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FAQs
Please do contact us if you have other queries at any stage of your daughter's application to College.
How selective are you?
We know that many people worry about our entry standards and selection does become more competitive with increasing age. However, we look for potential to do well and not simply what a girl has already been taught. If you have a daughter who is doing well at a good school, if she is an enthusiastic and able learner then she could well be successful in our entrance exam. It is always possible to discuss application worries with us - we do not wish to disappoint girls or parents at a late stage in the application process. The Admissions Tutor is always available at Open Days, via email or telephone and for girls entering Lower College an informal assessment can be arranged. This will consist of a short friendly interview, during which a girl will be asked to talk about her current work and activities. She will also be given some verbal reasoning questions to try, some maths and a creative writing exercise. Parents will be given verbal feedback immediately followed by a report from the Admissions Tutor. For those who have College as their first choice school, a conditional place may then be offered up to two years prior to entry.
Do you offer flexi boarding?
No - our boarders are full boarders. However we like to be flexible about special requests - either for day girls to board for a while or for boarders to be able to go home for special occasions, even if they do not fall at an Exeat.
So what is there to do at weekends?
A huge amount because most of the girls are with us, most of the time! Day girls are also welcome to join in any of the weekend activities and often do.
There are theatre and cinema trips, craft fairs, house events, barbeques, ice-skating, adventure clubs (e.g. mountain-biking, canoeing and orienteering), Duke of Edinburgh's award expeditions and lots more. The swimming pool and sports hall are open and girls can use these facilities, under supervision (depending on age). Just occasionally, girls like to sit and watch TV - also allowed! Cheltenham Ladies know how to indulge in retail therapy - although, for younger girls their shopping time is well managed.
Do you have provision for Special Needs?
Mild dyslexia or other similar learning difficulties can be fully supported, although any girl entering the College is expected to be able to cope with the mainstream curriculum. Special needs are usually addressed via one-to-one tutorial sessions with a trained teacher.
Parents of daughters with any form of special needs are asked to inform us of these as early as possible in the application process.
Will College ever take boys?
It seems highly unlikely. We believe passionately in single sex education. The breadth of opportunity, the lack of inhibition and the depth of enthusiasm for learning among the girls will be obvious if you visit College. We believe in the art of the possible for all our pupils and feel that the girls only environment is a challenging yet highly supportive one for the teenage years. There are some opportunities for joint events - e.g. concertos or debating competitions. Our girls have healthy social lives however and weekends often see dinner parties or discos taking place!
What do College girls go on to do after leaving?
All sorts of things. A large proportion of our leaving Sixth Formers go on to a Gap Year before university. This usually involves travel and work abroad and former pupils often return to College to share their experiences with younger girls. Virtually 100% of girls enter university and a list of recent leavers' destinations is available from College. It shows a highly diverse range of degree courses - medicine, law, architecture, engineering, art and design, humanities... the list goes on. An impressive number of our former pupils have distinguished themselves in various career fields (Bridget Riley - artist, Rachel Lomax - Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, Carolyn Kirby first woman to be President of the Law Society, Fiona McTaggart - politician, Amanda Wakely - Designer, Sue Lloyd-Roberts - News reporter, Kristen Scott Thomas - actress). Very many past CLC girls are now in highly responsible jobs and have succeeded in balancing fulfilling professional and family lives.
Further questions?
If we have not answered a question you had - please feel free to submit a question online. On receipt we shall direct your question to the appropriate person and they shall respond to you as soon as possible.