City of London School Registration: Key Dates and Deadlines

City of London School takes a large intake at 11+, into Year 7, and as a day school in the heart of the City it draws families from across London and the commuter belt. Registration is the first required step, and it closes in the autumn of Year 6, before the entrance assessment that follows in late November or early December. Miss the window and your son cannot sit the assessment for that year. This guide sets out when to register, how the process works, and where registration sits in the school's wider admissions timeline.

When to register for City of London School

City of London School takes its main external intake at 11+, when your son joins Year 7, and registration must be completed before the entrance assessment. The school opens registration well in advance and closes it in the autumn of Year 6, with the assessment usually falling in late November or early December of that year. Registration is a required step: your son cannot sit the assessment unless he is registered, so the deadline genuinely matters. City of London School is highly selective, with many more applicants than places, so registering in good time is essential. Registration commits you to nothing, but without it your son cannot be considered.

Because the assessment falls early in Year 6, the decision to aim for City of London School needs to be made in good time, ideally during Year 5, rather than left until the year of entry.

How to register

Registration is completed through the school's online registration form, together with the registration fee, which is £160 as a standard fee, or £250 where a non-standard arrangement applies. The school may also charge an additional assessment fee in certain circumstances, so it is worth checking which fees apply to your son's application. Once registered, your son is entered for the entrance assessment, and the school will confirm the date and arrangements. As a day school, City of London School draws heavily on families within reach of the City, so it is worth considering the daily commute when you apply. The full cost picture is set out in our City of London School fees guide.

The assessment process

The school's admissions process runs in a clear sequence: a visit to the school, registration, the entrance assessment, and then, for those who do well, an interview and a group activity, before offers are made. The entrance assessment itself is taken on a single day and has two parts, an online assessment and a creative writing task. Boys who perform well in the assessment are invited back for the second round, the interview and group activity, which usually fall in January or early February. Understanding that the assessment comes first, and the interview is a second-round stage for shortlisted candidates, helps you plan preparation sensibly. Our guide to the City of London assessment explains both parts in full.

A day school in the City

City of London School is a boys' day school on the north bank of the Thames in the Square Mile, near Blackfriars and St Paul's, and its location shapes who applies. Families come from across London and the surrounding commuter areas, drawn by the combination of a strong academic record and a site that is exceptionally well connected by rail and Underground. Because there is no boarding, the daily journey is part of school life, so it is worth thinking realistically about the commute from your area when you decide whether to apply. For many families working in or travelling through the City, the location is a genuine advantage, putting a leading school within an easy journey of home or work.

The full admissions timeline

Our full guide to getting into City of London School walks through every stage in detail.

Common registration mistakes

The most common mistake is leaving registration until too late, since it closes in the autumn of Year 6 before the assessment, earlier than families expect. If City of London School is on your list, act early in Year 6 or before. The second mistake is underestimating the commute, which matters at a day school where your son will travel in daily, so it is worth testing the journey before you commit. The third is treating registration as optional or assuming a visit is enough, when registration is the formal step that allows your son to sit the assessment at all.