Latymer Upper School
Independent Co-educational Day School · Est.
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King Street, Hammersmith, London W6 9LR
11+ Places
160–180
largest co-ed intake in London
Term Fees
£8,637
£25,911 per annum
Competition
~9:1
applicants per place
GCSE 9-7
96.5%
2024 results
A-Level A*/A
81.4%
2024 results
Oxbridge
20+
places annually
Best For
An energetic, well-rounded child who excels academically but also wants to row on the Thames, act in a play, or play in a band — and do all three in the same week. Latymer's managed 50/50 balance, world-class bursary programme, and progressive Thames-side campus make it the definitive modern London co-ed.
Watch Out For
The intake of 160–180 is the largest of any 11+ co-ed in London — the school is genuinely big and can feel overwhelming at first. Weekend sports fixtures are expected (rowing regattas especially). The November registration deadline is strict, and bursary applications are due simultaneously — don't miss it.
Entry Points
- 11+ (main entry)
- 13+
- 16+ (sixth form)
- 4+ (prep school via Latymer Prep)
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: Latymer's two-stage process opens with a November registration deadline that is strictly enforced — and uniquely, bursary applications must be submitted at the same time. Stage 1 in December filters the cohort; the genuinely distinctive element is Stage 2 in January, a half-day immersive event that goes far beyond a standard interview.
Open days — visit the Thames-side campus
Registration + £150 fee deadline — bursary applications also due
Stage 1: Bespoke English (80 mins) and Maths (60 mins) written papers at the school
Shortlisting results — Stage 2 invitations issued to successful candidates
Stage 2: Half-day immersive assessment — taster lessons, group activities, 1-to-1 interview
Offer letters dispatched
Acceptance deadline — deposit required to secure place
Key Dates At-a-Glance — Latymer Upper 2026/2027 Entry
Registration + bursary deadline
Early November Year 6
Stage 1: Written Exams
Early December Year 6
Stage 2: Half-day assessment
Mid-January Year 6
Offers issued
Mid-February
Acceptance deadline
Early March
The Latymer Upper 11+ Examination
Latymer Upper sets its own bespoke papers — there is no ISEB Pre-test, no consortium involvement, no multiple-choice. Two written papers (English and Maths) in early December determine who is shortlisted for the Stage 2 half-day assessment. The English paper is longer (80 minutes) and tests stamina alongside analytical and creative skill; the Maths paper (60 minutes) is non-calculator and includes challenging logic puzzles alongside core arithmetic.
English
80 minutes · Comprehension + Story Continuation
Writing a generic, plotted story instead of picking up the exact tone and register of the given opening. Markers reward candidates who match the given voice and develop it with genuine creativity — not those who ignore it and write their own story.
Maths
60 minutes · Non-calculator written paper
Leaving logic puzzles blank because they look unfamiliar. Latymer puzzles are designed to be solved by systematic thinking, not remembered techniques — candidates who write down their reasoning process score even when they don't reach the final answer.
Topic Difficulty & Weight
Difficulty (%) and exam weight by topic area
Key takeaway: 80 minutes. Own bespoke paper. Two sections: reading comprehension (inference and language analysis) and creative writing (story continuation). Latymer explicitly rewards originality, empathy, and a distinctive personal voice — not formulaic writing.
Topic Breakdown
Known Exam Traps — English
Read the given passage twice before writing a word. Your continuation must match the voice, tense, and register of the opening — writing your own story instead is the single most costly mistake.
Use PEE (Point, Evidence, Explain) for every answer and include a direct quotation. Retelling what happened scores close to zero — Latymer wants HOW and WHY the author has written this way.
Predictable openings, cliché similes, and stock characters signal a tutored approach. Practise writing with a genuine personal voice — read widely and notice how authors create atmosphere through unexpected, specific detail.
Target 35 minutes for comprehension and 45 minutes for the continuation. The creative section carries significant weight — practise strictly against the clock so you never have to rush it.
The pattern: Writing a generic, plotted story instead of picking up the exact tone and register of the given opening. Markers reward candidates who match the given voice and develop it with genuine creativity — not those who ignore it and write their own story.
