Joining this Top British Boarding School as an International Pupil
Main entry points
Prep School | 10+ | Year 6 | Form 2 |
11+ | Year 7 | Lower Third | |
Senior School | 13+ | Year 9 | Fourth Form |
16+ |
Year 12 |
Sixth Form |
Whilst we welcome applications direct from parents, selecting the right boarding school from a distance can be a challenge! We work with partner agents in many different countries, which often helps to make the process for families as smooth and easy as possible.
Working with Partner Agents
Our partner agents will advise you on whether Bishop’s Stortford College is the right school for your family and guide you through our admissions procedure and entry requirements. They may also be able to assist you with other aspects, including visa requirements and guardianship information.
For information about our partner agents, please contact one of our Admissions Officers:
Prep School (7 - 13 years)
Mrs Fiona Brett, Admissions Officer
Tel: +44 1279 838607
psadmissions@bishopsstortfordcollege.org
Senior School & Sixth Form (13 - 16 & 16+ years)
Mrs Christine Stanley, Admissions Officer
Tel: +44 1279 838604
admissions@bishopsstortfordcollege.org
Application Deadline
Most of our boarding places for the coming academic year are filled by the preceeding March, so applications need to be submitted as early as possible, ideally during the September/October preceding the year of entry. We have invested heavily in our boarding facilities and believe them to be second to none in the East of England. You can read more about our boarding facilities here, or view the video on the left.
Read more about International pupils at the College here.
Entry Requirements for International Pupils
Academic Ability Required
We are a selective school and prospective students need to be strong academically.
For GCSE courses
Pupils will be expected to take nine or ten subjects and achieve grades 9 - 7 in each subject.
For A Level Courses
We look for candidates who are close to the achievement of:
- a minimum of 7 grade 6 GCSEs or 3 grade 7s and 2 grade 6 GCSEs;
- at least a 6 grade in the GCSE or related subject for each A Level;
- a good disciplinary and attendance record.
English Language Test
To access the broad curriculum, international students need to be able to communicate, read and write in English, at an appropriate level for their age.
All candidates undertake an online English language test, but if you have evidence of IELTS certification, this would be helpful. We expect candidates to have reached levels 5.5/6.0 (upper intermediate/advanced).
Special Aptitudes
Sport, Music and Art are very strong at Bishop’s Stortford College. A special aptitude in any of these areas will be taken into consideration. Further information on our Elite Sports Programme can be found here.
Entry Procedure for International Pupils
Step 1: Initial Enquiry
Our partner agents provide us with the following information about potential applicants so that we can respond quickly and advise whether the student should proceed to the application stage:
- Application profile – an agent summary together with your most recent school report/reference and exam results (and exam predictions, where applicable);
- English language – IELTS certificate or equivalent to indicate the standard of spoken and written English reached;
- Interests and achievements – an indication of other areas of interest, including special areas of aptitude;
- For 10+ and 11+ applications – our partner agents interview applicants using open-ended questions and send a DVD of the interview.
Step 2: Application
Completion of an Application Form and payment of the Application Fee indicates that you wish to be considered for entry.
Applicants to the Sixth Form/Year 12 also need to complete a Sixth Form Entry Form.
Application deadline: Most of our places for the coming academic year are filled by the preceding March, so applications need to be submitted as early as possible, ideally during the September/October preceding the year of entry being considered.
Step 3: Assessment
As an academic school, places are offered to all applicants on the basis of:
1) Bishop’s Stortford College Entry Tests
7+ -12+ entry | Years 3-8 | English, Mathematics and Reading |
13+ entry | Year 9 | Non Verbal Reasoning, English, Mathematics and Science |
16+ entry | Year 12/Sixth Form | English and all chosen subjects |
If unable to travel to Bishop’s Stortford College, applicants may take the entry tests in their own country, either at the offices of one of our partner agents or at the nearest British Council offices. In all cases, the entry tests must be undertaken under proper examination conditions.
2) English Language Test (see Entry Requirements for an indication of the level required).
To access the broad curriculum, international students need to be able to communicate, read and write in English, at an appropriate level for their age.
• 10+/Year 6 and 11+/Year 7 entry – to demonstrate an appropriate level of English, a DVD is required showing the applicant being interviewed by the agent acting for the family. If successful, applicants then take written tests in English, Mathematics, Reading.
• 13+/Year 9 and 16+/Year 12 entry – applicants take a specialist English Language test alongside the academic examination.
3) School Report / Reference
4) Interview
All applicants are interviewed, however, we appreciate this is not possible for all international applicants. In these cases, for 10+ and 11+ applicants, our partner agents interview applicants using open-ended questions and send a DVD of the interview. For 13+/Year 9 and 16+/Year 12 entry, places are offered on the basis of an applicant’s entry test results, school report, particular skills and interests (e.g. music, art, sport) and an interview.
Step 4: Offer of a Place
Places will normally be offered:
7+ -12+ entry | Years 3-8 | by the end of February |
13+ entry | Year 9 | by the end of January |
16+ entry | Year 12/Sixth Form | by the end of December |
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Step 5: Acceptance of Place
An Acceptance Form, which accompanies the offer letter, is then completed and returned to us, together with the Acceptance Fee and guardian details by early March.
Guardians
Bishop’s Stortford College requires the parents of international students to appoint a Guardian for their child while they are attending the College.
The guardian should be resident in the UK and live within 40 miles of Bishop’s Stortford. We do not undertake guardianship arrangements for families, but please find below, a list of guardianship organisations that have been used by our pupils in recent years.
Alternatively, families can access a complete list of AEGIS (Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students) accredited guardianship organisations through the AEGIS website.
The following guardianship organisations have host families based locally in Bishop’s Stortford:
Anglia Guardians
Contact: Mrs Kerstin Ross,
Email: kerstin@anglia-guardians.com
Landline: +44 (0)1279 869632 Mobile: +44 (0)7946 913314
Trusted Guardianship Ltd
Contact: Mrs Zakiyah Razvi
Email: zakiyah@trustedguardianship.co.uk
Landline: +44 (0)1279 835650 Mobile: +44 (0)7961 107283
Pippa's Guardians
Contact: Mrs Kay Adye
Email: kay@pippasguardians.co.uk
Landline: +44 (0)1684 252757 Mobile: +44 (0)7843 365559
Bright World Guardianships
Contact: Carol Gill, Admissions Manager
Email: info@brightworld.co.uk ‹
Head Office: +44 (0)1273 835745 Emergency 24/7 +44 (0)1273 836060