City of London School
Independent Day · Est. 1442
Diverse, dynamic, and brilliantly unpretentious. CLS lacks the stuffiness of traditional boarding schools and instead breeds sharp, independent, and socially aware young men deeply embedded in the life of the capital.
One of the most accessible independent schools in the UK by transport — and one of the least accessible by academic standard. CLS boys grow up fast, in the best possible way.
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Year 7 Places
~85
annual intake
Termly Fee
£9,462
per term, inc. VAT (2025/26)
Total Pupils
~1,060
boys, day school
Founded
1442
one of London's oldest schools
Oxbridge
~20–25%
of leavers annually
Bursaries
100%
max fee coverage available
Best For
Intellectually curious, socially confident boys who want a rigorous academic environment at the heart of the City — one that rewards original thinking, quick wit, and the ability to engage with the real world from day one.
Watch Out For
The registration deadline is typically the first week of November in Year 6 — earlier than many families expect. There is no dedicated Maths paper in the entrance exam; mathematical ability is assessed only through NVR and quantitative reasoning. Any percentage pass marks circulating online are invalid for a bespoke ranking exam.
Entry Points
- 11+ (main intake, ~85 places); small 10+ and 13+ intakes; 16+ Sixth Form entry
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:
Key Dates At-a-Glance — CLS 11+ Entry
- 1
Open Events
September / October, Year 6
- 2
Registration deadline
Early November, Year 6
- 3
Entrance Assessment Day
Late November, Year 6
- 4
Interviews (shortlisted)
January, Year 6
- 5
Offer letters sent
February
- 6
Acceptance deadline
Early March
The CLS Exam: Bespoke, Two-Part, and Unlike Any Other London School
City of London School uses a completely bespoke entrance assessment — not ISEB, not CEM, not the London Consortium. The two-part structure is distinctive: a 105-minute computerised cognitive test covering reasoning across three modes, followed by a separate 30-minute handwritten creative writing task. There is no standalone Maths paper.
Online Assessment
105 minutes · Computerised reasoning test across three sections
Boys who only practise Maths and English papers for other schools arrive at CLS unprepared. The online test covers no traditional curriculum content — it tests reasoning, logic, and pattern recognition at pace. Without specific preparation on the exact CLS format, strong pupils can significantly underperform.
Creative Writing
30 minutes · Handwritten narrative response to a given prompt
The creative writing task is handwritten under time pressure — 30 minutes for a complete narrative. Boys who only ever type their written work are at a serious disadvantage. Speed, legibility, and the ability to plan then execute in a very short window are all tested simultaneously.
Topic Difficulty & Weight
Difficulty (%) and exam weight by topic area
Key takeaway:
Topic Breakdown
Known Exam Traps — Online Assessment
The pattern: Boys who only practise Maths and English papers for other schools arrive at CLS unprepared. The online test covers no traditional curriculum content — it tests reasoning, logic, and pattern recognition at pace. Without specific preparation on the exact CLS format, strong pupils can significantly underperform.
If you can only improve in one area, make it
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
Online Assessment
#2
Creative Writing
Results & League Table Position
CLS 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
Not published
Public A-Level breakdown not published.
A-Level A*/A Rate
Not published
Use the narrative summary below.
GCSE Attainment 8
Not published
Public GCSE breakdown not published.
A-Level A*-B Rate
Not published
CLS consistently places in the top 15–20 boys' schools nationally on GCSE and A-Level league tables. A-Level results of 75% A*/A and GCSE results of 96% grade 9–7 (A-A*) put it firmly in the upper tier of London independents — with the caveat that these outcomes are achieved by a highly selected intake from an exceptionally competitive process.
A-Level Results vs National Average
CLS vs England average (%)
What this means: ~75% A*/A at A-Level, ~95% A*/B. Approximately 20–25% of leavers go to Oxford or Cambridge each year — one of the highest rates of any London day school. A growing cohort heads to US universities, supported by a dedicated university counselling programme.
GCSE Grade Distribution
CLS vs National distribution (%)
What this means: ~96% grade 9–7 at GCSE (the equivalent of the old A-A*). The national average for grade 9–7 is approximately 29%. Boys are taught in sets in most subjects from Year 9.
University Destinations
Where CLS leavers go — % of cohort
Notable Academic Achievements
96% GCSE grade 9–7 (2024)
One of the strongest GCSE profiles in London. 96% of results were graded 9, 8, or 7 — the equivalent of the old A* and A grades.
~20–25% to Oxbridge annually
A consistently high Oxbridge rate for a London day school, achieved without the boarder advantage of the great country schools.
Transformational Bursaries
One of the most generous financial aid programmes in UK independent education — up to 100% of fees including travel and uniform for families with limited means.
