Vibrant, inclusive, spirited; our core values are at the heart of who we are and what we do:  

We are inquisitive, intellectually curious, and love learning  

We are innovative and genuinely open to new ideas  

We are intrepid, persevering, resilient and adventurous 

We are inclusive, collaborative, and down to earth 

There are approximately 320 pupils in the Junior School (4-11 years old) and 740 in the Senior School (11-18 years old). 

We have two classes in each year group, from Reception to Year 6, making a total of 14 classes: Reception (Early Years Foundation Stage EYFS), Years 1 and 2 (Key Stage 1) and Years 3 to 6 (Key Stage 2). 

Each class has about 22 pupils in Reception to Year 2.  

Years 3 to 6 have about 24 pupils per class. 

All pupils joining Reception are invited to a couple of induction sessions before the summer break, where they are able to meet their teachers, other pupils and to explore and play in the classrooms and outdoor play areas. For the first week of the autumn term, your daughter will settle into school gently and attend a morning or afternoon session only.   

For pupils joining Year 1 and above, we organise an induction event in the Summer term where they are introduced to their friendly class buddy. They will also meet the other pupils in their year and their class teacher. It is intended to be a fun day for everyone to get to know one another and their new classroom. Once term starts, your daughter’s buddy will help show her the ropes and make her feel at home and, during Check-in sessions, they will meet regularly with the Deputy Head (Pastoral). 

We work closely with parents to support pupils emotionally as well as academically. We believe that a happy child will be more open to and able to learn. There is a warm family feel, and parents are given regular opportunities to share and celebrate every step of their daughter’s school journey. 

In Years 1-6, our ‘Opening Minds’ sessions focus on the social and emotional aspects of learning as well as the learning dispositions that will help a pupil to develop self-efficacy and thrive: resilience, kindness, empathy, collaboration, resourcefulness, creativity, adaptability, and tenacity; philosophy and debating opportunities also develop critical thinking skills. Pupils work with Head of Pupil Wellbeing to create Junior School-specific episodes of our ‘Thanks for Asking’ podcasts on themes such as friendship, transition to Y7, and mindfulness  

BREATHE is the whole school platform from which we deliver our academic and pastoral provision. It encompasses: 

• Looking after ourselves – Pupils learn the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle including taking care of our bodies and our minds. 

• Looking after each other – Pupils learn to build and maintain healthy and respectful friendships, to be kind, to show empathy for others and to celebrate difference 

• Looking after our world – Pupils take pride in our school and develop a sense of awe and wonder in the natural world.  We aim for our pupils to be active and responsible members of the community. 

IT STARTS WITH ME: Pupils play an active role in school life taking on roles such as Eco Ambassadors, Sports Leaders, Digital Leaders, School Council Reps, Playtime Pals, and Year 6 Prefects. Pupils are encouraged to ask, ‘What if everyone did that?’ and consider the impact that individuals have on the world around them. 

The Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) department aims to develop a lifelong appetite for language learning for all our pupils as well as improving awareness of different cultures, countries, people and points of view. 

• French is taught from Reception to Year 6.  
• From Year 3, pupils also learn Spanish, a unique double language learning opportunity.

Pupils are taught by specialist language teachers and are encouraged to engage in a variety of extracurricular events, broadening their French and Spanish insights, as well as the rest of the world (Mandarin clubs, Senior Taster lessons, Mother Tongue Festival, French/Spanish World Book Day, European Language Day). We work closely with the Senior School to develop our Language Enrichment and to ensure a smooth transition to Senior School. 

Developing a love of reading is at the heart of our curriculum and all pupils are encouraged to read each night. Reading skills are fundamental to pupils’ success not only academically, but as skills for lifelong learning. Reading develops vocabulary, increases attention span, and promotes stronger analytical thinking. Other homework will be given to consolidate classroom learning. 

We do not set holiday homework. It is important for pupils to recharge their batteries and explore the world around them and enrich their learning through travel, gallery/museum visits, and independent play.

Every class has two music lessons each week with our Junior School Director of Music. Many pupils are of Grade 1 standard or above and are members of the Junior School orchestra. 

In KS1, classes are introduced to a variety of instruments and have the opportunity to take part in a taster session. Individual music lessons are available at school from Year 3. Over 90% of pupils in KS2 are learning a musical instrument. Many of these lessons take place in the Senior School Athena Centre. 

Sport is inclusive and accessible to all. There are in house competitions and competitive matches and competitions against other schools at all levels. We also enjoy an annual Sports Day at Wimbledon Park Athletics Track. Camaraderie and team spirit are at the heart of our sporting ethos. 

