Admissions Guide
For entry in 2027 ~ 2028
Bedford Girls’ School
Our students soar; they are the creative thinkers, the change-makers and the problem-solvers of the future.
At Bedford Girls’ School, we strive to deliver a future-inspired education; where innovative teaching practices, technology and compassionate care combine to empower our students with the attributes and self-confidence that they will need to seize opportunities and tackle the challenges of a complex world.
We value and celebrate every member of our community and encourage our students to remain continually curious to the perspectives of others. We are ambitious and lift each other up through nurture and challenge.
We are a school which creates joy through learning, where we all aspire to use our intellect to remain inquisitive to endless opportunities. We encourage creativity, communication, collaboration and leadership; helping our students develop unique voices and an understanding of how they can change the world around them.
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When you
ready to register your daughter with us, please scan the QR code above to complete the online registration form.
Welcome
We understand that choosing the right school for your daughter is one of the most important decisions you will make. Our prospectus and website will give you a genuine sense of life at Bedford Girls’ School and we encourage you to join us at one of our open events this year, or to arrange an individual visit to the School. We want you to feel absolutely confident that your decision is the right one for you and your daughter.
This guide is designed to offer a clear explanation of our admissions process. We welcome applications for entry into all year groups (with the exception of Years 11 and the Upper Sixth), subject to spaces. We have set dates for our admissions process, however, we do understand that work relocations and family circumstances don’t always coincide with the start of the school year. If this is the case, please contact us to discuss your individual circumstances, we will always try to help.
As Bedford Girls’ School is a selective school, our admissions process involves assessments and interviews. These have been carefully developed to be an enjoyable experience which prospective students and parents should not be anxious about. It is very important to us that our students are happy, and our admissions experience is planned to allow us time to get to know each individual candidate. This enables us to offer places confidently to pupils who we believe will be well suited to all aspects of life here.
Please remember that we are here to help you and if you have further questions at any stage of your decision making process, do contact us on 01234 361918 or email: admissions@bedfordgirlsschool.co.uk
We look forward to having the opportunity to welcome you to Bedford Girls’ School in the near future.
The Admissions Team
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 visit the school?
We always encourage families to visit the school before applying for a place. It is important that both you and your daughter feel that BGS is the right choice for your family. Visits provide the opportunity for you to see the school in action, understand our ethos and values, as well as giving you the chance to meet key members of staff and students. We are here to help guide you through the admissions process and we will always try to tailor our activities and tours to suit your needs.
We have a host of options from individual visits with a meeting with the Headmistress or Head of the Junior School; regular small group coffee mornings and tours; taster sessions for your daughters and whole school open mornings.
Details of all the upcoming events are available on the admissions page on our website, and you can directly register for events online or drop the Admissions team an email (admissions@bedfordgirlsschool.co.uk) or call (01234 361918) to find out more.
Key whole School Open Morning events for the 2026/27 academic year are as follows:
Whole School Open Morning: Saturday 10th October from 10.00am-12.30pm
Sixth Form Open Evening: Thursday 5th November 2026
November In School Open Morning: Tuesday 10th November 2026
Spring In School Open Morning: Wednesday 5th May 2027
Arranging a virtual meeting
If you are at present living some distance from Bedford or are unable to visit the school in person, we are happy to arrange online virtual meetings with the Admissions Team, the Headmistress and other senior members of staff to help with your decisionmaking 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 2027, the next step is to register her for the relevant assessment process.
Assessments for entry in the Autumn Term 2027 will be held early in the Spring Term 2027 and we ask that you register before Tuesday 1st December 2026.
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.
Registration Form
The registration form is completed on our website and can be accessed by scanning the QR code on the inside front cover of this booklet. The form should be submitted online together with payment of the £150 (inc VAT) registration fee. You will also be asked to upload a copy of your daughter’s birth certificate.
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.
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 2027/28 is Tuesday 1st December 2026.
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. Bursaries are only awarded once a year in the January Assessment period.
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 schools. Our online assessment tasks are designed to test your daughter’s potential and we take into account the fact that pupils in different schools may have covered different curriculums.
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
In addition to our January assessments we will run monthly assessment centres, where space is still available.
