City of London Freemen's School
Independent Co-educational Day & Boarding School · Est. 1854
City of London Freemen's School is delightfully grounded, outdoorsy, and genuinely high-achieving. Backed by the City of London Corporation — one of the world's oldest civic bodies — it carries a deep tradition of social purpose and financial accessibility. The campus is 57 acres of Surrey parkland; the pool is stunning; the CCF is active; the pastoral care is exceptional. But above all, Freemen's is a school for all-rounders who want elite academic results without the toxic hothouse pressure of London's most intense day schools. Children here thrive because they love to learn, not because they're afraid not to. It perfectly suits the energetic, curious, collaborative child who wants a top-tier education while still getting muddy on the sports pitch.
A top-50 independent co-educational school in 57 acres of Surrey parkland, backed by the City of London Corporation, with nationally ranked academic results, outstanding pastoral care, and bursaries covering up to 100% of fees.
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Ashtead Park, Ashtead, Surrey KT21 1ET
11+ Places
50–60
external (Year 7 ~110 total)
Day Fees
~£8,736
per term (Yr 7–8)
Total Pupils
~950
co-educational
Founded
1854
by City of London Corp
A-Level A*/B
92.2%
National Rank #49
GCSE 9-7
81.5%
National Rank #92
Best For
The energetic all-rounder — academically strong, enthusiastic about sport and co-curriculars, and looking for a genuinely collaborative, kind school environment in beautiful Surrey parkland without the pressure-cooker intensity of London's most selective day schools.
Watch Out For
Boarding is not available until Year 9 — Years 7 and 8 are day pupils only. The 11+ includes a group activities assessment that rewards collaborative behaviour; coached, over-rehearsed children tend to underperform. The exam includes NVR which many preps under-prepare for.
Entry Points
- 11+ (main)
- 13+ (ISEB Pre-Test)
- 16+ (Sixth Form)
The Complete Admissions Timeline
Every key date, deadline and decision point — with insider intelligence you won't find on the school website. Click any item to reveal verified insider knowledge.
The critical window: Registration closes in early October — earlier than most Surrey independents. The window from registration to exam is only 4–6 weeks, so preparation must be well underway before you apply.
Open Events
Exploring the magnificent 57-acre Ashtead Park campus in person is highly recommended. Open mornings run throughout the autumn term. The school strongly recommends visiting the year before you intend to apply.
Registration Deadline
The online application form must be submitted by early October, along with a £200 registration fee. Late applications are not accepted.
Entrance Examination
All registered candidates sit Freemen's bespoke written papers at the school: English (comprehension and creative writing), Mathematics (non-calculator), and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Interviews & Group Activities
Shortlisted candidates are invited back for a one-on-one interview with senior academic staff and collaborative group assessment tasks with other candidates.
Offer Letters
Offer letters are dispatched to successful families by late January or early February.
Acceptance Deadline & Deposit
Families must formally confirm acceptance and pay the acceptance deposit by early March.
Key Dates At-a-Glance — 2026/2027 Entry
- 1
Registration closes
Early October (Year 6)
- 2
Entrance examination
November (Year 6)
- 3
Interviews & group activities
January (Year 6)
- 4
Offer letters
Late Jan / Early Feb (Year 6)
- 5
Acceptance deadline
Early March (Year 6)
Inside the Freemen's Entrance Assessment
Freemen's uses its own bespoke papers — not ISEB, CEM, or any third-party provider. This is important: standard adaptive test preparation alone is insufficient. The two-stage process (written papers in November, then interviews and group activities in January) means the school is assessing both academic ability and collaborative character.
Mathematics
~45–60 minutes · Written non-calculator paper
Candidates who rush through the arithmetic questions to get to 'the hard ones' consistently lose easy marks to careless errors. Every question in the first section is a guaranteed mark if approached carefully. Slow down, check, then accelerate.
English
~60 minutes (reading + writing combined) · Written comprehension + creative writing paper
The most common failure is surface-level comprehension answers with no textual evidence. Freemen's markers require a quote or specific reference for every inference answer. Additionally, the creative writing prompt rewards risk-taking — safe, predictable plots consistently underperform.
Non-Verbal Reasoning
~30–45 minutes · Written NVR paper (multiple choice)
Starting NVR preparation too late is the defining mistake. NVR skills improve with pattern exposure, not curriculum revision — you need volume of practice over several months, not intensive cramming in the final week. Begin a NVR workbook at least 3 months before November.
Group Activities
Interview ~15–20 min + group activities ~25–30 min · One-to-one interview + observed group activities
Over-coaching for the group activities is counter-productive. Children who arrive with 'leadership scripts' appear unnatural and are spotted immediately. Freemen's wants to see genuine collaborative instincts, not a performance. Build real group confidence through team sports and drama, not rehearsed lines.