Thames-side campus
Unique central London position beside the Millennium Bridge, adjacent to the Globe Theatre, with St Paul's Cathedral as its backdrop — no other independent school in England has this setting.
Founded 1442
One of the oldest schools in England, originally founded by John Carpenter, Town Clerk of London, with a historic mission to educate gifted boys regardless of background.
Top 15 nationally at GCSE and A-Level
Consistent top-tier league table performance without the pastoral advantage of full boarding or the selective intake concentration of the very hardest London day schools.
League Table Position: CLS consistently places in the top 15–20 boys' schools nationally on GCSE and A-Level league tables. A-Level results of 75% A*/A and GCSE results of 96% grade 9–7 (A-A*) put it firmly in the upper tier of London independents — with the caveat that these outcomes are achieved by a highly selected intake from an exceptionally competitive process.
The CLS Interview: Curiosity, Not Performance
Only shortlisted boys — those who performed strongest in the November assessment — are invited back for interview in January. The interview is 1:1 with a member of staff and focuses entirely on intellectual curiosity, character, and how a boy thinks when challenged. CLS is specifically not looking for polished or tutored answers.
Format
1:1 with a member of academic or senior staff
Duration
Approximately 20 minutes
Role in Admissions
Eliminatory — a strong pass is required
Teachability Is the Core Criterion
CLS interviewers are looking for boys who are intellectually alive and genuinely teachable — not boys who have memorised impressive-sounding answers. A brain-teaser or short reading passage is frequently introduced to see how the boy thinks through an unfamiliar problem in real time. The willingness to say 'I don't know, but let me think about it' and then actually think is valued far more than a confident wrong answer.
What Makes a Strong Impression
Genuine intellectual curiosity — a boy who asks questions back, or follows a thought somewhere unexpected, makes a strong impression. So does appropriate self-correction: a boy who changes his mind mid-answer when he catches an error is showing exactly the intellectual honesty CLS values. Politeness and articulacy are baseline expectations, not differentiators.
Topics Consistently Covered
Compiled from parent reports (2023-2025)
- A book he is currently reading — what it's about, what he finds interesting about it
- A brain-teaser or logic puzzle presented in the room, to be worked through aloud
- A short passage read at the start and then discussed — what it means, what the writer is doing
- His interests and what he genuinely spends his time on outside school
- Why CLS specifically — they expect some genuine knowledge of the school, not generic flattery
- Current affairs or a topic of general interest — to assess breadth of reading and awareness
The pattern: Warm and conversational, but with a clear intellectual edge. The interviewer will deliberately introduce material the boy has not seen before to assess his response to the unfamiliar. A single follow-up question ('Why?' or 'Are you sure?') is typically used to test whether an initial answer is the boy's real thinking or a prepared script.
Never Asked — Don't Over-Prepare
- Standard 'strengths and weaknesses' questions
- GCSE or A-Level subject preferences
- Career aspirations
- Anything designed to test factual curriculum knowledge
What Actually Wins Offers
- 1Reads widely — fiction and non-fiction — and can talk about what he has read
- 2Has a genuine, specific interest he can discuss in depth
- 3Comfortable sitting with uncertainty and working through problems aloud
- 4Has visited the school and can speak specifically to what attracted him to CLS
“My son was given a short logic puzzle during the interview. He got it wrong initially, then corrected himself halfway through. He got an offer. The school told us later they liked how he thought it through rather than giving up.”
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 + sources including official documents, parent reports, and tutoring industry data.This is the intelligence that gives ClassAce families an edge.
There is no Maths paper — mathematical ability is tested differently
CLS does not include a standalone Maths exam. Mathematical reasoning is tested through the NVR section (pattern and spatial thinking) and the Puzzles & Problem Solving section (logical deduction, number patterns). Boys prepared primarily with past Maths papers from other schools will find these sections unfamiliar. Redirect preparation towards digital NVR and logic puzzles.
The creative writing task is handwritten — most prep schools no longer teach this
The 30-minute creative writing task is done by hand with pen and paper, not on a computer. In an era where most children compose everything on keyboards, practising handwritten narrative at pace is a specific skill that must be trained. A poorly formed, slow handwriter will lose time and cognitive bandwidth at a critical moment.
CLS contacts your son's current Headteacher immediately after the November deadline
The confidential reference from the current school is requested as soon as registration closes. Ensure your son's Headteacher knows about and supports the CLS application before you submit it. A lukewarm or surprised reference — from a school that did not know the boy was applying to CLS — can cause problems.
Transformational Bursaries can cover 100% of fees — including travel and uniform
CLS has one of the most generous financial aid programmes in UK independent education. 'Transformational Bursaries' are fully means-tested and can cover the full termly fee of £9,462 plus travel costs and uniform for families with limited financial means. Bursary interest must be declared on the registration form — it cannot be added afterwards.
