Admissions Information
Welcome to Bancroft's, an academic, co-educational, day school. We are looking for bright, naturally inquisitive children to join us who will take full advantage of the range of opportunities we provide. Admission at all stages is by means of written assessments. Every year we receive more applications than we have places. Following our entrance tests, some children may be placed on a waiting list and may be offered places if vacancies arise.
Our pupils come from a diverse mix of backgrounds and we greatly value our multi-ethnic and multi-faith community, believing it to be an ideal nurturing ground for our future society, developing understanding and respect for individuality and for those around us.
The main points of entry into Bancroft’s are at 7+ into the Prep School (Year 3, Alphas) and at 11+ into the Senior School (Year 7, Thirds). We also admit pupils into our Sixth Form at 16+ (Year 12, Lower Sixth).
The Senior School is occasionally able to consider admission into other year groups, if spaces become available. For more information please contact the Admissions Team by emailing admissions@bancrofts.org.
7+ Entry
We have spaces in the Prep School for approximately 66 pupils at 7+ (Year 3). Entrance is by our own competitive test, held in January of the year of entry. Candidates are invited into the Prep School for testing on two separate occasions. Pupils join us from a very wide range of independent and state schools.
11+ Entry
At 11+ (into Year 7), we recruit around a further 60 pupils to join those who transfer from our Prep School. Pupils come from a very wide range of independent and state schools. Our assessments tests are held in January of the year of entry. Children who show promise in these assessments are invited for interview.
16+ Entry
We welcome new pupils at 16+ to join the Lower Sixth (Year 12); these come from a wide range of independent and state schools. Entrance is by our own competitive exams, held in November of the year before entry, i.e. at the beginning of Year 11. Candidates select two papers from a list of subjects Bancroft’s offers at A Level. They also sit a paper which tests problem solving and other thinking skills. Candidates who show promise in these assessments are invited for interview. Places are awarded conditionally, and candidates are expected to achieve a minimum level of achievement at GCSE.
Assisted Places and Awards
The school offers a number of Assisted Places at these three entry points. Assisted Places support pupils of high ability whose parents can provide evidence that they might not otherwise be able to afford the full school fee. The places are awarded on the results of the entrance tests with school reports and interviews playing an important part.
We offer Academic Awards to the top performing candidates in our 11+ testing process. These have no financial value.
Music Awards are offered at 11+ and 16+ during the Spring Term of their first year at Bancroft’s. Although there is no fee remission for Music Awards, the school will cover music lessons for either one or two instruments with our visiting music teachers.
Sports, Art, Drama and Community Awards are available to pupils once they have joined the school. There is no remission of fees attached to any Awards.
Please see the relevant webpages for full details of admissions at each point.