Finding the
right
school
Educational Journey
Finding and choosing the right school for your son is a hugely important decision for both you and your son. An educational journey and school environment that offers the chance to get the most out of their preparatory school years is key to your son’s ongoing success and development.
Our main entry points are Reception, Year 3 and Year 7. With both admission processes working on a first-come, first-served basis, we encourage all prospective parents to contact our Head of Admissions & Marketing who can then talk to you about the engaging, inspiring and challenging education that Davenies can offer your son. They will also explain how the admissions procedure works and offer you the chance to book a visit to the School. Boys joining in Reception are not formally assessed, but our Head of Pre-Prep will take the time to visit your son at their preschool setting to observe informal play and to talk with his key worker.
For entry into the Senior School, we offer a limited number of places. As a school, Davenies expects pupils entering Year 7 to continue into Year 8 and sit Common Entrance, Scholarship, or specific entrance exams set by their intended senior school. Prospective pupils attend a taster session. This comprises assessment in English and Maths, a tour of the School, a group task, and the opportunity to meet their peers. We also hold a Scholarship Day in the Lent Term to consider boys for Academic Scholarships as well as Music, Sport, Creative and Performing Arts opportunities.
Occasionally, places do become available in other year groups as and when boys leave the School. We would encourage all parents to register their son(s) as soon as possible to indicate interest in a particular year group outside of our usual intake years.
Please contact our Registrar, on 01494 685400 for further information on admissions.
When will my son join Davenies?
Please enter your son’s date of birth below to find out his potential start date at Davenies. The age checker will give you a personalised timeline and an overview of our Admissions process.
Reception Entry
Your son would join Davenies in the Pre-Prep in September
Attend an Open Morning
Open Mornings are held in the Autumn, Lent and Summer Terms. For further information please refer to our Arrange a visit page.
Registration Deadline: 31st August
We advise prospective parents to register two years prior to their son starting to ensure they are in the first batch of offers sent. Registration Form.
Offers: September
Offers are made to those on the entry list, on a first come basis, by date of registration.
Acceptance of Offer and Deposit Deadline: Mid-October
Stay and Play: November
Boys and their parents are invited to the Pre-Prep to get to know each other and familiarise themselves with the setting. This is also a great opportunity for parents to meet other parents.
Stay and Play: March
An opportunity to visit the school.
Sports Day – New Boys Race: June
Boys are invited to join us for our Pre-Prep Sports Day, where they join in the New Boys’ Race.
Induction: July
Boys spend time in their class with their teacher. Parents attend an Induction presentation from the Head of Pre-Prep.
Start of Term: September
Year 3 Entry
Your son would join Davenies in Year 3 in September
Attend an Open Morning
Open Mornings are held in the Autumn, Lent and Summer Terms. Our next Open Morning is on Wednesday 14 May 2025. For further information please refer to our Arrange a visit page.
Taster Session
If we have an available place the admission process begins. Boys are invited to spend a morning with their prospective classmates where they will meet the Head of Junior School and be asked to do some reading, writing and Maths. We also ask for a copy of his most recent school report and request a reference from the applicant’s current school.
Offer following Taster Session
If the boy reaches the required standard a place will be offered.
Induction Morning - July
Boys are invited to spend the morning with their new form teacher and peers.
Year 7 Entry
Your son would join Davenies in the Senior School in September
Attend a Year 7 Open Evening
Senior School Open Evenings are held in the Autumn Term. Our next Year 7 Open Evening is in October 2025. To register your interest, please contact Admissions (registrar@davenies.co.uk).
Year 7 Taster Day: November
Boys in Year 6 are invited into school to experience first-hand life in Years 7 and 8 at Davenies. Year 7 Taster session comprises of English and Maths assessments, a group task, attend a lesson, and a Tour with a member of the Senior Leadership Team. There is also time to meet their peers and teachers. We also ask for a copy of his most recent school report and request a reference from the applicant’s current school.
Offer following successful Taster Session
If boys reach the required standard a place for Year 7&8 will be offered.
Scholarship Day - Lent Term
An opportunity for the boys to apply for Scholarships and Exhibitions for Years 7 & 8. Read more about our Scholarships and Exhibitions.
Induction Morning - July
A day of fun activities and for the new Boys to meet their form teacher and peers.
Visit Us
If you are considering a values-led education at Davenies for your son, we would highly recommend and encourage you to come and visit the School and its facilities. We offer tours every weekday morning at 09:15 and 11:15 – these provide you with the chance to explore Davenies and meet our Headmaster, Mr Thomas.
Open Mornings
Our next Meet the Head Event is on Friday 26th June – sign up here. We invite you to book an individual tour on a weekday at a time to suit you!
