Over 75,000 children use Atom – the award-winning online learning platform for ages 7–11. As well as helping children get to grips with the national curriculum, many families use Atom to prepare for entrance exams.
Getting a place at a competitive senior school is never easy, but it's easier with Atom. Tailored mock tests, adaptive learning content, and detailed progress data help children feel confident for their exams. And the results speak for themselves – 86% of Atom users have been offered a place at their top-choice school.
Wondering which schools Atom subscribers are applying to? We've listed the 20 most popular target schools below.
20 most popular schools on Atom
1. Eton College
Eton College is a world-famous boarding school in Windsor for boys aged 13–18. It’s also extremely competitive, with over 1,000 children applying for 120 places in Year 9.
Children applying to Eton need to take two assessments to be considered for a place. Every child who applies to Eton takes the ISEB Common Pre-Test in the autumn term of Year 6. Shortlisted children then take a bespoke online ability test called the Eton List Test the following spring/summer. Children also have an interview with a member of staff.
Pictured: a reading comprehension question from an Eton List Test mock test on Atom
2. Westminster School
Westminster School is a historic independent school in Central London, next to Westminster Abbey. It educates boys aged 13 to 18 (with a prep school for younger boys) and welcomes girls into the sixth form.
The 13+ entry process at Westminster School has two stages. First, children take the ISEB Common Pre-Test during October or November in Year 6. Children who have performed well in their test, and who have an exemplary report from their current school, are invited to the second stage. This consists of an interview and English and maths tests.
Pictured: a maths question from an Westminster School 13+ stage 2 mock test on Atom
3. St Paul’s Girls’ School
St Paul’s Girls’ School (SPGS) is an independent day school in West London for girls aged 11 to 18. It’s ranked first out of all schools in the UK based on pupils’ exam results.
All children applying for 11+ entry to SPGS take an online cognitive abilities test known as CEM Select in November in Year 6. Successful children then take English, maths and comprehension papers the following January. Finally, shortlisted children are invited to an interview later the same month.
Pictured: an anagrams question from a CEM Select mock test for St Paul's Girls' School on Atom
4. St Paul’s School
St Paul’s School is an independent school in southwest London for boys aged 7 to 18. It consists of a junior school for ages 7–13 and a senior school for ages 13–18. Students’ exam results place St Paul’s second out of all schools in the UK.
There is a three-stage assessment process for 13+ entry to St Paul’s. First, all children take the ISEB Common Pre-Test in the autumn of Year 6. Selected children then sit written English and maths assessments in January. Finally, shortlisted children are invited to an interview between January and June.
Pictured: a question from an Atom mock test for the St Paul's School second stage maths exam
5. Wellington College
Wellington College is a co-educational day and boarding school in Berkshire for ages 13 to 18. It’s well known for its beautiful 400-acre site and its vibrant co-curricular programme. Around 80% of students board at Wellington.
Children applying for 13 plus entry to Wellington College take the ISEB Common Pre-Test in either Year 6 or Year 7. Shortlisted children are then invited to spend a selection day at the school, which involves taster lessons and activities.
Pictured: a non-verbal reasoning question from an Atom mock test for the ISEB Common Pre-Test
6. City of London School
City of London School (CLS) is a boys’ day school in an iconic location next to the Millennium Bridge. Students at CLS benefit from excellent links and partnerships with London’s leading institutions. The school is currently ranked within the top five boys’ schools in the UK.
11 plus is the main entry point for City of London School. Children applying for 11+ entry take an online test created by Atom Assessments and have a short creative writing task. Shortlisted children are then invited to an interview.
Pictured: a non-verbal reasoning question from an Atom Assessments 11+ familiarisation exercise
7. The Godolphin & Latymer School
Godolphin & Latymer is an independent day school in Hammersmith, West London, for girls aged 11 to 18. Students can choose to study for either A levels or the IB Diploma Programme in the sixth form, and in 2022, the school was named ‘International Baccalaureate School of the Year’ by the Sunday Times.
Godolphin & Latymer is a member of the London 11+ Consortium. All schools in the Consortium use the same 11+ entrance exam created by Atom Assessments. Children who apply to Godolphin & Latymer and perform well in the assessment are invited back for an interview.
Pictured: an English comprehension question from an Atom Assessments 11+ familiarisation test
8. Latymer Upper School
Latymer Upper School is a large day school in Hammersmith, West London, for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. The school has a strong ethos of social inclusivity, with over 300 children receiving financial support with fees from 2024.
Children applying for 11 plus entry to Latymer Upper School take bespoke English and maths tests, set by the school, in December in Year 6. Selected children are then invited back in January for an interview and immersive classroom activities.
Pictured: a question from a Latymer Upper School 11+ maths mock test on Atom
9. Brighton College
Brighton College is a large independent school on the coast in Brighton, East Sussex. It caters for boys and girls aged 3 to 18 with a pre-prep school, a prep school, and a senior school. In 2020, the Sunday Times named Brighton College the ‘Sunday Times Independent Secondary School of the Decade’.
Children applying for 11+ entry to Brighton College are invited to an academic assessment day in December in Year 6. This consists of tests in English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. All children are also invited to an interview and activities day in January.
Pictured: a question from an 11 plus verbal reasoning mock test on Atom
10. Harrow School
Harrow School is a prestigious boarding school in northwest London for boys aged 13 to 18. It’s well known for its famous former pupils (including many Prime Ministers), extensive sports programme, and excellent exam results.
All children applying for 13+ entry to Harrow take the ISEB Common Pre-Test in the autumn in Year 6. Shortlisted children then take the Harrow Test in the autumn in Year 7, which consists of interviews, a classroom activity, and an online English and maths test. The school then makes conditional offers, which are guaranteed following further exams in Year 8.
Pictured: an English question from a Harrow School mock test on Atom
11. Hampton School
Hampton School is an independent day school in southwest London for boys aged 11 to 18. The school provides all-round education with excellent teaching, dedicated pastoral care, and an exciting co-curricular programme.
Children applying for 11+ entry to Hampton School have written exams and an interview. There are three papers: English, words and reasoning, and maths.
Pictured: a question from a Hampton School: words and reasoning mock test on Atom
12. The Henrietta Barnett School
The Henrietta Barnett School is a grammar school in Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, for girls aged 11 to 18. The school is well known for its academic excellence and is ranked first out of all state schools in the country for students’ exam results.
Children applying to The Henrietta Barnett School have a two-stage entrance process. All children take the 11 plus exam, administered by GL Assessments, in September in Year 6. Shortlisted children are then invited back in October for bespoke English and maths tests.
Pictured: a question from a Henrietta Barnett 11+ mock test on Atom
