Each September approximately 75 pupils - 50 boarders and 25 day girls - join us in LC1 (Year 7 / 11+) from junior schools across Gloucestershire, the UK and from around the world.
They join one of our nine junior Houses (six boarding and three day) and are taught in mixed ability groups in most subjects, with specialist Lower College tutors to help them settle in and mentor them throughout their initial years at College.
Below is the process for applying to join LC1 (Year 7 / 11+) in September 2025. Subsequent years will follow a similar path and you should use this as an indicative timeline.
*Please note: Our Admissions process for 2024 day students remains open. Please contact our admissions team for further information.
1. View our Virtual Tour
Alongside this website, our virtual tour video, lasting 12 minutes, will give you and your family an insight into CLC, the wealth of opportunities available and how it may suit your daughter.
2. COMPLETE A REGISTRATION FORM
We would encourage you to submit a Registration Form as soon as you have decided College is an option for your daughter. This means we can keep in touch with you, invite you to relevant events and inform you of key deadlines as they approach.
The final deadline for submitting a Registration Form is:
- 1st July of Year 5 for bursary applications (1st July 2024 for applications to join in September 2025)
- 1st July of Year 5 for standard applications (1st July 2024 for applications to join in September 2025)
If you're applying for a bursary, please visit our bursary information page which will explain the additional steps in the bursary application process.
3. VISIT US IN-PERSON FOR AN EXPERIENCE DAY
An in-person visit will help you to get a sense of College and to imagine your daughter as part of our community. Our LC1 Experience Days are an optional opportunity specifically for families considering 11+ entry to tour the campus, visit day and/or boarding houses, and meet current pupils and key members of staff. There will also be opportunities for prospective girls to take part in fun activities with their peers.
Further information regarding our LC1 Experience Day will be released in due course.
If you are unable to attend an Experience Day, we run regular Open Days and other opportunities to visit throughout the year:
Pre-booking is required for all admissions visits and events.
4. RETURN AN ENTRANCE EXAM FORM
Registered parents will be sent an Entrance Exam Form to complete.
It must be returned by 1st August before Year 6 (1st August 2024 for September 2025 entry). This confirms you want to go ahead with your daughter's application and enter her for the Assessment Day.
5. TAKE PART IN AN ASSESSMENT DAY
It is important for us to meet all our candidates as part of the application process, and Year 7 candidates are required to attend an Assessment Day.
Your daughter will participate in group discussions, activities and complete written and adaptive online tests in Maths, English and Verbal Reasoning. The day will provide another opportunity for girls to meet their peers and find out about the many different opportunities at CLC.
The assessment days for 2025 entry, will take place during the first two weeks of October.
Places will be allocated by the Admissions Department.
A Briefing Paper summarising the subject content and skills we assess is available each year, as well as a suggested reading list, a copy of the previous year’s English entrance paper and a link to a Verbal Reasoning familiarisation exercise:
6. OFFERS
Places are offered in mid-November of Year 6.
Our team of assessors review each candidate’s performance across the entrance papers, her engagement and participation during the Assessment Day, and the reference we request from her current Head Teacher.
7. TAKE PART IN A SCHOLARSHIP DAY
In the February of Year 6 (February 2025 for September 2025 applicants), the girls with the strongest performance in the entrance exams will be invited to participate in further assessments and interviews for an Academic Scholarship. Auditions for short-listed Music Scholarship applicants also take place the same week.
Our scholarships do not carry fee remission, but those who earn the title of Scholar will benefit from our bespoke Scholarship Programme.
8. ACCEPT YOUR PLACE
You will have until the beginning of March in Year 6 (3rd March 2025 for September 2025 entry) to accept your place and pay the acceptance fee and deposit.
9. JOINING INFORMATION AND HOUSE PLACEMENTS
In June of Year 6, parents will receive confirmation of their daughter's House, and access to an online portal containing our joining information. Some of this information is for you to read at your leisure, other items have forms which require a response by a set date (for example, requests for music or drama lessons, medical forms, etc).
During the last few weeks of the Summer Term, you'll have contact with your new Housemistress.
10. START COLLEGE!
The time has finally arrived...
Arrangements vary each year, but new students tend to arrive a day or two before our returning students to give them a chance to find their bearings before the official start of term.