ASSESSMENT DATES FOR 2027 ENTRY
Junior School
Entry for Year 3 and 4
Assessments: 18th and 19th January 2027
Activities Morning: Saturday 9th January 2027
Entry for Year 5 and 6
Assessments: 7th and 8th January 2027
Activities Afternoon: Saturday 9th January 2027
Senior School
Entry for Year 7
Interviews, Activities and Assessments: 5th, 6th and 7th January 2027
Entry for Year 8
Interviews, Activities and Assessments: Thursday 7th January 2027
Entry for Year 9
Interviews and Assessments: Monday 11th January 2027
Entry for Year 10
Interviews and Assessments: Friday 15th January 2027
Sixth Form
Interviews and Assessments: Wednesday 20th January 2027
When will we know if she has a place?
Results of the assessments will be emailed to parents on Wednesday 10th February 2027
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 3rd March 2027. 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.
Junior School Assessments Years 3 - 4
Entry at Year 3 and Year 4
The admissions process is split into two sessions to ensure our youngest candidates do not feel overwhelmed and have the opportunity to enjoy their time with us. Your daughter will be invited into Bedford Girls’ School twice; once to complete online cognitive ability assessments and once to attend a fun activities-based session.
THE ASSESSMENT MORNING
The online assessment for Years 3 and 4 will take place over two mornings on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th January 2027. Your daughter will be invited into school to attend a session on one of these dates. The assessment session will last approximately an hour and 45 minutes and comprise:
• A series of short cognitive ability tests which in total take approximately one hour to complete. These will consist of a number of problem-solving, language comprehension and puzzle type questions which will provide us with information relating to your daughter’s underlying ability across a range of indicators. Your daughter does not need to prepare for these assessments.
• Your daughter will complete the assessments on a laptop and she will be guided through the assessments with instructions given through headphones. The tests are timed and candidates have the opportunity to go back over their work to check their answers within the given timeframe.
• The assessments will take place in a classroom setting with the Head of Year and Mrs Howe, the Head of the Junior School, supporting the candidates throughout the process.
ACTIVITIES MORNING
The Activities Morning will be held on Saturday 9th January 2027 and will involve all candidates for Years 3 and 4 working with their year groups. The morning is divided into two parts:
• Creative Writing
Your daughter will be asked to complete a short writing task in a classroom group. The group will take part in a teacher-led discussion, listening and talking to each other about the content of a piece of writing on a particular topic. Having discussed what might be included in her piece, she will be asked to complete a creative writing task independently, developing her creative ideas throughout her writing.
• Group Activities
After a snack and a play in the Junior School Gardens, candidates will take part in group activities, where they will have the opportunity to meet some of our teachers and enjoy taking part in a range of creative tasks, so they can experience first-hand our approach to learning.
Junior School Assessments Years 5 - 6
Entry at Year 5 and Year 6
The admissions process is divided into two sessions to ensure our younger candidates have the opportunity to enjoy their time with us. Your daughter will be invited into Bedford Girls’ School twice; once to complete online cognitive ability assessments and once to attend a fun activities-based session.
THE ASSESSMENT MORNING
The online assessments for Years 5 and 6 will take place on Thursday 7th and Friday 8th January 2027. Your daughter will be invited into school to attend a session on one of these dates. The Assessment Morning will last approximately two hours and 45 minutes, it will comprise:
• A series of short cognitive ability tests which in total take approximately two hours to complete. These will consist of a number of problem-solving, language comprehension and puzzle style questions which will provide us with information relating to your daughter’s underlying ability across a range of indicators. Your daughter does not need to prepare for these assessments.
• Your daughter will complete the assessments on a laptop and she will be guided through the assessments with instructions given through headphones. The tests are timed and candidates have the opportunity to go back over their work to check their answers within the given timeframe.
• The assessments will take place in a classroom setting with the Head of Year and Mrs Howe, the Head of the Junior School, supporting the candidates throughout the process.
ACTIVITIES MORNING
The Activities Morning for Years 5 and 6 will be held on Saturday 9th January 2027 and will involve all candidates for entry into Years 5 and 6 working with their year groups. The afternoon will comprise of two parts:
• Creative Writing
Your daughter will be asked to complete a short writing task in a classroom group. The group will take part in a teacher-led discussion, listening and talking to each other about the content of a piece of writing on a particular topic. Having discussed what might be included in her piece, she will be asked to complete a creative writing task independently, developing her creative ideas throughout her writing.