We have tennis and netball courts and a new astro pitch, as well as indoor sports facilities. Reception -Year 2 develop coordination, balance and agility through multi-skill activities, regular ball skills practice, mini tennis, team games, gymnastics, and dance. Years 3-6 have games afternoons playing cricket, touch rugby, netball, hockey/pop lacrosse, tennis, and rounders. KS2 move on to develop skills in athletics, football, gymnastics, sports acrobatics, and dance. Weekly swimming lessons take place in Years 2-4 at Putney Leisure Centre. 

Our award-winning outdoor space includes a wonderful adventure playground, amphitheatre, all-weather zones, astro and tennis courts. Our Outdoor Learning Programme promotes pupil learning both in school and the local area. 

In and beyond the classroom, pupils are encouraged to: 

• Be bold and take risks 

• Make mistakes and reflect on their learning 

• Play imaginatively and think creatively 

• Collaborate and problem solve 

All classes have a weekly computing lesson in the Innovation Hub with our Head of Computing and Modern Scholarship. Computing is an integral part of the curriculum with an emphasis on computer science, information technology and e-safety. We have a 1:1 iPad programme from Year 3-6. 

Interactive whiteboards are used in EYFS and KS1 classrooms; Apple TVs and pens are used in KS2 classrooms. All pupils have access to iPads to develop their digital skills across the curriculum, in and beyond the classroom. 

There are four houses: Marie Curie, Ada Lovelace, Rosa Parks and Wilma Rudolph. Each is led by Year 6 pupils who organise house days to raise money for charities and local causes. 

We offer a full and varied range of educational outings, as well as on-site visits by speakers, workshops leaders, and authors.  

Residential trips are offered to Years 4, 5, and 6. 

Children arrive between 8.10 and 8.25am. Reception finishes at 3pm, Years 1 and 2 at 3.10pm, Years 3 and 4 at 3.20pm and Years 5 and 6 at 3.30pm. 

We offer over 70 co-curricular activities that take place before and after school, from pottery, judo and coding to chess, touch typing and fencing. There is also a full range of sports and music activities. SuperClubs run breakfast and after-school clubs during term time. Breakfast club starts at 7.30am and after-school club until 6pm. They include a range of activities to keep children entertained, with breakfast and snacks included. SuperCamps operate at the school during the holidays. 

There are four routes, run independently by Vectare: Wimbledon and Richmond routes for Reception and above, Sloane Square and Hammersmith routes for Years 3 and above. 

We welcome children from many different nurseries and recommend you choose one you feel would best suit your child. 

We are very proud of our ‘one school’ ethos and the vast majority of our Junior School pupils do move through to the Senior School. To make this transition as smooth as possible, we organise a number of events during the final Junior School years and while our Juniors still sit the 11+ Athena Assessment in Year 6, their place has already been secured.  

We do not offer financial assistance in the Junior School but there are scholarships and bursaries available in the Senior School. 

We are extremely fortunate to have a supportive and collaborative parent body and we welcome parents’ involvement.  Parents take an active part in our IGNITE: Future Thinkers careers’ fair and PIE (Putney Ideas Exchange) talks. They can also accompany classes on school trips and become parent readers. Every term we hold Engage sessions with parent reps from each year group. FOPHS (Friends of Putney High School) elect a parent rep for each class and help to organise charity and community work within school. 

You should register your interest in joining the school via the Admissions page of our website. We recommend registering in the autumn of the year preceding entry. Your daughter will then be invited to attend an assessment (4+ in January, 7+ and occasional vacancies in November). 

We try to make the assessment as informal, relaxed, and enjoyable as possible. During the friendly hour’s session, your daughter will join in with creative activities and carry out a few tasks linked to early maths, language, and literacy. 

Places are offered to approximately 44 children.  A second group is put on a waiting list and notified if places become available. A third group will not be offered a place. 

No, our aim is to have a spread of birth dates throughout the year group; this helps to ensure a good dynamic in the class. We also take age into account when conducting our assessments. 

We do not offer reassessments, but pupils are welcome to re-apply for occasional vacancies or 7+ places in the future.  

The friendly, informal assessment takes approximately two and a half hours and covers English, Maths, Reasoning and Creative Writing. 

Following an assessment, we may add a small number of pupils to a waiting list if we are not immediately able to offer a place. A pupil’s place on a waiting list will be valid until the end of the academic year in which they sit their assessment. After this, candidates may wish to apply for another assessment in order to be considered for any future vacancies. 

Pupils who are looking for a place in Year 2 or above and who are unable to sit the assessments at Putney High School are able to take them overseas.  We request that the assessments take place at either the pupil’s current school or at an approved testing centre, such as the British Council, as close as possible to the internal assessment date.  

We are not able to offer overseas assessments for 4+ entry or Year 1 occasional vacancy places.