Choosing the right school for your child is an important decision, and our Admissions team is always ready to answer your questions and guide you through the admissions process. Naturally, the best way to get a feel for the College is to visit, and we would be delighted to arrange this on an individual basis, or to meet you at one of our Open Mornings.
Pangbourne welcomes applications from children from any educational background. Our priority during the admissions process is to ensure that pupils are able to benefit positively from the curriculum and facilities on offer, and to enjoy academic and personal success in the future.
There are three main points of entry into the College – 11+ (Form 1), 13+ (Form 3) and 16+ (Sixth Form). Admission may be possible at other ages depending on place availability. Day, part boarding (four nights), weekly boarding (six nights) and full boarding places are available.
Pupils must take entrance examinations, either at the College or, if applicable, at their prep schools, and students entering Sixth Form are also expected to have at least five grade 4 GCSEs (formerly Cs in the previous grading structure).
A limited number of scholarships are awarded to talented students each year at Form 3 entry (or Music or Sport exhibitions for Form 1 entry). These are available for Academic, Sport, Music, Art, Drama and Design Technology. The College also offers a limited number of awards for Sixth Form entrants to the College for excellence in these fields.
The Head of Admissions deals with all applications to Pangbourne College. For all Admissions queries, please email [email protected] or call 0118 976 7415.
We welcome applications from children from a variety of backgrounds and educational experience, who demonstrate the potential to make the very best of the opportunities that Pangbourne offers. We want our community to be inclusive and reflect the world outside of school.
There are three standard points of entry into the College. Please click on the relevant entry year below for full details of the Admissions Process for each:
Year 7 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.
We recommend that applicants are registered a minimum of one year prior to joining. The entrance assessment process takes place in the first term of Year 6. For those seeking entry in September
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, the year before your child is due to start. Late applications may be considered, subject to the availability of places. Please do contact the Admissions team if you would like to discuss this.
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.
Experience
Once your child is registered, they will be invited to attend a Dunbar Experience Day in the Michaelmas term of their Year 6. Whilst these days are not compulsory, they are a fantastic opportunity for your child to spend some time in school, taking part in some sample lessons and activities. With the emphasis on fun and getting to know Pangbourne a little better, the day will help your child to become more familiar with the College prior to attending their assessment day.
Assessment
The assessment day takes place in mid-November and is designed to be an enjoyable experience for your child. Whilst some of the day will involve a computer-based assessment, the remainder of the day involves interactive, team-building type activities to enable us to gauge how they adapt and use their natural skills and abilities.
The entrance assessment will consist of a computer-based assessment that measures Verbal, Non-verbal and Mathematical skills that form the foundations of learning. The assessments are designed to enable your child to demonstrate their academic potential and ability without the need for coaching and excessive preparation. The assessments support developed abilities in reading and maths that rely on genuine understanding rather than repetitive learning. The computer-based assessment lasts around one hour, but will vary by candidate.
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.
Applications for Exhibitions must be submitted by the end of November and auditions/assessments for those take place in advance of the closing date for accepting the offer.
Reflection and 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.
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 or , please contact the Admissions team by email: [email protected] or by telephone: 0118 976 7415 or complete the online enquiry form.
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/Learningsupport 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.
Reflrction and 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 & Exhibitions will vary according to the type of exhibition or 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.
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.
We recommend that applicants are registered a minimum of one year prior to joining. The primary entrance assessment process takes place in November of Year 11 and we hold a subsequent round of entrance assessments in February.
Entry into Sixth Form is conditional on performance in GCSEs and successful candidates are expected to have at least five grade 4 GCSEs (to include English and mathematics). This general entry criteria needs to be in conjunction with the A Level or BTEC subject specific requirement.
Register
To register 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, the year before your child is due to start. Late applications may be considered, subject to the availability of places. Please do contact the Admissions team if you would like to discuss this.
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 September prior to the year before your child is due to start.
Experience
Registered candidates will have the opportunity to attend our Sixth Form ‘Taster Day’ in November of their Year 11. Whilst these days are not compulsory, they are a fantastic opportunity for your child to spend some time in school, taking part in some sample lessons and activities. With the emphasis on getting to know Pangbourne a little better, the day will help your son or daughter to become more familiar with the College prior to attending their assessment day.
Assessment
The assessment days take place in November and February of Year 11 and consists of a computer-based assessment and an interview with a senior member of our academic team.
As part of our assessment process, we will request copies of the latest school reports and contact the current school for a confidential report, to include predicted GCSE grades in advance of the assessment day.
Applications for Scholarships must be submitted by the end of November.
Reflection and Decision
Once the assessment process is complete, we will write to you with the outcome of the 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 for Sixth Form, we firmly believe that Pangbourne is the right school for your child, where they will have the opportunity to shape their future beyond school and be in the best position to take the next step. Offers need to be formally accepted together with a deposit payment.
Join
Once the GCSE results are published, you will need to communicate your results to the Admissions team. Your place will be confirmed should all conditions of entry be met.
A programme of induction is in place to ensure the transition to Sixth Form is positive and helps you find your feet quickly, adapting to your new surroundings and the Pangbourne community.
Admission may be possible at other entry points depending on place availability, please contact the Admissions team for details.
In addition to day places, Pangbourne offers a variety of boarding options, including part boarding (four nights), weekly boarding (six nights) and full boarding places.
To apply for a place at Pangbourne College parents/guardians need to complete our online registration form and submit this together with the appropriate registration fee. Information on registration closing dates and entry point specific details can be found in the sections above.
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