• Group Activities
After a snack and a play in the Junior School Gardens, all candidates will take part in group activities, where they will have the opportunity to meet some of our teachers and enjoy taking part in a range of creative tasks, so they can experience first-hand our approach to learning.
Senior School Assessments
Years 7, 8, 9 and 10
Entry at Year 7 and Year 8
Year 7: 5th, 6th and 7th January 2027
Year 8: 7th January 2027
This is a key entry point as your daughter joins us in our Senior School. It is important that all of the candidates spend time in School getting to know us and have the opportunity to experience the exciting atmosphere at Bedford Girls’ School. Candidates come and spend a day with us between the 5th, 6th and 7th January. The day comprises the following elements:
• A series of short online cognitive ability tests which in total take two hours to complete. These will consist of a number of problem-solving, language comprehension and puzzle style questions which will provide us with information relating to your daughter’s underlying ability across a range of indicators. Your daughter does not need to prepare for these assessments.
• The candidates will join some of our current students for a delicious lunch in our Dining Hall. This gives them the opportunity to ask all of the important questions!
• During the day all candidates will have a short interview with our Headmistress, Mrs Gibson, so that she has the opportunity to get to know your daughter.
• During the day all candidates will also attend inspiring and immersive learning experiences in our Science, Tech and Art departments.
Entry at Years 9 and 10
• Entry into Year 9: Monday 11th January 2027
• Entry into Year 10: Friday 15th January 2027
Candidates will be invited into School on the following dates to complete their assessments and attend an interview with our Headmistress, Mrs Gibson:
Candidates will spend half a day in School, and the assessment session will comprise the following elements:
• A series of short online cognitive ability tests which in total take two hours to complete. These will consist of a number of problem-solving, language comprehension and puzzle style questions which will provide us with information relating to your daughter’s underlying ability across a range of indicators. Your daughter does not need to prepare for these assessments.
• A creative writing task: candidates will be given a prompt and be asked to complete a task which will take approximately 45 minutes.
• All candidates will have a short interview with our Headmistress, Mrs Gibson, and the Head of Year, so that they have the opportunity to get to know your daughter.
• Candidates will also have the opportunity to ask questions about life at Bedford Girls’ School.
Sixth Form Assessments
Wednesday 20th January 2027
Bedford Girls’ School Sixth Form offers students the unique choice of two study routes; either the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme or A Levels. Every prospective Sixth Form student is offered the opportunity to meet the Director of Sixth Form and relevant Heads of Departments, whilst deciding upon their individualised course of study.
Entry to the Sixth Form depends upon a satisfactory report from your daughter’s present Headteacher, good GCSE results, and an interview with our Headmistress and our Director of Sixth Form. We also require all Sixth Form candidates to sit a short series of online cognitive ability tests on the day of their interview and to complete a creative writing task. Candidates joining the Sixth Form will be expected to have a minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grade 9 to 6 and have achieved at least a 6 in the subjects that they are continuing in the Sixth Form. There are some subjects which may require a higher grade at GCSE and this will be explained to candidates prior to making subject choices.
Joining the School
Here are some of the key areas you might need to consider before applying for a place at Bedford Girls’ School. For more information please visit the Admissions section of our website.
FEES
The fees for Academic Year 2027-2028 will be posted on our website when they are confirmed in the Spring Term 2027. The fees for the Academic Year 2026-2027 are shown below and are are inclusive of 10% VAT contribution.
Junior School - £14,970 per annum
(£4,990 per term)
Senior School - £20,656 per annum
(£6,885 per term)
Sixth Form - £20,656 per annum
(£6,885 per term)
Examinations fees are charged for GCSE, A Level and IB Diploma entries in the Term when the examinations are taken.
Registration Fee - £150 (inc VAT) (nonrefundable)
Deposit - £500 (refunded when your daughter leaves the school)
PAYMENT IN ADVANCE
It is possible to pay towards tuition fees for a complete year or more in advance.
