Prospectus > Admissions > Admissions Procedure

Admissions Procedure

Children come to Bedales from a great variety of homes and countries. Nearly one quarter of the older students have parents who either live or work overseas.

In offering places we like to give recognition to the needs of brothers and sisters.

The community has always reflected the school's interest in cultural variety.

Parents: do please visit the school to experience the unique atmosphere for yourselves, and to talk to staff and students (for contact details, click here).

Some schools register your child from birth onwards. We don’t. Just return the application form and the registration fee, as set out below.

The main points of entry are:

At 3+

Into the Dunannie Nursery Class. All children start in the September following their third birthday, although there is the option of coming for one or two afternoons in the previous summer term. There are no entrance tests at this age, and no deadline for applications.

Places occasionally become available further up the school; in these cases children come to the school for an informal assessment before a place is offered.

Please fill in and return an Application Form with the Registration Fee. To download an application form, click here.

8+ and 11+

Into Dunhurst, full boarding, flexi-boarding or day.

Candidates attend a two-day residential test, with an overnight stay, at the beginning of January. Candidates who are overseas at that time may sit the written tests wherever they are; they will have to attend for interview at some point in the eight months preceding entry.

At 11+ non-residential tests may be arranged at other times of year, if necessary.

External candidates should fill in and return an Application Form with the Registration Fee, preferably by the end of April in the year preceding entry; we will send you details of the entrance tests during the summer. To download an application form, click here.

The assessment process is described in the Current Information Guide (click here to download a copy), and we would be pleased to answer queries or talk you through it (for contact details, click here).

At 13+ (Year 9)

Into Bedales, as an external candidate or from Dunhurst (Bedales Junior School), boarding or day. For external candidates, a two-day residential assessment, with two overnight stays, is held early in January in the year of entry.

For external 13+ candidates there is an optional pre-assessment day in the May preceding the year of entry. Written tests and an interview give an indication of how strongly the candidate might perform in the residential tests the following January.

External candidates should fill in and return an Application Form with the Registration Fee by the end of April in the year preceding entry. To download an application form, click here.

To receive details of the entrance tests automatically, please register with us by the end of the preceding June.

At 16+ (Year 12)

Into Bedales, boarding or day. Candidates are invited to attend for assessment (one-day individual interviews) in the November or February preceding September entry, or at other times by arrangement. External candidates should fill in and return an Application Form with the Registration Fee, preferably by the end of June in the year preceding entry. To download an application form, click here.

The assessment process is described in the Current Information Guide (click here to download a copy), and we would be pleased to answer queries or talk you through it (for contact details, click here).

Terms & conditions

Paying the Registration Fee does not guarantee a place. If you are offered a place, you should confirm your acceptance by paying a deposit (for details please click here see the Current Information Guide).

For a full set of terms and conditions, please click here.