Choosing the right school for your child is clearly an extremely important decision, with many factors to take into consideration. Embarking on the Admissions process for senior school can therefore appear quite a daunting task, but the Admissions Team at Stowe is here to guide, support and advise you as you navigate the various steps of the process. We have endeavoured to put in place a logical, simple and digestible Admissions process which we hope will assist you in your decision-making process.
The 13+ Admissions Process
Each year we take approximately 180 pupils into the Third Form (Year 9). We advise families to start the initial process when their child is in Year 4 or 5 and recommend visiting on an Open Morning with the aim of narrowing your long list of schools to a short list of three or four. There are then three important steps to be negotiated in Year 6:
Stage 1. Enquiry & Registration
Entry to Stowe is competitive so we advise parents to contact the Admissions team when their child is in Year 4 or 5. You may initially wish to request a prospectus or having completed your research online, you might be contacting us for the first time to enquire about next steps. We have produced a number of easy-to-follow Next Steps Guides by year of entry.
At this point you may wish to attend one of our Open Mornings.
There is no fixed date by which Registration must take place as we will fill our places on a first come, first served basis. However, we recommend that parents Register their children no later than December of Year 6. Registration means that your child is formally added to the School List for that year of entry. Please note that Registration alone does not guarantee admission to the School or a particular House. To Register your child please complete our online Registration Form.
Stage 2. Private Visit & Interview
All prospective pupils are expected to visit the School for their interviews when they are in Year 6. By exception overseas pupils may be interviewed remotely:
The individual visit consists of interviews with the Registrar and a Houseparent, a tour of a House and tour of the School with a member of the Sixth Form. During term time we offer four appointments per weekday and three on most Saturday mornings. Please contact the Admissions Office to make an appointment. Please also bear in mind that visits are routinely booked up one to two months in advance.
Stage 3. Academic Assessments & Offer of a Place
Stowe uses CAT4 Tests to assess academic ability and potential.
Academic data is gathered from prep schools in the Autumn Term in Year 6. Those at a state or independent school will sit their tests in October/November of Year 6
Overseas pupils, for whom English is their first language will be asked to sit CAT4 Tests. Candidates for whom English is not their first language will be asked to sit a UKiset test.
The third piece of evidence we require is the school reference or report. For candidates from UK State or Independent schools as well as those schooled overseas, reports will be requested from parents during the initial stages of the enquiry. For those pupils attending a Prep School we will request these references from the Prep School Head in October of Year 6.
On completion of the three key elements of the Admissions process, a decision about whether to offer your child a place will be made. Successful candidates will receive an unconditional offer. The School reserves the right to apply additional academic assessments for those candidates who are deemed to be borderline. Day offers are announced on 31 January of Year 6 and Boarding offers are on 1 March of Year 6. Late applications are accepted in Year 7 subject to availability.
Stage 4. Acceptance of Place
On receipt of the completed Acceptance of Place Form and payment of the deposit of £1,500 (an Additional Deposit of £12,000 is required where a pupil’s normal residence is outside the UK), your child’s place at Stowe and House are confirmed.
For further information please contact the Admissions Office by email at admissions@stowe.co.uk.