If you can only improve in one area, make it
Voice + inference
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
Voice + inference
English
#2
Logic puzzles + working
Maths
Format
Written paper — comprehension + story continuation
Duration
80 minutes
Answer Method
Handwritten responses
Curriculum baseline: Comprehension passage + story continuation from given opening
Academic Performance vs National Average
consistently outperforms national averages across both GCSE and A-Level examinations. These animated comparisons show where the school excels and how this translates to university placement opportunities.
A-Level Results Comparison
Camp Hill Girls vs. National Average — Higher percentages indicate stronger performance
What this means: Camp Hill Girls consistently exceeds national averages across all A-Level performance bands. With 65% A*/A compared to the national 38%, girls achieve top-tier results that support progression to leading universities, including Oxbridge, Russell Group institutions, and specialist programs in Medicine, Law, and STEM.
GCSE Grade Distribution Comparison
Cumulative percentage achieving each grade threshold — Camp Hill Girls vs. National Average
Grade Distribution Insight: Over 90% of Camp Hill Girls achieve grades 9-7 at GCSE, compared to 31% nationally. This exceptional spread demonstrates consistent high achievement across the cohort, with girls well-prepared for rigorous A-Level study.
Grade 9-8
52%
vs 18% national
Grade 9-7
90%
vs 31% national
Grade 9-6
98%
vs 64% national
Grade 9-5
99.5%
vs 82% national
University Placement Implications
- •
Oxbridge Eligibility
Strong A-Level performance (65% A*/A) makes girls competitive for Oxford and Cambridge, particularly in STEM and humanities.
- •
Russell Group Admission
90% GCSE 9-7 achievement provides strong foundation for Russell Group universities including Imperial, UCL, Durham, and Warwick.
- •
Competitive Edge
Results place girls in top 5% of UK cohort, giving advantage in Medicine, Law, and competitive STEM programs.
Supporting Strong Achievement
- •
No Pressure-Cooker Culture
Excellence achieved through supportive teaching, strong pastoral care, and girls' intrinsic motivation rather than relentless pressure.
- •
Well-Rounded Development
Balanced commitment to academics, co-curricular activities (sports, music, drama), and character formation.
- •
Resilience & Confidence
Girls develop confidence to tackle challenging subjects and university applications without anxiety-driven perfectionism.
GCSE Excellence
90%
Grade 9-7 achievement (vs 31% national)
A-Level Top Grades
65%
A*/A grades (vs 38% national)
Top Achievers
42%
A* grades at A-Level
University Ready
99.5%
Grade 5+ across GCSE
The Latymer Stage 2 Assessment
Stage 2 at Latymer Upper is not a standard interview — it is a half-day immersive event. Shortlisted candidates spend time at the school: they attend taster lessons in subjects like History and Science, take part in group activities (parents report board games in the library while waiting), and conclude with a 1-to-1 conversation with a member of staff. The school is explicitly looking for all-rounders: children who are passionate, curious, and engaged — not just academically accomplished.
“My daughter said she spent 40 minutes playing Catan in the library before her interview. She thought it was just waiting time — it wasn't. The teacher supervising was clearly assessing how the group interacted.”
“They showed him an obscure photograph of an industrial landscape and asked him to describe what he saw, then asked what feelings it evoked. He had never practised anything like that. He said it was the most interesting part of the whole process.”
“The interviewer asked her: 'If you get an offer here, will you take it?' Our tutor had prepared her to say yes immediately and mean it. She said it confidently and the interviewer seemed satisfied. The school wants commitment, not a safety-net application.”
“The estimation problem was: how many piano tuners are there in London? He said he had no idea but worked through it step by step — population, proportion who own pianos, how often tuned, how long a tuner works. He got the offer. The answer didn't matter.”
Contact Admissions
Latymer Upper 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 108+ sources including official documents, parent reports, and tutoring industry data.This is the intelligence that gives ClassAce families an edge.
The creative writing task gives a passage opening and asks candidates to continue it. The single most common mistake is writing a separate story that ignores the tone, style, and register of the given opening. Read it twice before writing. Your first paragraph must sound like it was written by the same author. Wide reading of fiction (not just comprehension workbooks) is the best preparation for this skill.