At our Open Events you will be guided by students to see our school in action and hear first-hand about life at Davenies from the perspective of one of our Senior boys. Academic Staff will be available throughout your visit to answer any questions you may have to help you gain a flavour of our academic, pastoral and co-curricular provisions and each classroom will hands on activities for your son(s). Our Open Morning will enable you to explore what encourages and enhances every boy’s life at Davenies and discover how our outstanding learning environment supports our ethos of Engage, Inspire, Challenge.
Year 7 Open Evening
Meet our Headmaster and Senior Academic Team and tour our Senior School to learn more about our approach to boys’ learning at 11-13.
Davenies provides the stepping stones that develop courteous, confident, thoughtful and independent young men. If you are considering the next chapter in your son’s education after Year 6, the Headmaster and Senior Academic Team at Davenies will help you learn more about our vision to provide an outstanding learning environment that engages, inspires and challenges each and every boy, preparing them for life at their chosen senior school. Through a guided tour with one of our current Senior boys, you will be able to see our outstanding facilities and hear about life in the Senior School first hand.
Taster Sessions
Before offering a place to any boy wishing to join Davenies in Year 7, we invite them along to a Taster Session. Not only does this allow us to get to know each individual boy better, but it also enables them to experience life in Years 7 and 8 at Davenies first-hand, along with some of the things that the School has to offer.
Our Year 7 Taster Sessions are designed to provide the opportunity for boys currently in Year 6 to visit Davenies and experience the School in action. The session comprises an English and Maths assessment, a group task and a tour with a member of the Senior Leadership Team. Boys will have the chance to visit our outstanding facilities, interact with our current pupils and experience first-hand what life in Years 7 and 8 is like at Davenies.
In addition to the Taster Day, and to further help us understand each boy’s academic profile, we will also ask his current school to provide a reference in advance of him joining us.
The next Year 7 Taster Session is taking place in November 2025 which is in place for boys wishing to join Davenies in September 2026. If you would like to register your interest, please contact our Registrar.
Scholarships
A Scholarship at Davenies is a hard-earned privilege and a testament to a young person’s ability. Each programme is designed to challenge and develop, to create opportunities for improvement and to showcase their ability – to take boys on a journey of personal growth. The programme is designed to be challenging and to encourage successful applicants to always strive for their personal best and push themselves out of their comfort zone. Explore our Scholarships further, below:
Fees & Terms and Conditions
Registration Fee Payable on registration and non-refundable – £150.00 (inclusive of VAT)
Acceptance Deposit Payable by the parents of each pupil on acceptance of a place – £1,500 which will be refunded after the final term’s invoice.
Please see the School’s Terms & Conditions for information on how and when the Acceptance Deposit may be refunded.
Fees The Governors review the level of fees annually, with effect from the beginning of each academic year. Parents are given one term’s notice in writing of any changes.
For the academic year 2026/27 the termly fees, inclusive of VAT, are as follows:
Reception £5,575
Pre-Prep (Years 1 & 2) £6,685
Junior School (Years 3 & 4) £8,325
Middle School (Years 5 & 6) £8,425
Senior School (Years 7 & 8) £8,770*
*Year 7 & 8 fees also include Residential Trips and Leaver’s Programme.
Breakfast Club is charged at £5.00 per session, and includes a hot breakfast and Flop Club is £10.50/£15.00 per session.
Fees include educational day visits, snacks, lunch, text books and most extra-curricular activities. All pupils are automatically covered by the Pupils’ Personal Accident Insurance Scheme. Please see the Schools Parent Contract – Terms and Conditions for further information about the payment of Fees and Extras. For information on Bursaries available, please visit Scholarships & Bursaries
School Fee Plan
Parents may utilise the services of School Fee Plan if they wish to pay monthly by instalments. This is not operated by the School and details can be found here.
Extras In conjunction with Marsh’s, the School’s Insurers, Davenies offers a range of optional insurance schemes and in each case literature will be made available to fee payers prior to receiving the first term’s fee account so that parents may decide if they wish to join any scheme.
These are: ‘Pupils Absence Insurance Scheme’ which provides a repayment of tuition fees in cases of temporary absence from school owing to illness or accident. Please see further information in the documentation below:
Pupil Absence Insurance Scheme Information Leaflet
AXA PPP Healthcare Cover. Please see further information regarding AXA PPP Healthcare Pupil Healthcare Scheme, Pupil Private Medical Insurance – Q&A and AXA PPP Healthcare Private Medical Insurance.
These optional charges are made in advance.
Terms & Conditions For further information, please see the Schools-Parent-Contract-Terms-and-Conditions. A copy is available on request from the School Office.
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