The interviewer will give your son a problem he cannot have prepared for
CLS interviewers deliberately introduce an unfamiliar element — a brain-teaser, a short passage, a lateral thinking problem — to see how the boy handles genuine uncertainty. The boy who says 'I'm not sure, but if I think about it like this...' and works through it scores better than the boy who gives a confident rehearsed answer. Teach him to think aloud, not to perform.
No mandatory Saturday school — weekends are genuinely free
Unlike many boys' independents of this calibre, CLS does not run compulsory Saturday lessons. Weekend sports fixtures exist but are voluntary. This is a meaningful quality-of-life difference for families who value weekends, and it is unusual at this level of school.
Common Mistakes Parents Make
The errors we see most often from families preparing for City of London School. Avoid these and you're already ahead of the majority of applicants.
Preparing only with ISEB or CEM materials
CLS uses a completely bespoke assessment. Evidence of ISEB being used by CLS comes from confusion with City of London School for Girls — a different school entirely. Boys who spend their preparation time on ISEB adaptive tests or CEM papers will arrive underprepared for the specific format of the CLS assessment, particularly the Puzzles & Problem Solving section.
Missing the early November registration deadline
The deadline typically falls in the first week of November — earlier than most other London independents. Families who discover CLS in October and assume they have a few more weeks are regularly caught out. Registration requires an online form, birth certificate, and payment — it cannot be done in a rush on the last day.
Not telling the current Headteacher about the CLS application
CLS requests a confidential reference from the current school immediately after the November deadline. A Headteacher who is surprised to receive this request, or who is ambivalent about the application, may write a reference that does not serve the candidate well. Have this conversation early.
Treating the bursary as a post-offer consideration
Transformational Bursary interest must be declared on the registration form. The bursary assessment process runs in parallel with the admissions process — not after an offer is received. Families who do not declare bursary interest at registration will not be considered in the same cohort and will have to reapply the following year.
Ignoring handwriting in preparation
The creative writing task is handwritten under time pressure. Boys who compose everything digitally — which is most Year 6 pupils — often write significantly more slowly by hand and find the physical task cognitively demanding in a way that undermines performance. Specific handwriting-under-time-pressure practice is non-optional for candidates with keyboard-heavy prep school backgrounds.
Preparing for a Maths paper that does not exist
There is no standalone Maths paper at CLS 11+. Mathematical preparation should focus on NVR (pattern recognition, spatial reasoning) and puzzle-style problem solving — not arithmetic, fractions, algebra, or geometry. Time spent on traditional Maths topics is largely wasted relative to the actual assessment.
CLS vs Competitor Schools
How does City of London School compare to the schools your child is most likely also applying to? This analysis covers the key factors that actually matter to families.
Important context: CLS is the only selective boys' independent in central London with its own bespoke exam. It sits between the extreme selectivity of St Paul's and Westminster and the broader intake of schools like Hampton. The urban Thames-side setting and Transformational Bursary programme are genuinely distinctive at this level.
| Factor | FeaturedCity of London School | St Paul's School | Westminster School | King's College School | University College School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Type | Independent Day (Boys) | Independent Day (Boys) | Day/Board (Boys) | Independent Day (Boys) | Independent Day (Boys) |
| Co-educational | |||||
| VR in Exam | |||||
| Annual Fee | £28,386 | ~£30,000 | ~£33,000 | ~£27,000 | ~£26,000 |
| 11+ Difficulty | Very Hard | Extremely Hard | Extremely Hard | Very Hard | Hard |
| Interview Style | 1:1 after own exam | 1:1 after own exam | 1:1 after own exam | Group + 1:1 after ISEB | 1:1 after own exam |
Why Parents Choose CLS
- The most distinctive daily environment of any boys' school in the countryGoing to school by the Thames, under St Paul's Cathedral, in the financial heart of the capital — this shapes boys in ways that a campus school simply cannot replicate. CLS boys are urban, independent, and culturally literate in a way that is genuinely unusual.
- Transformational Bursaries make CLS genuinely accessibleNo other school at this academic level in London has a more generous financial aid programme. Bursaries covering 100% of fees, travel, and uniform exist — and are awarded to boys from families who would never otherwise consider an independent school. The socioeconomic diversity this creates is a real part of the school's character.
- Strong academic results without the hothouse atmosphere75% A*/A at A-Level and 96% grade 9–7 at GCSE — achieved in a school that explicitly values breadth, wellbeing, and the 'grounded' character of its boys as much as results. Parents consistently describe a school that challenges without crushing.
- No mandatory Saturday schoolA genuinely rare feature at this level. Weekends are the boys' own. This is a material quality-of-life benefit for families and removes the implicit pressure of Saturday academic sessions.