Logic puzzles in the Maths paper are designed to be solved by systematic thinking, not by remembered techniques. Candidates who write down their reasoning process (even if the final answer is wrong) score method marks. Blank answers score nothing. Practise working through unfamiliar problem formats by narrating your thinking in writing.
Stage 2 includes taster lessons and group activities (board games, discussion sessions). Multiple members of staff observe the group throughout the half-day. Candidates who engage naturally and cooperatively in these activities — not just in the formal interview — make a far stronger impression. Coaching your child to perform only in the 1-to-1 misses the point entirely.
Latymer manages a strict 50/50 co-ed balance and takes only 160–180 pupils per year. The school does not want to be a safety net. Multiple parent accounts confirm that interviewers ask directly whether the candidate would take a place, and that a confident, genuine 'yes' is noted positively. If Latymer is your first choice, say so clearly.
The Inspiring Minds bursary application closes on the same day as registration (early November). Families who apply in December or January — after finding out their child passed the exam — are too late. The goal of 1-in-4 pupils on a significant bursary is genuine: Latymer actively wants to fund talented children from lower-income families and does so substantially.
The registration deadline in early November of Year 6 is strict. Late applications are not considered. With 160–180 places available, competition is still fierce at approximately 9:1. Registration requires a £150 non-refundable fee and an online form — allow several days to complete it fully, especially if applying for a bursary simultaneously.
Common Mistakes Parents Make
The errors we see most often from families preparing for Latymer Upper School. Avoid these and you're already ahead of the majority of applicants.
Preparing for a 15-minute interview
Stage 2 is a half-day immersive event with taster lessons and group activities, not a brief conversation. Families who only prepare their child for a 1-to-1 interview miss the fact that assessors are watching how candidates engage from the moment they arrive.
Missing the November deadline
Registration closes in early November of Year 6. The bursary application deadline is the same day — families needing financial support cannot apply retroactively. This is the most consequential missed deadline in West London 11+ admissions.
Writing a generic story in the creative writing section
The English paper asks candidates to continue a given story opening, not to write a new story from scratch. Candidates who ignore the provided opening and write their own story show they have misread the task — this is penalised heavily by experienced markers.
Treating logic puzzles as unknowable
Many candidates leave logic puzzles blank because the format is unfamiliar. These questions are solvable by systematic reasoning and carry significant marks. A reasoned attempt with clear working scores method marks even without the correct answer.
Over-rehearsing interview answers
Latymer interviewers are skilled at identifying scripted responses. The school explicitly wants all-rounders who engage authentically — not candidates who perform a prepared character. Parents who script their child's interview answers are actively working against them.
Applying without knowing the 50/50 balance policy
Boys and girls are competing in separate pools for equal numbers of places. This means preparation strategy and realistic outcome assessment must account for gender — a boy's chances are affected by the overall quality of the male applicant pool, not the entire cohort.
vs Competitor Schools
How does Latymer Upper 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: Latymer Upper is the benchmark co-educational independent school in London. Its closest comparison is Alleyn's in Dulwich (also co-ed, progressive ethos, bespoke papers) and the nearby Godolphin & Latymer School (girls-only, also in Hammersmith). For families comparing with top boys' or girls' schools, the managed 50/50 balance and world-class bursary programme are the two differentiating factors.
