What is the first step if I am interested?

The first step is to complete our registration form. There is a non-refundable fee of £120 (VAT inclusive), and once received, we can start the formal assessment process for your daughter. For international students, please complete the overseas registration form (link to form) along with a non-refundable fee of £300 (VAT inclusive).

Are there any deadline dates?

Yes. Please find below the key dates for Admissions into Year 7 and Year 12 for September 2026.

Do you offer taster days?

Yes we do. During the Summer term, Year 5 students are invited in for a Taster Day which will be packed with different lessons and activities, and at the end of the day we host a pizza party for all the students who joined us.

Year 10 students are also invited during Future’s Week to spend the day with us including a taster timetable of the subjects your daughter is interested in and lunch alongside our current Year 10 students, with plenty of time to relax in our new Sixth Form Centre.

To book onto our Taster Days please go to our events page and register your daughters place.

For other year groups, and admissions enquiries later in the year, we offer Taster Day opportunities that allow girls to sample a typical day at The Abbey.

What is the date of the entrance exam and are there any alternative dates?

The entrance exam is on Monday 3 November for those students looking to join Year 7 and Tuesday 11 November for those students looking to join Year 12. In the event that you are not able to make those dates please contact us and we will look to make alternative arrangements.

What does the entrance exam involve?

The Year 7 entrance exam is prepared by the school and your daughter will sit papers in English (45 mins – composition and comprehension), Mathematics (45 minutes) and Reasoning (45 minutes – verbal and non-verbal).

What preparation is recommended for the entrance exam and are there any practice papers available?

There is no specific preparation required for our entrance exam as we are looking at your daughter’s potential, and how she thinks. For that reason, we do not supply past papers. We realise an exam is a daunting experience so we will make this day as enjoyable as possible.

Do you confirm the individual results of the entrance exam?

No, we don’t for two very good reasons. Firstly, the exam is only part of our decision making process. We place a great deal of emphasis on your daughter’s informal interview as part of the entrance day and her school references (which we collect prior to the entrance exam) as we believe this tells us as much about her personality and potential as the exam.

Secondly, if things did not go well on the day, and her results were not as expected, it may impact your daughter’s confidence.

Do you contact current schools for references?

Yes, we contact your daughter’s current school for a reference in advance of the entrance exam.

How soon after the entrance exam will we hear if we have been offered a place?

We aim to inform families by the first week of December.

What documentation is required to accept a place and is any fee payable?

We require a Parent Contract signed by you as parents together with a non-refundable deposit of £1,000. Please note that £500 is credited to the first term’s fees and £500 is refunded at the end of your daughter’s education with us.

Can we apply for deferred entry to Year 9?

Yes, your daughter can sit for Year 7 entry on the basis that you wish to defer to Year 9 entry. All applications are considered on an individual basis and are at the Head’s discretion.

What is the timing of the school day?

8.30 am to 3.45 pm.

What are the fees for the Senior School?

Please click here to see our Fees page.

Do you offer before and after school care?

Yes, students can arrive from 7:45 am in the morning and after school we have a Homework Club which runs from 3.45 pm to 5.45 pm.

Are bursaries available in the Senior School?

Yes, bursaries are available in the Senior School. Please contact our Bursaries Team for further information via bursaries@theabbey.co.uk.

Are scholarships available in the Senior School?

Yes, we offer both Academic and Specialist Scholarships in the Senior School.

Students completing the entrance assessment in the Autumn term for Year 7 will be informed in their offer letter if they have been awarded an academic scholarship. This decision will be based on their performance in the reasoning paper, with particular attention paid to the questions which explore candidates’ critical thinking and development of an argument. These questions are unique to The Abbey. Although internal candidates will not sit the entrance test (if on roll before the Spring Term of Year 5), they will all complete the reasoning paper in the Autumn term of Year 6.

Specialist Scholarships in Art, Drama, Music and Sport can be applied for online by clicking here.

A Specialist Scholarship lasts for three years and can be applied for again during the Summer Term of Year 9. A Specialist Scholarship provides a discount of £600 per year on fees for Art, Drama and Sport and free tuition at school on one instrument for Music.

What are the criteria that are considered when applying for a Specialist Scholarship?

Please see our Scholarships page for information.

Do you offer a sibling discount?

We offer a sibling discount for the eldest daughter when three students attend The Abbey at the same time.

Do you offer any dedicated transport options?

We have a comprehensive transport system. Click here for details.