How does the Admissions Process work?

Over the next few pages we will explain the different stages of the admissions process, the most frequently asked questions and everything you need to know.

How can I find out more about the school?

An ideal time to look around the school informally is at our Open Morning. For entry in Autumn 2024, the Open Morning will be held on Saturday 7th October 2023 from 10.00am until 1.00pm.

There will be an opportunity to meet Mrs Gemma Gibson, Headmistress and Mrs Carolyn Howe, Head of the Junior School, as well as other key members of staff. Activities will be arranged during the morning for your daughter to join if she wishes to and our students will be available to show you around the school.

An important advantage of visiting the school on the Open Morning is that all the facilities can be viewed at your leisure, with teachers and students free to respond to your questions.

Our midweek Open Morning events, on Wednesday 8th November 2023 and Wednesday 8th May 2024, will provide you with an opportunity to view the school on a normal working day.

Our Sixth Form Open Evening will be held on Tuesday 17th October 2023 at 6.30pm for entry in Autumn 2024. This provides a relaxed opportunity to meet with Mrs Helen Woolley, our Director of Sixth Form and Heads of Departments. You will find out more about the benefits of a Sixth Form education at Bedford Girls’ School, and have the opportunity to explore the International Baccalaureate Diploma and A Level programmes.

We positively encourage, and parents also value, the experience of a private visit to the school and our Admissions Manager will always be pleased to arrange an appointment for this purpose. Usually a private visit will include a tour of the school and a meeting with the Head of the Junior School, and/or a meeting with the Headmistress.

If you are at present living some distance from Bedford or are unable to visit the school in person for any other reason, we are happy to arrange online virtual meetings with the Admissions Team, the Headmistress and other senior members of staff to help with your decision-making process.

How do I apply for a place?

Once you have decided that you would like your daughter to be considered for entry to the school in Autumn 2024, the next step is to register her for the relevant assessment process.

Assessments for entry in the Autumn Term 2024 will be held early in the Spring Term 2024 and we ask that you register before Friday 1st December 2023.

Early registration is advised as it is in your daughter’s best interests that her present headteacher should have sufficient time before her assessment to prepare a full report about her current work and progress, and that your daughter should receive information about the assessment as soon as it is available. Additionally, if you would like your daughter to experience a Taster Day for the Junior School, we can arrange this as soon as we have received your registration form.

The registration form can be completed on our website by scanning the QR code on the inside front cover of this booklet. The form can be submitted online together with payment of the £125 registration fee.

The fee, which is not refundable, covers not only the administration of your daughter’s application, but also the cost associated with her interview and assessment. You will also be asked to upload a copy of your daughter’s birth certificate.

Can I get assistance with fees?

Academic Bursary Awards are allocated each year and these can be applied for annually.

When you complete the registration form, please indicate if you wish to apply for financial assistance. We will then send you a link to the online bursary application form. It is very important that this application is returned promptly. The bursary application deadline for the academic year 2024/25 is Friday 1st December 2023.

Bursaries are highly competitive and only available for students in the Senior School and Sixth Form. They are awarded based on academic ability and means tested financial need.

If your daughter is successful in the entrance assessments, the outcome of your bursary application will be included in the letter offering her a place; this means that you will know from the outset an approximate indication of what your financial commitment is likely to be.

Further details can be obtained from the Admissions Section of our website: www.bedfordgirlsschool.co.uk

How do you assess my daughter?

Bedford Girls’ School accepts students from a wide range of independent and state maintained schools. Assessment tasks are designed to test your daughter’s potential and we take into account the fact that pupils in different schools may well have reached different stages at the time the assessments take place.

You will find the full details of the assessments on the following pages:

Junior School, pages 4 - 7

Senior School, page 8

Sixth Form, page 9

Assessment Dates For 2023 Entry

Full details will be sent to all registered candidates.

Junior School

Entry for Year 3 and 4

Assessments: 22nd and 23rd January 2024

Activities Morning: Saturday 13th January 2024

Entry for Year 5 and 6

Assessments: 11th and 12th January 2024

Activities Afternoon: Saturday 13th January 2024

Senior School

Entry for Year 7

Interviews and Assessments:

9th, 10th and 11th January 2024

Entry for Year 8

Interviews and Assessments:

Friday 19th January 2024

Entry for Year 9

Interviews and Assessments:

Monday 15th January 2024

Entry for Year 10

Interviews and Assessments:

Wednesday 24th January 2024

Sixth Form

Interviews and Assessments:

Wednesday 24th January 2024

When will we know if she has a place?

Results of the assessments will be emailed to parents on Wednesday 14th February 2024

Please note that results cannot be given over the telephone.

Our assessment procedure is highly competitive and in some years we have more applicants than places available. If this should occur we may place a successful applicant on a waiting list until a place becomes available. We will notify you at the same time as the offers are posted.

How do we accept the place?

We ask you to accept the offer by Wednesday 6th March 2024. After that date, any places not accepted in writing may be offered to candidates on our waiting list.

Please note that a deposit of £500 will be payable to secure a place. This deposit is returnable at the end of your daughter’s Bedford Girls’ School career.