- Oxbridge and US university outcomes comparable to schools with far higher fees~20–25% to Oxbridge annually, with a growing US track record. These outcomes are produced by a day school without boarding, without a sixth-form-only intake strategy, and with one of the most diverse cohorts in the top tier of London boys' independents.
Points to Consider
- The bespoke exam catches families who prepare for the wrong testEvery year, well-prepared boys arrive at CLS having done extensive ISEB or CEM preparation — tests that are irrelevant to the CLS assessment. The specific NVR-VR-Puzzles format plus handwritten creative writing requires dedicated, format-specific preparation that most tutors do not automatically provide.
- The early November deadline is genuinely earlier than most families expectMany families discover CLS in October and assume the deadline is in January with the other London independents. It is not. Early November means the form, birth certificate, and payment all need to be ready within days of discovering the school.
- The school is harder to get into than its position in league tables suggestsCLS's ~5:1 competition ratio at 11+ is at the same level as KCS and Westminster. It is not a fallback from the very hardest schools — it is one of those schools. Families who treat it as a safety option alongside St Paul's and Westminster may be unpleasantly surprised.
Scholarships & Financial Support
CLS is most notable for its Transformational Bursary programme — one of the most generous in UK independent education — rather than for traditional academic scholarships. Financial support is means-tested and can cover the entire cost of a CLS education for families with genuine need.
| Scholarship Type | Value | Available Places | Selection Method | Stackable? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Scholarship (Music) | Partial fee reduction (amount not published) | Small number per year | Assessed separately — contact admissions for current details | Yes |
| Transformational Bursary | Up to 100% of fees + travel + uniform in exceptional cases | Available to all eligible applicants | Means-tested household income assessment — must be declared at registration | No |
* Bursary interest must be declared on the registration form. It cannot be added after registration closes. The assessment process runs in parallel with admissions.
The Preparation Roadmap
Everything here is built around City of London School's specific exam format, interview style, and selection criteria. This is not generic 11+ advice. Every recommendation is calibrated to this school.
Year 5 (age 9–10)
- Identify the CLS exam format and begin familiarisation — no ISEB or CEM preparation applies
- Build consistent reading habits: fiction, non-fiction, newspapers. Wide vocabulary develops naturally through wide reading
- Begin handwriting by hand regularly — do not allow all writing to be digital
- Introduce logic puzzles and lateral thinking games: brain teasers, Sudoku variants, code-breaking
- Visit CLS if possible — attend an open event to see the campus and understand the school's character
Year 6 (September–October)
- Begin structured NVR practice on-screen — all major NVR question types across digital platforms
- Begin VR practice — word codes, analogies, antonyms/synonyms, sentence completion
- Practise handwritten creative writing under timed conditions weekly: 25 minutes of writing, 2 minutes planning, 3 minutes checking
- Focus vocabulary-building on high-register words useful in narrative writing
- Attend the CLS Open Event — bring genuine questions about the school, curriculum, and student life
- Tell the current Headteacher about the CLS application — this needs to happen before the November deadline
- Register by early November: complete the online form, prepare the birth certificate, have the registration fee ready
Year 6 (November) — Assessment Day
- Complete all digital NVR, VR, and Puzzles & Problem Solving practice ahead of the late November assessment
- Ensure comfort with the on-screen interface — do a full timed practice sitting in computer conditions the week before
- Practice the creative writing planning routine until it is automatic: 2-minute plan → write → check
- On assessment day: work methodically through the online test, do not leave sections blank, allocate effort evenly across NVR, VR, and Puzzles
Year 6 (December–January) — Interview Preparation
- If shortlisted for January interview: stop doing past papers and focus on conversation
- Read one challenging book and be able to discuss it — what happens, why it is interesting, what the author is doing
- Practise thinking aloud with brain-teasers — the goal is to narrate the reasoning, not just produce an answer
- Research CLS specifically: what makes it distinct from other schools? The boy should be able to answer this in his own words
- Mock interview in a formal setting — different room, different adult, unexpected questions
You now know things about this school most applicant families never find out.
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Updated · sources
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Measures how much of the admissions picture is directly evidenced rather than inferred from comparable schools or legacy material.
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This edition was last checked recently. Recency scores fall when public evidence ages or current-cycle detail is sparse.
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Near CLS
Schools nearby
St Jude's Church of England Primary School
Primary · 1.8km away
Notre Dame Catholic Girls' School
Secondary · 1.8km away
Ark Globe Academy
All-through · 1.9km away
London College of Printing & Distributive Trades
Miscellaneous · 2.0km away
King's College London Maths School
16 plus · 2.0km away
Imperial Oak School
Independent · 2.1km away