• Merton Court School is caring, established and quietly ambitious and aims to combine a happy prep-school experience with strong onward preparation.

• Will suit families seeking a stand-alone prep with a reassuring inspection picture and a clear focus on the next-school move.

Admissions at Merton Court School are direct, family facing and should appeal to parents who want a stand-alone prep rather than a junior school tied to one senior destination. The school should suit families who want a clear 11+ focus inside a mixed day-school environment.

Internal scholarships are not the main story. The more relevant attraction is the strength of Merton Court's senior-school preparation and the offers pupils go on to receive.

The latest benchmark is reassuring: Ofsted currently shows Merton Court School as Good. That helps, but parents should still visit to assess whether the school's pace, support and level of senior-school preparation feel right for their child.

Assessment is purposeful and increasingly tied to 11+ readiness as pupils move through the upper years. Parents should expect secure tracking of the basics, direct communication and a clear sense of how children are being prepared for grammar or independent senior entry.