Highgate Junior School is one of North London's most respected prep schools — a co-educational school that forms the junior section of Highgate School, one of the best all-round independent schools in the country. Entry at 7+ is available for both boys and girls, and demand consistently outpaces supply. For families in N6, N8, NW3, N2 and nearby postcodes, Highgate Junior is often a top priority.
About Highgate Junior School
Highgate Junior School educates pupils from Year 3 to Year 6, after which most move up to the Middle School and then the Senior School on the same North London campus. The junior school has a genuine warmth alongside its academic ambition: the curriculum is broad and stimulating, and the school values kindness, curiosity and confidence as much as examination results.
Highgate School at senior level is co-educational from the third form, highly selective, and consistently places a large cohort at top universities. Entry via the junior school offers continuity of pastoral care and community — and removes the need to navigate another competitive entry process at 11+ or 13+.
The 7+ assessment
The 7+ assessment takes place in January of Year 2. Registration typically opens in the autumn of Year 1 and closes in October or November; early registration is advisable.
Highgate's assessment is designed to be holistic and non-threatening for young children. It includes:
- Reading and writing activities — age-appropriate tasks that assess literacy skills and communication. Highgate is looking for engagement and expression, not just technical accuracy.
- Mathematical activities — number-based tasks and problem-solving activities that reveal how a child reasons with numbers rather than purely testing what they have been taught.
- Group and individual observation sessions — children are observed in small groups and individually, allowing assessors to see how they interact, collaborate and respond to new challenges.
Highgate is explicit that the assessment is about potential, not preparation. The school is not seeking children who have been intensively drilled — it wants children who are genuinely curious, sociable and ready to engage with learning.
How selective is the 7+?
The Highgate 7+ is very competitive, with demand far exceeding the available places. Boys and girls are assessed together, and the school looks across the full range of qualities it values: intellectual ability, communication, social confidence and creative thinking. Academic achievement is important but is not the only lens.
Highgate's co-educational 7+ means it often appeals to families who want an alternative to the single-sex London preps. The school's reputation for pastoral care and all-round excellence makes it a first-choice destination for many North London families.
When to start preparation
Most families begin structured preparation in September or October of Year 1 — three to four months before the January assessment. A lighter-touch start in the summer term of Reception (when children are 5) can be beneficial for children who have specific areas of literacy or numeracy to develop.
The preparation approach for Highgate should be notably different from the more intensive drilling associated with schools like Westminster Under or St Paul's Juniors. Highgate is looking for natural learners who enjoy being challenged — so preparation should focus on building enthusiasm for reading, maths and discussion rather than exam technique.
What to work on
- A love of reading. The single most important thing parents can do is read widely with their child and talk about books. Highgate values children who engage with stories and ideas; a child who can discuss a book with genuine enthusiasm is already well prepared for the reading component.
- Writing for pleasure. Stories, descriptions, lists and letters all help. Focus on ideas and imagination rather than correct spelling or punctuation at this age — though a child who writes regularly will naturally improve both.
- Number confidence. Addition and subtraction within 100, counting in multiples, simple problem-solving and an enjoyment of number patterns. Maths games and puzzles are ideal at this age.
- Social confidence. The group activity component rewards children who can listen, contribute ideas and work with others. Structured activities at school, team sports, drama and similar pursuits all build this naturally.
- Curiosity and general knowledge. Children who have visited museums, read non-fiction, watched documentaries and had conversations about the world around them tend to engage more richly with the observation and discussion activities.
Girls' entry at Highgate Junior
Highgate Junior is co-educational, which makes it an unusual option among London's selective preps. The girls' places are equally competitive. The assessment is the same for boys and girls, and the school gives equal weight to each cohort. Families with daughters targeting North London preps at 7+ should include Highgate on their list alongside South Hampstead's 11+ later on.
Finding a tutor for the Highgate 7+
Because Highgate's assessment is holistic, the best tutors for this assessment are those who can build a child's all-round confidence and enthusiasm — rather than tutors who specialise purely in exam technique. Look for someone who is warm, experienced with young children, and who understands the specific qualities Highgate is looking for.
Browse tutors with 7+ experience in North London, or use the parent portal to filter by exam type and your child's year group.