Whether you are considering a place in our Nursery, Preparatory School, Senior School or Sixth Form, our Admissions process is simple, supportive, and designed to help you make the right choice for your child. We welcome applications all year round.
Key Information
Step 1:
Visit us
There is no better way to experience life at Ratcliffe than seeing it first-hand. Meet our Headmaster, staff and students, and tour our outstanding facilities and beautiful grounds. Private visits and personalised tours can be arranged all year-round with our Admissions team.
We also host Open Mornings each Autumn (September) and Spring (March), where you will enjoy student-led tours and exciting immersive taster activities.
Step 2:
Register your interest
Complete our online Registration Form to begin your child’s application journey. A Registration Fee of £99 (Nursery), £125 (day) / £150 (boarding) per child is payable to register your child as a candidate for admission at Ratcliffe College. The fee is non-refundable.
Please note that places are in high demand, and early application is advised.
Step 3:
Taster Days
Before joining us, your child can enjoy a Taster Day - experiencing lessons, meeting peers and becoming familiar with their new school environment.
Contact our Admissions team to arrange your child’s Taster Day.
Step 4:
Entrance Assessments
Entrance examinations and assessments normally take place in the January or February, before the September your child is due to start with us.
Please note, you must have already made an application for your child first, in order to sit our Entrance Examinations and Assessments.
For families applying for in-year entry, assessments can also be arranged throughout the year, subject to availability.
Step 5:
Offer of placement
If successful, an offer of place will usually be sent within one week, and are typically sent in January to those joining that September, subject to availability and admissions criteria.
Step 6:
Acceptance
You will be required to accept the offer online via your Admissions Portal to confirm a place for your child.
Joining Welcome Handbooks are sent in early May, with details of school uniform, key dates for Induction and other invitational letters in preparation for joining Ratcliffe College.
Joining from Overseas?
We welcome international students for full-time study as boarders from Year 6 (age 10) onwards. Students may join us for one or two terms, a full academic year, or remain with us for several years as they continue their education at Ratcliffe College.
Admissions FAQS
Yes, we have a number of online Familiarisation Tests available in Maths and English to help candidates become familiar with the entrance examinations on the lead up to their entrance exams. These online tests for 11+, 12+, 13+ 14+ entry show examples of the questions you might see in the assessment for each subject. This is just a chance for you to familiarise yourselves with how the assessment works, so you will not get a score for these questions.
If you would prefer your child to sit the assessment overseas, please contact our Admissions team to find out how to proceed: [email protected]
Students who are living overseas may take the assessment under exam conditions at their current school or at a test centre.
Results of Entrance Exams are confidential to the school. Offers of places are sent by email within ten days of sitting the exams. The school uses the Entrance Exam results to determine whether the candidate is able to access the curriculum appropriately and whether the school can meet the candidates’ educational needs.
Yes, please speak with our Admissions details to schedule in an appropriate time. Please note, you must have already made an application for your child first, in order to sit our Entrance Examinations and Assessments.
Contact: [email protected].
Only those entering Year 7 and Year 12 for that coming September can apply for Scholarships in Music. Art, Drama and Sport. Please note the deadline for all Scholarship Applications is at the end of November. Visit Scholarships and Bursaries.