Topic Difficulty & Weight
Difficulty (%) and exam weight by topic area
Key takeaway: A strictly non-calculator written paper covering KS2 arithmetic through to multi-step problem-solving. Method marks are awarded even when the final answer is wrong — always show every step of working. Mental arithmetic confidence is the single biggest differentiator.
Topic Breakdown
Known Exam Traps — Mathematics
Method marks are awarded even with a wrong final answer — always write every step of working, even for simple problems
A working attempt with the wrong answer still scores partial credit. A blank scores zero. Attempt every question even when unsure
Move on after 90 seconds if stuck and return later — early careless errors on easy questions are the biggest mark-loser
Long division, fraction operations, and percentage calculations must be fluent by hand — practice these exclusively without calculators for 3+ months before the exam
The pattern: Candidates who rush through the arithmetic questions to get to 'the hard ones' consistently lose easy marks to careless errors. Every question in the first section is a guaranteed mark if approached carefully. Slow down, check, then accelerate.
If you can only improve in one area, make it
Mental Arithmetic & Shown Working
What this means in practice:
Dedicate 60%+ of prep time to this area
Practice under timed conditions regularly
Review mistakes immediately after each session
Track progress weekly to spot patterns
All focus areas ranked by impact:
#1
Mental Arithmetic & Shown Working
Mathematics
#2
Inference with Evidence & Creative Risk
English
#3
Systematic NVR Practice (Start Early)
Non-Verbal Reasoning
#4
Genuine Collaboration & Listening
Group Activities
Results & League Table Position
Freemen's consistently ranks among the top co-educational schools in England. These figures are benchmarked against national averages so you can see the full picture.
A-Level A* Rate
29%
National rank #49
A-Level A*/A Rate
71.3%
Use the narrative summary below.
GCSE Grade 9-7
81.5%
National rank #92.
A-Level A*-B Rate
92.2%
Freemen's consistently sits in the top 50 for A-Level and top 100 for GCSE nationally — excellent for a co-educational day and boarding school that actively prioritises wellbeing alongside academic rigour.
A-Level Results vs National Average
Freemen's vs England average (%)
What this means: Freemen's A-Level results are exceptional for a genuinely co-educational, non-hothouse school — 29.0% A*, 71.3% A*/A, and 92.2% A*/B places it in the national top 50. These are results achieved through outstanding teaching and motivated pupils, not relentless pressure.
GCSE Grade Distribution
Freemen's vs National distribution (%)
What this means: 81.5% grades 9-7 at GCSE (Rank 92 nationally) reflects consistent, high-quality teaching across the full curriculum. The school is deliberately not ultra-selective at entry, making these results particularly impressive.
University Destinations
Where Freemen's leavers go — % of cohort
Notable Academic Achievements
A-Level National Rank #49
92.2% A*/B — consistently top-50 nationally
City of London Corporation
Backed by one of the world's oldest civic institutions; bursaries up to 100%
57-Acre Parkland Campus
25m pool, CCF, extensive sports — genuine all-round provision
Outstanding Pastoral Care
Consistently praised for wellbeing, staff warmth, and collaborative community culture
League Table Position: Freemen's consistently sits in the top 50 for A-Level and top 100 for GCSE nationally — excellent for a co-educational day and boarding school that actively prioritises wellbeing alongside academic rigour.
What Freemen's Is Really Looking For
The Freemen's interview is one-to-one with a senior member of staff and is designed to be a genuine conversation, not a formal examination. The group activities that follow are where many candidates trip up — these are specifically designed to observe collaborative behaviour and are taken seriously by assessors.
Format
One-on-one interview with senior staff + group collaborative activities with other candidates
Duration
Interview: ~15–20 min. Group activities: ~20–30 min.
Role in Admissions
Part of a holistic assessment, not a pass/fail gate
What Makes a Strong Impression
Compiled from parent reports (2023-2025)
The pattern:
Contact Admissions
City of London Freemen's School Admissions Team
Insider Intel: What Other Parents Don't Know
These are the verified insights you will not find on the school website, in Good Schools Guide, or from any single tutoring agency. Each insight is compiled and cross-referenced from 68+ sources including official documents, parent reports, and tutoring industry data.This is the intelligence that gives ClassAce families an edge.
Request Freemen's own sample papers directly
Freemen's sets its own bespoke papers — Bond, CGP, and other standard 11+ materials do not replicate the exam format. Contact admissions directly for sample papers and use these as primary practice resources.
The group activities are actively scored — not just observed
Many parents believe the group activities are simply a 'getting-to-know-you' social exercise. In reality, staff are actively scoring collaborative behaviour: listening, contributing, supporting quieter children, and handling disagreement constructively.
NVR is a full dedicated paper — not a tack-on
Non-Verbal Reasoning is a separate paper with its own time allocation. Many preps spend very little time on NVR, leaving candidates unprepared. Begin dedicated NVR workbook practice at least 3–4 months before the exam.