| Factor | FeaturedLatymer Upper School | Alleyn's School | Godolphin & Latymer | Westminster School | King's College School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Type | Independent Co-ed | Independent Co-ed | Independent Girls' | Independent Boys' (Co-ed 6th) | Independent Boys' |
| Co-educational | |||||
| VR in Exam | |||||
| Annual Fee | ~£25,911 | ~£24,000 | ~£24,000 | ~£35,000 | ~£24,840 |
| 11+ Difficulty | Very Hard | Very Hard | Very Hard | Extremely Hard | Very Hard |
| Interview Style | Half-day immersive | Group activity | Academic | Academic | Academic |
Why Parents Choose
- Best co-ed results in London96.5% GCSE grades 9-7 and 81.4% A-Level A*/A — exceptional for a co-ed school of this size
- 50/50 gender balance managed activelyOne of the only schools in London to guarantee equal numbers of boys and girls — uncommon and distinctive
- Inspiring Minds bursary programmeGoal of 1-in-4 pupils on a significant bursary, with up to 100% of fees available — genuinely transformative financial aid
- Thames-side campus with rowingUnique riverside location giving access to rowing on the Thames — the school is a rowing powerhouse
- US university track recordTop UK school for US Ivy League placements (Brown, Yale, Stanford, NYU) alongside strong Oxbridge output
- Progressive, modern ethosExplicitly not a traditional 'stuffy' school — down-to-earth culture with 160+ clubs and a genuine all-rounder identity
Points to Consider
- Large intake — 160-180 pupils per yearThe school is genuinely big. Some families find the scale overwhelming; it can feel impersonal at first, especially compared to smaller London independents.
- Weekend sports fixtures expectedLatymer is a sporting powerhouse, particularly in rowing. Weekend fixture and regatta commitments are common and expected — not optional.
- Half-day Stage 2 is substantively different from a standard interviewPreparation focused only on the 1-to-1 interview component misses the majority of Stage 2. The taster lessons and group activities are integral parts of the assessment.
- Bursary and registration deadlines are the same dayFamilies who need financial support must have their bursary application ready by the early November registration deadline. This cannot be done after the exam.
Scholarships & Financial Support
Latymer Upper awards Academic, Music, and Sports scholarships at 11+. Scholarships are honorary (reduced fee value) and can be combined with the Inspiring Minds means-tested bursary, which is significantly more generous and covers up to 100% of fees.
| Scholarship Type | Value | Available Places | Selection Method | Stackable? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Scholarship | Honorary + bursary supplement | Limited | Awarded on merit through the standard admissions process | Yes |
| Music Scholarship | Honorary + bursary supplement | Limited | Separate audition required — contact admissions | Yes |
| Sports Scholarship | Honorary + bursary supplement | Limited | Assessment of sporting excellence — contact admissions | Yes |
* The Inspiring Minds bursary is separate from and more valuable than any scholarship. Families from households with income under £100k should apply regardless of whether their child is likely to receive a scholarship. The bursary application closes at the same time as registration — early November of Year 6.
The Preparation Roadmap
Everything here is built around Latymer Upper School's specific exam format, interview style, and selection criteria. This is not generic 11+ advice. Every recommendation is calibrated to this school.
- Build wide reading habit across fiction, non-fiction, and varied genres — especially contemporary fiction
- Develop creative writing skills with emphasis on personal voice, not formula
- Build mental arithmetic fluency and comfortable problem-solving confidence
- Introduce logic puzzles and lateral thinking activities for mathematical intuition
- Practise writing story continuations — read a passage and continue it in the same style
- Begin Latymer-style word problems (multi-step, with irrelevant data)
- Build vocabulary actively through reading and targeted word lists
- Introduce estimation problems — practise Fermi-style questions (how many pianos in London?)
- Attend Latymer open day — visit the Thames campus and have a specific, genuine reason for applying
- Register and submit £150 fee by early November — book calendar reminders now
- If applying for a bursary, prepare full application — deadline is the same as registration
- Begin timed practice: 80-minute English and 60-minute Maths under exam conditions
- Intensive story continuation practice — read a passage, then write a continuation matching voice and register
- Complete full timed Latymer-style Maths papers showing all working
- Practise logic puzzles in unfamiliar formats — aim to write reasoning even when unsure of answer
- Comprehension: practise answering 'how' and 'why' questions with quotation and analysis
- Sit Stage 1 English and Maths written papers at the school in early December
- Read the story opening twice before beginning the creative writing section
- Show all working on every Maths question — attempt every logic puzzle
- Await shortlisting results in late December / early January
- Prepare for a half-day, not a 15-minute interview — ensure your child knows what to expect
- Develop a genuine, specific answer to 'Why Latymer?' — avoid generic school praise
- Practise thinking aloud when given a problem or puzzle — the process matters more than the answer
- Have a clear, genuine commitment to taking a place if offered — the school asks directly
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Updated April 2026 · 108 sources