’ Day School Trust – is a network of 26 leading independent girls’ schools, pioneering women’s education, educational innovation, and best practice.
Ken Prep originated under Kensington High School, back in 1873.
At What Age Does Kensington Prep Start?
Kensington Prep starts at 4+, Reception.
This is also the main entry point to the school, alongside 7+.
It educated girls aged 4-11.
Girls are in Pre-Prep from Reception to Year 2 and Prep after that.
Note: Prep school as a label typically includes years 3-9, but Ken Prep only goes up to year 6.
Registration for 4+ is open from birth to September of the year before entry. Learn more here.
What Is the Kensington Prep 4+ Assessment?
Kensington Prep employs a play-based assessment that typically occurs in January of the year your daughter is due to start school.
Girls are invited to the school for a play session that is around an hour long.
It is very relaxed and the environment is similar to that of a small nursery.
Girls are seen in small groups and given short play tasks. These tasks may include:
Using building blocks.
Drawing simple pictures, such as a flower.
Matching picture cards.
Listening to a story.
Responding to questions about what they’re doing.
They are observed for:
School readiness:
Following instructions independently.
Demonstrating an enthusiasm to learn and an openness to completing activities.
Social skills and confidence:
Interaction with teachers and other children.
Communication:
Demonstrating an understanding of what they’re doing, for instance, responding to questions about a story they’ve read together.
Communicating with teachers and other children.
Basic literacy and numeracy abilities appropriate for their age:
They will not be asked to read or write.
They could be asked questions or given tasks that involve recognising numbers from 1-10 or the difference between big and small, same or different.
How Competitive Is 4+ Entry at Kensington Prep?
There is a high demand for around 40 reception places each year.
With almost 3,000 monthly searches for Kensington Prep, it is a popular school with high parent interest.
Although the admissions process is selective, it is also holistic. It doesn’t expect mathematical geniuses or award-winning laureates. It seeks potential over polished performance.
How Can Parents Help Their Child Prepare for the Ken Prep 4+ Assessment Day?
There are several tips for parents to gradually prepare their daughter for a Kensington Prep 4+ admissions day:
Create a calm, positive environment around learning and play.
The day should be about fun and framed as a chance to make new friends or meet new people, rather than a stressful test.
Encourage independence!
Your daughter may be asked to put away her coat, tidy toys, and be asked questions.
She must get used to doing things by herself and following instructions.
Develop pre-school skills.
Integrate some things she learns at nursery or pre-school at home.
This can be done in various ways, including encouraging her to tell stories, asking her questions about the picture books you read together, and completing simple puzzles.
Avoid being overbearing.
Your attitude and mood can impact your child’s, so it’s essential to be relaxed about the process!
Don’t stress about right or wrong answers or ensuring your daughter goes equipped with pre-formulated answers to questions.
Children aren’t expected to read or write during the play session.
Improve your daughter’s confidence in new situations and ensure she is kind and inquisitive.
Schedule regular play dates and ensure she spends time with people her age.
This is a great way to enhance her confidence and independence, and improve her social skills.
Get a tutor!
Want to learn more about how best to integrate preparation into home life, receive a bespoke preparation plan, and improve your daughter’s admissions chances? Get a U2 Tuition 4+ tutor!
Our specialist 4+ tutors in London can help your child feel confident and prepared.
Discover more about our 4+ Tuition here.
Check our U2 Tuition’s Parents’ Guide to 4+ Assessment Day Preparation for more tips.
Do I need a 4+ tutor? How U2 Tuition Supports Kensington Prep Applicants:
Yes! Tutoring can make a massive difference to your daughter’s 4+ application. We ensure she feels confident on the day and boost her chances of success in this competitive process.
At U2 Tuition, we offer:
Expert Early Years tutors who know the Ken prep 4+ entry procedure inside out, being familiar with the structure of the assessment day and what teachers look for.
A fully tailored support plan designed around your daughter’s strengths and areas for development.
A nurturing tutoring style that builds confidence and instils a love of learning, alongside targeted preparation.
Hands-on, face-to-face tutoring in London.
Guidance for parents, with practical strategies and tips you can use at home.
Experience with assessment formats for other top London prep schools and advice on which 4+ schools to apply to.
Use one of our expert 4+ tutors for bespoke preparation support tailored to your daughter’s strengths and development areas. Book a complimentary 20-minute consultation to learn more!
Practical Questions Parents Ask About Kensington Prep
What is the class size at Kensington Prep?
At Ken Prep, year groups of around 40 are split into two classes. This means there are around 20 girls in a class.
There are about 300 girls in the school in total.
What is the curriculum at Kensington Prep?
Kensington Prep describes its curriculum as ‘broad yet balanced’.
The initial focus is on developing strong math and literacy skills.
Girls also study sciences, humanities, the creative arts, sports, and languages.
There are specialist teachers for various subjects, including Music, Science, Computer Science, Philosophy, and Spanish.
Ken Prep equips girls to be academically confident and problem-solving pros.
What are Kensington Prep’s leavers’ destinations?
Girls move on to a range of top Day and Boarding Schools.
In 2025, 25 Year 6 girls won scholarships and awards.
Day Schools that award the highest number of places for Ken Prep Girls:
Francis Holland (both sites)
Godolphin and Latymer
Putney High School
Wimbledon High School GDST
St Paul’s School for Girls
Ibstock Place
City of London
Boarding Schools that award the highest number of places for Ken Prep Girls:
Wycombe Abbey
Wellington College
Brighton College
Downe House
Who is the new Head at Kensington Prep?
Mrs Floyd replaced Mrs Hulme at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year.
What are the fees at Kensington Prep?
Please see this link for up-to-date information about Ken Prep fees.
For 2025-2026, termly school fees were £8704.
There are also charges for extras for trips and educational activities. This changes per year group.
When is the Kensington Prep open day?
Attending open days is a vital aspect of the 4+ application process. They’re a great way to learn more about the school and discover if it would fit your daughter.
Invitations for Ken Prep open days are sent the year before your daughter is eligible to join the school. If she’s registered on the system, you’ll be automatically contacted.
Open Days tend to occur in May, June, and early Autumn of the year before entry.