• St Mary's School, Hampstead is nurturing, inclusive and community minded, and aims to help girls achieve highly while understanding the value of belonging and service.

• Will suit families seeking a Catholic girls' prep in north London where warmth, community and effective preparation for the next step go hand in hand.

Admissions at St Mary's School, Hampstead should appeal to families who want a Catholic London prep with a strong community, distinctive girls' focus and a reassuringly well-established 11+ story. The school should suit parents who value a nurturing environment in which girls are encouraged as individuals while still being prepared properly for the next stage.

At prep level the scholarships story is seen mainly through senior-school awards and successful 11+ destinations rather than internal fee remission, though families should ask directly about any support available. The school's recent public celebration of Year 6 results suggests onward preparation is taken seriously.

The overall picture is warm, faith rooted and quietly ambitious, with strong community links, individual encouragement and visible 11+ success all helping to define the offer. Parents should still visit because the decisive question is whether the school’s ethos, scale and North London setting feel right in practice.

Assessment at St Mary's School, Hampstead is supportive but purposeful, with careful tracking of core subjects and enough structure to prepare girls successfully for 11+ applications. Parents should expect clear communication, individual encouragement and a school that takes transition seriously without becoming overly pressured.