The admissions process for places at The Grange varies depending on the proposed age of entry to the school. You may read the full Admissions Policy if you wish.
Please follow the appropriate link to go directly to the most relevant section on this page.
We would be very happy to send you a prospectus and supplementary information to introduce the school. This can be arranged by ringing the Senior School (on 01606 74007) or Junior School (on 01606 77447), or by sending an email to
The best way to experience a little of the unique atmosphere of The Grange is to visit us in person, and we really do encourage you to do so.
If you would like to visit us, you may attend an annual Open Day, when both parts of the school are open to the public.
We welcome visits from parents and prospective pupils by appointment at any time of year. We would normally offer the opportunity for you to meet and talk with the Headmaster, and to take a tour round the school with pupils to guide you. Please ring the above numbers to arrange a convenient time.
In addition, in January of each year the Senior School offers Taster Days to prospective Year 6 pupils wishing to join the Senior School.
Sixth form applications may be received throughout the year. Students will be contacted by the school and asked to come with their parents for an assessment and taster day arranged in December, January or March.
Making an application
4+ Kindergarten Applications to start in Kindergarten in the September following a child’s fourth birthday should be made directly to the Junior School. Assessment Day for entry in September 2010 will take place on the 30th of January, 2010.
Application Forms are sent out with the prospectus and should be posted to the school, but can also be completed on-line and submitted. Download the Application Form here.
Arrangements will then be made with you regarding the Assessment Morning; to secure a place on that morning a non-refundable fee of £30 will be required. Following the Assessment, places will usually be offered within ten days.
11+ Senior School Applications to start in Form I at the Senior School in the September following a child’s eleventh birthday should be made directly to the Admissions Officer at the Senior School. Application Forms are sent out with the prospectus and should be posted to the school, but you can also download, complete and post an application to the school by following this link.
Arrangements will then be made with you regarding the Entrance Exam which usually takes place on the first Saturday in February. To secure a place on that morning a non-refundable fee of £30 will be required. Following the Entrance Exam, places will usually be offered within fourteen days, and acceptance will be required no earlier than the acceptance date nationally agreed by independent schools.
16 + Sixth Form
Applications may be received throughout the year. Students will be contacted by the school and asked to come with their parents for an introductory day on the 12th October 2010, 16th November or 14th January 2011. General Application Forms are sent out with the prospectus, and a specific Sixth Form Application Form is available in the Sixth Form prospectus (available on request). Both of these should be returned by post; alternatively both General and Sixth Form application forms can be downloaded and submitted.
The introductory day consists of an interview with the Headmaster, the Head of Sixth Form and the Heads of Department of those subjects which they hope to study at AS Level. In these discussions, an assessment will be made as to the likely suitability of the student for AS study in the chosen subjects. Students will also have the opportunity to enjoy a question and answer session with current Sixth Formers, as well as a tour of the school. In addition, students will be able to join lessons in the afternoon relevant to their AS/A2 choices.
Our standard academic entry requirements into the Sixth Form at The Grange School are:
Students should secure Grade A or A* in the four or five subjects to be studied at AS level;
Where the subject is not offered at GCSE (eg Philosophy), we would expect to see evidence of Grade A or A* in related subjects;
These results should be accompanied with four other GCSEs at Grade B or above which should include English and Mathematics if they are not one of the chosen AS subjects;
Any remaining GCSE examination results should be at Grade C or above.
Students will be contacted in March of their year of entry to confirm their choice of AS Level subjects and to receive details of the Sixth Form enrolment date. After that, the teaching blocks for the Lower Sixth are set and any changes in combinations of AS subjects will be possible only if they are available within the set blocks.
Entry at all other stages
Vacancies do arise from time to time for places in other year groups in both parts of the school.
Applications for a place for any child should be made directly to the Admissions Officer at the appropriate part of the school. Application Forms are sent out with the prospectus and should be posted to the school, but can also be completed on-line and submitted. Download the Applicaton Form here.
Pupils will then be invited into the school for a day's visit, which will include assessment, following the payment of a £30 administration fee. At the Junior School a series of largely informal tests or assessments will be administered appropriate to the age of the pupil. These will test numeracy, literacy and reasoning. At the Senior School, pupils will be asked to sit papers in Maths, English and a nominated Modern Foreign Language; a Verbal Reasoning Test may also be administered. The remainder of the day will be spent with the form which a successful applicant would join. Places at both schools will be offered only on receipt of a confidential report from the applicant’s current school.
Overseas Students
Applications are welcomed from pupils currently overseas, who may be relocating to Cheshire. Arrangements can be made for papers to be taken under the auspices of the pupil’s current school (subject to certain assurances having been received). Please ring the appropriate school office to discuss such an application.
Boarders and Guardianship The Grange School does not have facilities for boarding. In a most exceptional case, the school may be prepared to accept a Sixth Form student living away from home, but then only under the legal guardianship of a family approved by the school; we cannot arrange such guardianships.
