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Admissions

Welcome

At Stamford School, we tailor our admissions process so we can build a bespoke and individual picture of each child upon entry, ensuring that Stamford is the right place for your son or daughter.

Mrs Scott
Stamford School Senior Registrar

The offer of a place at Stamford School is based on the following criteria:

  • Meeting our academic criteria following individual assessments based on the child's year group-specific assessment. i.e. Year 7 Entry Assessment Examination.
  • Receipt of a satisfactory school reference.
  • A successful interview by the student with a member of the academic staff. 
  • Receipt of latest school reports at any stage of entry. 
  • Acceptable GCSE examination results that meet the Sixth Form admissions criteria are required for entry into Year 12 only. (External Year 11 applicants sit an entrance assessment in the Autumn Term, but final GCSE results will be a deciding factor.)  

To begin the process of applying for a place at Stamford School, we first advise you to contact our Admissions team. Our team of Registrars will be your contact for all admissions enquiries and will be able to help every step of the way.

Once you contact a Registrar, we will arrange for you to visit the school with your child(ren), meet a member of the senior team, and tour our unique campus.

If you decide to apply for a place for your child(ren), we will require a completed application form and payment of the £150 fee to confirm your application. The Registrar will then talk you through the assessment and interview process at Stamford.

If your child currently has additional learning requirements, please advise the Registrar ahead of your visit so that we can arrange a meeting with one of our experienced SENDco staff. We have limited capacity in each year group for children with additional learning requirements and can offer advice and support throughout the application process. You can read more here.

Year 7 assessment and interview day:

Our entry into Year 7 requires all students to sit an assessment and participate in an informal interview. The assessment consists of online computerised tests in verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and spatial sections (3D shapes and patterns), plus a 30-minute handwritten creative writing assessment.

In addition to these assessments, children will take part in an informal interview conducted by an academic member of staff, although the interview questions will not be academically focused. Instead, questions will be asked to get a good understanding of each individual child, so we will ask them to tell us about their hobbies and interests, a recent holiday or their family, as well as their life inside and outside of school. The interview will last for no more than 15 - 20 minutes.

Year 9 and Mid-Year assessment and interviews:

For Year 9 and Mid-Year applications, students will be asked to sit an age-appropriate online assessment based on their current curriculum. This will consist of online computerised tests in verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, and spatial sections (3D shapes and patterns).

All students will also take part in an informal interview with an academic member of staff, although the questions will not be academically focused. Instead, they will be asked questions about their hobbies, co-curricular interests outside of school, favourite subjects, family, or a recent holiday.

Key Admission Dates

Year 7:

Discovery Morning

Tuesday 19 November 2024
09:45 – 11:30

Year 7:

Applications & bursary deadline
To be eligible to sit entrance exams

Friday 13 December 2024

Year 7:

Entrance Assessment and Interview Day

Saturday 11 January 2025
09:00 - 14:00

Year 7:

Scholarship Day (TADA Sport and Music)

Wednesday 15 January 2025
Exact timings to follow

Year 7:

Offer letters sent out

Monday 3 February 2025

Year 7:

Discovery Morning

Wednesday 5 February 2025
09:45 – 11:30

Year 7:

Deadline to accept place

Monday 3 March 2025

Year 9:

Assessment and Interview Day
(Current year 8 - September 2025 entry)

(Current Year 7 - September 2026 entry)

Wednesday 16 October 2024
Exact timings to follow

Year 9:

Offer letters sent out

Monday 21 October 2024

Year 9:

Current year 8 2025 entry - Deadline to accept place

Monday 4 November 2024

Year 9:

Current year 7 2026 entry - Deadline to accept place

Wednesday 1 January 2025

Year 9:

Scholarship Application Deadline

Friday 21 February 2025

Year 9:

Scholarship Assessment Day (Sports, Music, Art & Drama)
(Current Year 8 only)

(Current Year 7 - February 2026)

Tuesday 25 February 2025
Exact timings to follow

Year 9:

Scholarship Decision offer letters sent

Monday 3 March 2025

International and Forces Families
Students from overseas and those in Forces families follow a slightly different application process.

