We seek inquisitive, intelligent Pupils who will engage with and enjoy the wide curriculum we offer. Although we use entrance testing, greater emphasis is placed on interview, samples of work and the Pupil’s feeder school report. In some cases, we may ask to visit a Pupil at their current school. Each year group is selected as a cohort in which we strive to identify a balanced mix of boys and girls with different strengths and personal qualities who will support, motivate and inspire one another.
Please follow our Year 7 (11+) admissions process step by step below. For admissions to any other years see our additional information. To read our admissions policy, click here.
We accept Year 7, 8 and 9 Pupils for September 2023. We will be taking Sixth Formers in 2023.
1. Visit Us!
Our Open Events give prospective parents a chance to see the school in action and get a snapshot of a ‘day in the life’ at Maida Vale School (MVS).
Headmaster Steven Winter will give a presentation followed by a tour of the school. Tours are led by senior staff who will be able to answers your questions and give their personal view of the school, its ethos and its character.
2. Registration Form
Complete a Registration Form online and pay the registration fee. You will receive an acknowledgement email from our Admissions Registrar.
3. Interview & Assessment
Maida Vale will be using the ISEB Common Pre-Test. This adaptive, online assessment is normally sat in the child’s current school. If your child's school does not make a provision for the ISEB test, please contact us. Candidates are registered by their parents by completing the ISEB online registration form and emailing their ISEB Applicant ID code to us when applying. Results are available to all senior schools for which the candidate is registered, so the candidate only has to sit one test.
In addition to the Pre-Test, an enhanced confidential reference is requested from the child’s current school, together with internal assessment results and an example of their work.
All applicants are required to attend an informal interview for which they should prepare a 2-3 minute presentation with the Headmaster or Senior staff member. The interview usually consists of three pupils being seen at the same time. This format gives the interview a more relaxed, conversational feel, which we hope puts candidates at ease. Pupils can present on any area of achievement or topic of their choice are encouraged to bring in something visual along with them.
4. Offers
Once all interviews have been conducted, offers are made for places. These are sent out by post in the week commencing Monday 6th February 2023. The deadline date for acceptance of offers is Wednesday 1st March 2023. Offers are held open until this date, after which, places will be offered to those on our reserve list. Offers are held open until this date, after which, places will be offered to those on our reserve list.
For other year groups we will hold examinations and make offers throughout the year.
Pupils will be invited in to the school for our 'offers morning' in February to spend time getting to know our staff and some of our Pupils to experience real life at MVS and meet others who may be joining the school in September.
5. Offer Accepted
Once a place has been confirmed and an offer is accepted, parents are asked to complete an Acceptance Form and pay a deposit by bank transfer. This deposit payment is retained until the pupil comes to the end of their school journey, (e.g. at the end of Year 13 or if they leave the school at an earlier stage). The deposit is thereafter returnable provided we are given a full term’s notice (see terms & conditions). The full deposit of £3000 is also required from successful applicants currently attending the Gardener School Group’s Preparatory schools, Kew Green Preparatory School and Ravenscourt Park Preparatory School.
6. Taster Day
We invite our new Pupils who have accepted a place for an induction day in June to experience life at MVS prior to starting in September. They will familiarise themselves with the school, meet staff members and fellow classmates so that they feel relaxed about starting with us after the Summer break.
Applications for entry 2023
Please contact Harriet Williams, Registrar, by emailing: admissions@maidavaleschool.com and complete the registration form.
Offers to go out in the week commencing Monday 6th February 2023
Deadline for acceptances - Wednesday 1st March 2023
N.B. We are aware that some families may come to us at other dates during the year – where possible, the school will arrange individual assessment days with each family.
Additional Information:
- Class sizes (prior to Year 9 GCSE options) do not usually rise above 22, but if a class is full, parents will be advised about waiting lists and offered the opportunity to put their child on that list until a place becomes available.
- Siblings may be given preference, subject to completing the admissions process and meeting our admissions criteria, at the discretion of the Headmaster. Faced with candidates of equal merit, sibling preference permits the Headmaster to favour one application over another. There is no automatic sibling priority.
- Entry at Year 8 and 9: pupils can be admitted at any stage in the school year if a place becomes available. All admissions are at the discretion of the Headmaster in accordance with the school’s admissions policy and terms and conditions. A decision will be made within 48 hours after interview. There will be a deadline date for the acceptance of an offer.
Sixth Form Admissions - (Our first sixth form cohort will be 2023)