The renowned Haberdasher Aske’s School for Girls (‘Habs’) in Elstree, which currently accepts 20 girls via 4+ assessment and a further 20 at 5+ has announced it will be running its main 5+ intake assessment for the last time next year, in January 2016. The junior school will soon be two-form entry from Reception, selection 40 girls at 4+ in the future. Maybe this is to avoid losing girls to its main competitor North London Collegiate School? It is a shame we are losing this 5+ entry point opportunity for those girls who are not ready for the 4+ assessment yet or somehow need to delay their start. Boys in North London have many options for 5+ entry (Arnold House, The Hall, Haberdasher Aske’s Pre-Prep to name a few), it looks like from now on girls applying later will have to hope for occasional places to arise, or wait for the 7+.