Admissions
A WARM WELCOME
Admissions
A very warm welcome to your admissions journey. Below you will find details about the admissions process at Thomas’s Clapham and guidance on how to apply for a place at our various entry points.
Our Admissions team is also on hand to answer any further questions you may have, and would be delighted to show you around the school at one of our open days.
If you are interested in applying for a place in the current academic year, please contact me directly. To register for the 2027/2028 academic year and beyond, please complete one of the forms linked below.
Further information can be found in the FAQ section below.
Genie Jones
Head of Admissions
Speak with the Team
If you would like to speak to a member of the team or receive our Admissions Guide, please complete our Enquiry Form.
Enquire
Register for Reception, 2027
If you would like to register your child for a place in Reception for the 2027/2028 academic year, please complete our Registration Form. Parents can only apply for one Thomas’s prep school.
Register
Register for Years 1 to 8, 2027
If you would like to register your child for a place in Years 1 to 8 for the 2027/2028 academic year, please complete our Registration Form. Please note parents can only apply for one Thomas’s prep school.
RegisterEntry Points
We have various entry points at Thomas’s Clapham, which we have detailed below. Because demand regularly exceeds our available places, early registration is highly recommended.
If you are interested in applying for a place in the current academic year 2026-2027 please contact us directly.
Reception (4+)
Reception is our main entry point and we aim to have a year group of 84 pupils made up of four classes. Registration is open from birth, but we encourage families to visit the school prior to registration.
Years 1 to 6 (age 5 to 11)
Entry into Years 1 to 6 is through occasional places. Please contact us directly, or complete our Enquiry Form for further information and timelines.
Years 7 and 8
Year 7 is an entry point for us at Thomas’s Clapham, which could be the right choice for your child if you are looking for a pastoral and academic stepping stone between Years 6 and 9.
Please note parents can only apply for one Thomas’s prep school.
Ballot: Reception
Around 18 months before entry, children who are registered for Reception are selected through an electronic ballot. Once an offer has been accepted, the School meets with parents and play sessions are held for the children.
Assessment: Year 1 to Year 8
Children are invited into Thomas’s Clapham to spend a morning with us, where they will sit standardised assessments in English and Maths. They will also spend time with their current cohort and meet with the relevant teaching teams. Offers are made shortly after assessment.
International Families
While we warmly welcome international applicants who already hold the legal right to live and study in the UK, please note that the school does not sponsor student visas.
We prefer to meet children in person, however, online assessments can be arranged in certain circumstances for families based overseas.
Thomas’s Clapham Admissions FAQs
We have two main Entry points – Reception and Year 7. We also welcome applications for Occasional Places.
For Reception entry, priority is given to siblings of current Clapham pupils. For all other registered applicants we hold a blind ballot in the April of the preceding year of entry. All applicants who have not been drawn in the ballot will automatically be moved to a waitlist.
Older children looking for an Occasional Place are invited to spend a morning or day with us during which time they are based with a class and will have some short assessments in English and Maths. Please contact the Head of Admissions for more information on the full admissions process. This aspect is covered in detail at our prospective parent tours.
No, children come to us from a wide range of settings. We have good relationships with local nursery schools and this supports a smooth transition to school.
We have a maximum of 21 children per class.
Yes – please discuss any needs with us in advance so we can make appropriate arrangements.
Thomas’s Clapham gives priority to siblings of current pupils, offering them places whenever possible, provided they meet the standard entry criteria and spaces are available.
No – Parents may only register for one Thomas’s Prep School.
For pupils at Thomas’s Clapham, Thomas’s College offers an ‘Early Decision Route’ in Year 5.
Absolutely – our Future Schools team has an excellent record of securing scholarships and offers from leading day and boarding schools.
We endeavour to place the children in the schools that are right for them. Popular applications include: Allyen’s, Brighton College, Charterhouse, Cranleigh, Emanuel, Eton, Ibstock, JAGS, King’s College Wimbledon, Radley, Thomas’s College and Wellington College. Destinations are listed on our website here.
There are a wide range of clubs (from our curriculum sports to multi-sports, gym, tennis, swimming, judo to art, lego, chess and coding) that children can join from Year 1 onwards. Most are after school although there are some early morning clubs and some at lunchtime for the Prep School. Years 3 to 6 can stay at school to do their homework three afternoons a week.
The Thomas’s Clapham gates open at 0810. Children should be in their classrooms ready to start their day at 0830. Children have a 20 minute break in the morning and an hour for lunch and a short afternoon break. Reception, Years 1 and 2 finish school at 1530; Years 3 to 8 finish after Form Time at 1600. Wwe offer the option of Sibling Room for Lower School children who are waiting until 1600 to leave with a sibling.
We offer a free of charge early morning service, Early Risers, which opens at 0745. After school care, Activity Room, takes place in the Art Block after school. This is a chargeable service which can be booked until 1700 or 1800.
We do prefer to see the children in person however an online assessment can be arranged. We may ask to meet the child in-person before an offer is made.