The school reference carries significant weight
Freemen's places greater-than-average weight on the confidential report from the child's current school. Behavioural consistency, attitude to learning, and community contribution matter as much as exam performance.
Registration closes in early October — earlier than most Surrey schools
Most Surrey independents have October or November registration deadlines. Freemen's early October cutoff catches many families off-guard. Set a calendar reminder for late September and submit early.
Common Mistakes Parents Make
The errors we see most often from families preparing for City of London Freemen's School. Avoid these and you're already ahead of the majority of applicants.
Preparing only with Bond/CGP 11+ practice books
Freemen's own papers have a specific style and difficulty calibration that third-party materials don't replicate. Candidates who only use standard 11+ books are practicing for a different exam. Always request and use the school's own sample papers.
Treating the group activities as a performance opportunity
Children who arrive with scripted 'leadership' behaviours or try to dominate the group to appear impressive typically underperform. Freemen's staff are experienced at spotting coached behaviour. Natural collaborative instincts beat performance every time.
Skipping dedicated NVR practice
NVR is a full dedicated paper with its own time pressure. Candidates who haven't practiced NVR under timed conditions regularly lose marks that could have been gained with straightforward preparation.
Underestimating the school reference
Families sometimes forget that the teacher's report is one of several factors considered holistically. A brilliant exam performance can be undermined by a reference that raises concerns about attitude or behaviour. Ensure your child's teacher can write enthusiastically and specifically about them.
Freemen's vs Competitor Schools
How does City of London Freemen's School compare to the schools your child is most likely also applying to? This analysis covers the key factors that actually matter to families.
| Factor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Type | Co-educational, Day & Boarding | Boys, Day & Boarding | Co-educational, Day & Boarding | Co-educational, Day |
| Co-educational | ||||
| VR in Exam | ||||
| Annual Fee | ||||
| 11+ Difficulty | ||||
| Interview Style |
Why Parents Choose Freemen's
Points to Consider
Scholarships & Financial Support
| Scholarship Type | Value | Available Places | Selection Method | Stackable? |
|---|
The Preparation Roadmap
Everything here is built around City of London Freemen's School's specific exam format, interview style, and selection criteria. This is not generic 11+ advice. Every recommendation is calibrated to this school.
12+ months out
- Attend a Freemen's open morning — essential for understanding the school's culture and ethos
- Contact admissions to request sample papers for Maths, English, and NVR
- Begin wide reading: Freemen's English values genuine intellectual engagement with books
- Develop collaborative group skills through team sports, drama, scouts — genuine habits, not coaching
6–12 months out
- Begin systematic NVR practice with a dedicated workbook (Bond NVR or similar) — at least 20 minutes, twice weekly
- Practice Maths without a calculator: mental arithmetic, long multiplication/division, fractions and percentages
- Work through Freemen's sample English papers, focusing on inference questions and personal response
- Read a mix of fiction and non-fiction — Freemen's comprehension passages can be from any genre
3–6 months out
- Sit timed full practice papers (Maths ~50 min, English ~60 min, NVR ~30 min)
- Review school reference: ensure your child's current teacher is aware of the application and can write positively
- Practice informal conversation about genuine interests — not scripted interview Q&A
- Build self-awareness: can your child describe what they're good at, what they find hard, and what they enjoy most?
1–3 months out
- Final timed mock papers — aim for consistency, not perfection
- Light preparation for group activities: discuss teamwork, what makes a good collaborator, how to handle disagreement
- Mock interview as a relaxed conversation — focus on natural confidence, not rehearsed answers
- Confirm logistics: transport to school on exam day, what to bring, where to go
Exam day (November)
- Maths: show all working — method marks available even if the final answer is wrong
- English comprehension: evidence every inference with a quote or reference from the text
- English writing: plan for 3–5 minutes before writing — structure improves marks significantly
- NVR: move on quickly if stuck; return at the end — no penalty for attempts
- Stay calm — the exam environment at Freemen's is designed to be welcoming, not intimidating
Interview day (January)
- One-on-one interview: be yourself; answer from genuine experience, not scripts
- Group activities: listen actively, contribute constructively, build on others' ideas
- Help quieter group members participate — staff notice and reward inclusive behaviour
- Handle disagreement calmly and respectfully — it will likely arise in group tasks
You now know things about this school most applicant families never find out.
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Intelligence Score
Updated April 2026 · 68 sources
Coverage
Measures how much of the admissions picture is directly evidenced rather than inferred from comparable schools or legacy material.
Freshness
This edition was last checked April 2026. Recency scores fall when public evidence ages or current-cycle detail is sparse.
Use it well
Treat lower-scoring areas as prompts to verify with admissions, not as automatic red flags. The score is about evidence quality, not school quality.
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