FAQs

No. We do not provide or recommend practice papers. Our assessment is designed by us afresh each year and is designed to be age-appropriate, engaging, and to help us see how each girl thinks and approaches tasks on the day. There are no computer-based tests, and we do not use verbal or non-verbal reasoning papers. Please beware of companies claiming to have “Bute House practice papers” – this is misleading.

We do not set aside a fixed number of places for children from either state or independent schools. Each application is considered carefully, and we take a child’s educational background into account up to the point of application.

We are proud of our vibrant, diverse community, where around 80% of students speak an additional language at home. English is the language of instruction and assessment in school, so students need a good grasp of the language to fully access all activities.

There is an expectation that girls can read, write and speak English to an age appropriate standard in order to be successful in the assessment. The Modern Foreign Language teachers provide appropriate work for girls who speak French or Spanish as their first language.

No. Tutoring is not necessary. As long as your daughter is working confidently within the Year 1 curriculum and the early part of Year 2, she will be well prepared for our English and maths assessments. The best preparation you can give her is simply to read together regularly. In fact, tutoring can sometimes disadvantage children, as we are looking for natural thinking and problem-solving rather than rehearsed responses. We do, of course, understand that some children with English as an additional language may be receiving, or may have received, extra support with English.

Pastoral care at Bute House is central to all we do. Our Head of Pastoral Care oversees the well-being of the girls from a school-wide perspective, but every member of staff is committed to caring for the girls.  We have an excellent Wellbeing programme in place in school, a School Counsellor for any girls who need more specialist support and endless time for all aspects of the girls’ mental health. A girl may need regular sessions, or it may be that a girl wants to talk through a specific problem – whatever the case, the girls’ needs will be met. We know that happy girls are the ones who are able to enjoy school and so we are committed to ensuring every girl is looked after in order that she can run her own best race.

Bullying is rarely encountered at Bute House, but there is a fast response process in place if a girl is upset by others. Bullying is not tolerated in any form whatsoever and the girls will tell you themselves that it is a rare issue, but something everyone takes very seriously indeed, should it happen.

The School does not operate any sort of bus service or other transport. However, Bute House is situated within 10 minutes walk of Hammersmith Underground Station and is very well-connected.

We ask parents to think carefully about the impact of a very long journey on a young child.

Wraparound care (from 7am – 8.15am and 3.30pm – 6.00 pm) is available at Bute House. This is provided by our own staff. A small charge is made for each session booked.  Sessions are booked directly with the school.

Our non-competitive academic ethos is about ensuring that one girl is not made to feel superior to another girl through setting/streaming/prefect systems etc.   

Sometimes sport is competitive and requires girls to be selected for teams so they can play against other schools’ teams at an appropriate level.  However, girls are given plenty of opportunities to play in matches and to develop their sporting skills in order that they can improve.  Our PE Department is committed to developing the skills of all the girls and to encouraging all girls to find sport fun and exciting.  We offer a wide range of sports so that a girl can find something she especially enjoys.

Many of our girls have a language other than English as their first language. Support for girls with English as an additional language is available to any girls who require this.

The most important thing is to find the right school for every girl.  Girls go on to a wide range of excellent day and boarding schools and occasionally to prep schools which continue to 13+.

Day schools close to Bute House are very popular such as Godolphin & Latymer, Latymer Upper School, St Paul’s Girls’ School, St James’s School, Francis Holland schools and further afield such as North London Collegiate School and City of London School for Girls. 

Popular boarding schools include: Wycombe Abbey, Downe House, St George’s, Ascot, Woldingham School, Queen Anne’s Caversham and Cheltenham Ladies’ College.  Please see the After Bute House section of our website.