Admissions

• Applications should be made by completing the Registration Form and returning it with the non-refundable registration fee, before the deadline date.
• Entrance and scholarship examinations are obligatory and we will contact your child’s current school for a report. Exemplar papers for the entrance examinations are available on request.
• For Sixth Form entry, we obtain predicted GCSE grades from the child's current school. 
• All candidates are interviewed by the Headmaster or other member of SLT (or Head of EAL for international students) before a final decision is reached and an offer of a place is communicated.
• The Headmaster makes a decision and the offer of a place will be communicated to parents.
• Parents are asked to complete and return an Acceptance Form and deposit. The offer of a place cannot be guaranteed beyond the deadline date of acceptance of offers.
• Parents must disclose any particular known or suspected circumstances relating to their child’s health, allergies, learning difficulties or disabilities during the admissions process.

Our aim is to admit students with academic and other qualities such that the child would gain the maximum benefit from the opportunities available at the Prior Park Schools, whilst maintaining a balance between day and boarding students, boys and girls. In the event of there being more applications than places available, places will be offered in accordance with the following criteria (listed alphabetically);

• academic ability & school report or an informal teaching assessment
• adherence to the vision and values of Prior Park Schools
• attitudinal interviews
• class size & size of the school roll
• extra-curricular interests & other talents
• other factors – including whether the child has a parent who teaches in one of our schools
• previous attendance at The Paragon (for entry to Prior Park College)
• siblings* at another Prior Park School
• whether the family are Roman Catholics or other Christian denominations

* A child is a sibling if they are a full or half-brother or sister, an adoptive brother or sister or if they are children of the same household – although this does not guarantee entrance.

Approximately 18% of our total roll are international students. Details of our International Admissions Process can be found here. 

Entrants into Year 7 will be assessed when they are in Year 6. The decision to make an offer will be taken by our Headmaster considering the outcome of your child’s entrance assessments, an informal interview, and a reference from their current school.

11+ Entrance Exam Day – Friday 17 January 2025
Our 11+ Entrance Assessment focusses on the whole child and includes three parts: a short on-screen test, a prompted creative writing exercise, and a more practical and fun Leadership and Teamwork Assessment. Details of the day are as follows:

On-screen Test
The on-screen test is around 45 minutes long and covers Maths and non-verbal reasoning skills. The test assumes that students have covered at least the minimum requirements of the UK National Curriculum in Maths. You can access an online familiarisation tool by clicking this link:  Prior Park College 11+ Familiarisation Test

Creative Writing
The prompted creative writing lasts for 50 minutes and gives students the opportunity to show their English skills and grammar, and their creativity and spark. It assumes that students have covered the minimum requirements of the UK National Curriculum in English. 

Lunch
Lunch will be provided. Please let us know in advance if your child has any special dietary requirements.

Leadership and Teamwork Assessment
In the Leadership and Teamwork Assessment, students work in small teams with Prior Park Sixth Form students to solve a series of fun, active challenges in our Sports Centre. We host a parents' reception overlapping with this final session so that you can come and see your child(ren) in action.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Admissions team at admissions.ppc@priorparkschools.com, or 01225 835353, Option 2 for Admissions.

Visit our Fees and Finance page for information.

Prior Park offers Academic and Special Talent scholarships to students at 11+, 13+ and 16+.
Special Talent awards are offered in Art, Drama, DT, Music, Sport.

Applicants are encouraged to consult the Head of their primary, preparatory or senior school about the suitability of their son or daughter for such an award. Additional supporting reports from teachers or coaches are most helpful. 

For further information, including how to apply for a scholarship, please visit our Scholarships page.

The Governors of the Prior Park Educational Trust are committed to broadening access to its schools by offering to eligible parents or guardians means-tested financial support with payment of school fees.

To apply for a bursary you must be registered with the College and have paid the £125 registration fee. A bursary can, in some circumstances, be added to a scholarship award. Applications for a bursary must be made before the offer of a place at the school.

We reserve the right to refer some bursary applications to an external agency to provide an independent assessment of the appropriate level of support, if thought to be necessary.

All bursaries are kept under review throughout an award holder's time at the College. It is a condition of a bursary award that parents report any significant change in their financial situation.

There is a daily transport service to and from the College - further information, including current routes and timetables can be reviewed here.

Routes are subject to change, so please use this as a guide. If you are planning to use the service it is advisable to contact us to ensure we can best meet your needs.