Year 9 Admissions Process
We are a selective school which means that every candidate is required to take an entrance assessment. However, our key objective throughout the Admissions process is to ensure that your child will benefit positively from the curriculum, facilities and opportunities we offer, and enjoy academic and personal success in the future.
The majority of pupils who join us in Year 9 are predominantly from preparatory schools in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and London.
The assessment for entry into Year 9 takes place whilst a child is in Year 6. We recommend that your child is fully registered whilst in Year 5 and if attending a prep school, you advise them that your child will be sitting the entry assessment for Pangbourne College.
Late applications may be considered if places are still available. If you are seeking a place in Year 9 for September 2025, please contact the Admissions team by email: [email protected] or by telephone: 0118 976 7415 or complete the online enquiry form.
Key Admissions Dates
You can download the key admissions dates for the following entry years:
Register
To register your child please complete the online registration form and pay the relevant non-refundable registration fee. The closing date for registration is at the end of October, three years prior to entry (Autumn term of Year 6).
If your child has any SEN/Learning support needs, this should also be indicated on the registration form and submitted with supporting documentation. The Admissions team will contact you to discuss further the appropriate access arrangements for the entrance assessment.
Please note that if you wish to apply for a means-tested bursary, the application must be submitted by the end of the September of the following year (two years before your child is due to start).
Assessment
All candidates are required to take computer-based entrance assessments in English, Mathematics and Reasoning skills in the Autumn Term of their Year 6. For children at prep schools, this will be the ISEB Pre-Test and will be taken at their current school. The adaptive tests are age-standardised, in a multiple-choice format and take about two-and-a-half hours to complete.
Your child will then be invited to come to Pangbourne for an assessment day, during which they will take part in a variety of teacher-led team activities, which will be observed by senior members of staff. The assessment day will typically take place in mid January.
As part of our assessment process, we will request copies of your child’s latest school reports and contact their school for a confidential report in advance of the assessment day.
Reflection & decision
Once the assessment process is complete, we will notify parents in writing with the outcome of their application.
On receiving an offer, you have the opportunity to reflect and consider whether you feel that Pangbourne is the school where your child will flourish. If you have any unanswered questions, or need more information our Admissions team will be happy to help. Whether it’s a simple question, speaking to a key member of staff or visiting us again we will ensure you have all you need to make your decision.
When we make an offer of a place, we firmly believe that Pangbourne is the right school for that child. Offers need to be formally accepted together with a deposit payment.
Please note that offers are not conditional on performance in Common Entrance or other similar exams. However, end of Year 8 grades may be sought from schools to ensure that performance and attitude levels have been sustained.
Applications and assessment dates for Scholarships will vary according to the type of scholarship, these will be communicated to you in the September of the year before your child is due to start.
Join
We are mindful that there is a significant time period between acceptance of a Year 9 place and joining. We encourage families to become involved with our community during this time, be it through following our social media or maybe attending events.
A year before your child is due to join, your whole family will be invited to attend a Year 9 ‘Connect’ event. Whilst attendance is not compulsory, it is a fantastic opportunity for your family to spend some time at the school and meet other families who will be joining in the same year as your child.
In the Summer term before your child is due to join, your family will be invited to a welcome event, which is a further opportunity to meet the other families who will be joining our community. You will also meet the Housemaster/mistress of your child’s Division (boarding house) and other key members of the teaching and pastoral team.
Naturally, we will guide you through all of the preparations required in the run-up to starting at Pangbourne.
The first days of the new school year are dedicated to inducting our new starters and helping them settle into their new community and surroundings.
