Admissions
International pupils are an important part of our community, and we are home to around 100 international pupils from 25 different countries each year. Pupils can board with us from the age of seven years old through until their GCSE’s, and then for their A Levels in Years 12 and 13.
Our Prep School has its own boarding house, Grimwade House, for pupils in Years 3-8. When moving into the Senior School, boarding pupils reside in one of four single-sex boarding houses.
Find out more
Our International Admissions Manager is here to help you and your child through the process of applying to the College. We encourage families to visit us in person, if they can, or for those overseas we are able to offer a virtual tour of our campus and an online meeting with our Admissions team.
VIEW OUR VIRTUAL TOUR
We know what a big decision choosing a school for your child is, particularly when it’s overseas. We have outlined what the typical milestones might be in this process but understand that each family’s journey may be different. Please therefore do not hesitate to ask us any questions you may have that will help with your decision.
View our admissions process
We offer short-term stays for international pupils, offering them the chance to experience life at a British boarding school as either a standalone experience or before committing to longer term. The College’s proximity to London and Cambridge, combined with our vibrant weekend cultural programme, makes us the ideal location for our short-term students and their families.
Pupils can join us in Year 9, Year 10 or Year 12, on a full boarding placement, for the following terms:
During their stay international pupils will:
Experience the modern face of independent education: Our rigorous academic curriculum challenges pupils to excel. Pupils will attend lessons alongside peers in a range of subjects. Specialisms and preferred subjects can be chosen dependent on the year group.
Participate in rich extracurricular programmes. From sports teams to creative arts, STEM clubs and leadership opportunities, pupils will have the chance to explore their interests and develop new skills. Some pupils may wish to experience high levels of sport in the UK in either rugby, hockey (girls and boys), netball, swimming, or cricket which we are well equipped to provide.
Immerse themselves in British culture. Pupils will practice their English language daily and experience British cultural traditions while becoming part of a close-knit, supportive community.
Receive excellent pastoral care. Living in one of our modern, friendly boarding houses, our dedicated staff ensure all pupils feel safe, supported and at home, providing both academic guidance, and personal development support.
The deadline for study between January-July 2025 is Friday 18 October 2024.
The deadline for study for stays within the academic year 2025-2026 is Friday 28 March 2025.
Enquire about short term places
We are an academically selective school, and all pupils will take part in our entry assessments. Assessments can be sat whilst overseas at a British Council Office, at the applicant’s current school (if an international school), or at an approved agent’s office.
For children whose first language is not English, we ask them to take an English assessment. The assessment helps to gauge the current English level and understand the support which they will need once enrolled with us.
For our Prep School, English results are reviewed alongside other test results and information collected during the application process.
For our Senior School, the table below shows the level of English required. We recognise that each pupil is an individual and for Year 12 entry the English results are reviewed with A Level subject choice in mind.
Depending on the pupil’s level of English, they may be recommended to study double ESOL in place of a subject. This will be discussed at the time should an offer be made.
Our ESOL team provides English support for every day, social, academic, and professional purposes in the four key skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening). Support is provided on an individual or group basis by a dedicated, professionally trained ESOL teacher. Pupils work towards a certification in Cambridge First for Schools [FCEfs] and Cambridge Advanced, IGCSE ESL or the IELTS examination.
International pupils who require a visa to study in the UK can apply for a Child Student visa with our sponsorship. We sponsor pupils who are boarding with us full-time. Our International Admissions Officer supports families through the visa application and the required documents.
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.
To ensure your child is supported whilst in the UK, we require them to have an appropriate guardian. Guardians can help with their pastoral care including holiday pick up and drop off, when they are unable to attend school through sickness or injury and with parents evening.
We ask that the guardian is resident in the UK and lives within 40 miles of Bishop’s Stortford. You should be confident in the guardian you choose, and we ask that they are an AEGIS or BSA accredited guardianship organisation. For a full list of guardians please see the respective websites: AEGIS (Association for the Education and Guardianship of International Students) or BSA (Boarding Schools Association).