International Students

Military Families

FAQs:

Admissions
When can I visit the School?

We hold regular Open Days and Discovery Mornings throughout the academic year but are also happy to arrange individual visits outside of these dates. Please contact a member of our Admissions Team here.

What years do students join Stamford?

The most common entry years are at Year 7 (11+), Year 9 (13+) and Year 12 (16+) with a smaller number of students entering Year 8 and Year 10 dependent on spaces available.

How many children are in a year group?

There are approximately 160 pupils in Years 7 & 8, increasing to 180 pupils in Year 9, 200 pupils in Year 10-11 and 200 pupils in the Sixth Form (Year 12-13).

How many boarders does Stamford School have?

Across the 3 Stamford School sites (Junior School, Senior School and Sixth Form) approximately 17% of students are boarders, coming from the UK and overseas.

What scholarships are available to pupils?

Scholarships are available to pupils in Year 7, Year 9* and Year 12 showing excellence in either Academic, Sport, Music, Drama* and Art*.

Please visit the Scholarships page for more information.

Can my child join in the middle of the academic year?

Depending on the space available, it is possible for your child to join a year group within the academic year. Entry is subject to online assessments and an interview with a senior member of staff.

Do you have a waiting list for places?

If a specific year group is full, the Admissions team will run a Wait List and be in touch with you as soon as a space becomes available.

Will my childs current school be contacted throughout the application process?

In order to process your child’s application, we will require their last two school reports. Once approved by the Head of Admissions, we will seek your approval for a confidential reference form to be sent to your child’s current school. No formal offer of a place can be made without receiving the completed school reference form signed by their current school’s Head teacher or Head of Year. A delay in receiving a school reference will mean a delay in an offer being made by Stamford School.

My child has Special Educational Needs. What provision do you have?

Stamford School has an experienced SEN Team that provides support to pupils with a wide range of needs. Please speak with a member of the Admissions team who will arrange a meeting with the Head of Learning Support to assess your child’s specific requirements.

General
What does a typical day look like?

Lessons start at 8.30 each day, with a finish time of 4.00. A wide variety of after School clubs and societies run every day until 5.30pm.

What pastoral support does the School provide?

Each student has a Form Tutor, Head of Year, and Student Support Manager. Pupils are put into one of 4 Houses which run competitions in Sports, Singing and other activities which builds collaboration and friendships across all year groups. Sixth Form students and Prefects also have the opportunity for peer mentoring younger pupils to provide support and advice.

More information about our Pastoral provision can be found here.

Do students attend school on a Saturday?

Students do not have academic lessons on a Saturday but are required to participant in all School Sports fixtures which take place at varying start times depending on Home or Away matches. For more information visit our Sports Fixtures page.

Are there specific transport routes to School?

There are a number of specific bus routes for pupils from Year 5 upwards to access from surrounding towns and villages – please visit the Bus Service page for more information. There is also a train station in Stamford town centre which connects directly through to Peterborough and Oakham.

My child has severe allergies, can these be catered for?

The Catering Team are very experienced and able to provide a wide variety of healthy and appetising meal options to cater for pupils with allergies/intolerances and cultural tastes including vegan and vegetarian options. Please mention any specific food requirements to the Admissions team before your child comes for a visit or Taster Day to ensure their needs are met.

Are school meals included in the fees?

Yes the School fees listed here include tuition, lunches and all teaching supplies – utensils/books/guides.

What financial assistance is available at the Senior School?

A limited number of means tested bursaries are available each year - please visit the Bursary page for more information.

What is the school uniform and where do I buy it?

All students are expected to wear the correct Stamford School uniform which is available from the School Shop.

Scholarships

Bursaries

GCSE Options