At Danes Hill School we pride ourselves in being an essentially non-selective school and our admissions process is designed to identify children who are able to benefit from our balanced and well-rounded education. An offer of a place will be made if we feel Danes Hill is the right school for your child. We have a straight forward admissions process whether you are joining our Nursery, Pre-prep or Prep School. We hope this step-by-step guide will help you understand the process. Claire Walsh, our Registrar will be your first point of contact and is happy to answer any questions you may have.
Admissions
Step 1: Initial Enquiry
If you are considering Danes Hill as the school for your child, or would just like some more information, please contact Claire, via phone +44 (0) 1372 849203, or by email registrar@daneshillschool.co.uk. You can order a copy of our School Prospectus which gives parents a taste of the principles and values that form the basis on which Danes Hill is run.
Step 2: Tour of the School
If you’re impressed by what Danes Hill has to offer, the next and most important step is to visit the school in person. It’s the best way to get a true sense of the environment and decide whether it feels like the right fit for your child. Whenever possible, we encourage you to bring your child along, as their comfort and instincts are a vital part of the decision-making process.
Our individual tours take place daily at 10am and 2pm, and can cover either both the Pre-Prep and Prep schools or each site separately. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet our new Head, Colin Baty, for a conversation about the school, its ethos, and our vision for the future.
If you are enquiring from overseas we would be delighted to arrange a MS Teams call instead.
Step 3: Registering Your Child
While some parents are eager to register their child immediately after the tour, we always encourage them to take some time to reflect. Choosing the right school is a significant decision, and it’s important that you feel completely confident that Danes Hill is the right fit for your child.
Once you’ve made your final decision, please complete the online Registration Form and submit the £150 non-refundable registration fee. Registrations are reviewed by the Head in the order they are received, so we recommend registering promptly to avoid disappointment. If you have any further questions, we are always happy to help via phone or email.
Step 4: Offer Letters
Places in our Nursery and Reception are allocated on a first come first served basis therefore, so long as there is a place you will receive an offer letter upon registration.
For children joining in Year 1 and above, we ask for recent school reports. While Danes Hill is a non-selective school, we invite children to attend an Assessment Morning, which is part of their Taster Day. This is not only an opportunity to assess their Maths and English skills, but also to understand them as a whole—how they interact with peers and how we can best support their development and help them reach their full potential. The assessment is designed to be warm and welcoming, ensuring that children feel comfortable and at ease throughout the morning.
Step 5: Accept Your Child’s Place
Once your child have been formally offered a place at Danes Hill School we ask for a £1000 acceptance deposit up to 12 months in advance. Once their place has been accepted we send out one of our Welcome Packs and arrange an Induction Day. Our staff ensure that new pupils are made to feel really welcome from day one of their time at the school. Depending on their age, this might include another pupil being allocated as their ’buddy’ to help them find their feet. Our parent body, Friends of Danes Hill (the FODH), are equally welcoming to new parents and there are plenty of opportunities and events for new Danes Hill families to immerse themselves quickly into the school community.