Please contact the Fees Team at the Harpur Trust for further details on 01234 369 500. There is no discount offered for siblings.
ALUMNAE AND PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP
Bedford Girls’ School operates an active Parent Teacher Association, called The Association, which supports the School in a variety of ways, organising social events
and fundraising activities. The Alumnae association will offer continued membership to the Bedford Girls’ School community through networking and social events, which will begin when your daughter leaves the school.
Life Membership to The Association and The Alumnae is through a total payment of £150 (inc VAT) per child and is compulsory for all new girls. This cost will be added to your first Spring Term invoice for school fees and will be detailed as a charge of £75 for The Association and £75 for The Alumnae.
LUNCHES
We pride ourselves on our lunches. We offer a wide range of nutritious, well balanced and freshly prepared dishes, sourcing as many local ingredients as possible. We offer bespoke catering for students with allergies or dietary requirements and our catering team spend time with the students, enticing them with beautifully cooked food and encouraging them to try new dishes and eat a balanced, healthy, satisfying lunch.
At the time of joining the School, we will advise you of the cost of the school lunches for the following school year. Parents are charged for school lunches a term in advance.
If you do not wish your daughter to have a school lunch, she may bring a packed lunch.
WRAP AROUND CARE
We realise and appreciate that many of our parents work. Therefore, we offer early and
late care facilities for all students to assist our parents. Girls in the Junior School are able to play in the grounds of the Junior School under the supervision of a member of staff from 8.00am in the morning, through to the start of the school day at 8.30am. On cold or wet weather days they will be taken inside.
Students are welcome to go to the Senior School Breakfast Club from 7.30am - 8.20am in the mornings to purchase breakfast if they wish.
Supervised Junior School Late Care runs runs every day for Junior School girls from the end of the school day at 4.00pm6.00pm. In the eventuality that you require your daughter to stay after 6.00pm she will be taken to the Senior School supervised After School Study Room where she can wait until 7.00pm. Whilst in the late care room, students are expected to complete their homework.
Senior School students may use the After School Study Room located in the Learning Resources Centre, which is supervised by a member of staff from 4.00pm - 7.00pm. The morning and afternoon care facilities for all students are free of charge and can be used on a regular or one-off basis.
UNIFORM
Junior and Senior School students at Bedford Girls’ School wear a charcoal grey, kilt-style checked skirt, or grey trousers, a white blouse, a teal or damson coloured jumper and blazer. Sixth Form students wear a smart, charcoal grey suit made up of a skirt or trousers and jacket, with a longsleeved striped shirt which can be worn with the damson jumper, or with an optional grey sweatshirt, during the school day.
Uniform is purchased exclusively online through our school uniform supplier, Schoolblazer. Our Pre-loved uniform shop offers a comprehensive range of items.
The approximate core costs for the new uniform are: Junior and Senior School £400-£500; Sixth Form £360. For more information visit the Admissions section of our website.
Whilst we ask that all students adhere to our uniform regulations, we recognise that some pupils may have additional requirements or needs. If you wish to discuss any specific uniform requests, please do get in touch.
TRANSPORT
Bedford Girls’ School is committed to promoting safe and convenient transport for students and staff. In the Admissions / Transport and Travel section of our website you will find details of buses and trains serving Bedford and, more specifically, Bedford Girls’ School.
STUDENT IPADS
At Bedford Girls’ School we are committed to advancing the integration of technology into our teaching and learning to foster creativity, research skills and collaborative learning. To assist in this goal, all pupils are required to purchase an iPad through the school. This will be configured specifically for educational use.
The cost of the iPad for 2026 entry was £350, with an additional annual insurance charge of an estimated £40. The iPad cost for pupils joining in September 2027 will be confirmed to parents when offers of places are made.
INDUCTION
We run a very effective induction programme for all new students and parents to ensure everyone is fully supported and happy in the transition to Bedford Girls’ School. We work with families throughout the Summer Term and our induction programme includes information evenings for new families, special induction sessions for students to get to know their new Form Tutors and peers. Additional familiarisation tours take place at the end of the Summer holidays.
Key Dates
WHOLE SCHOOL OPEN MORNING
Saturday 10th October 2026
SIXTH FORM EVENING
Thursday 5th November 2026
NOVEMBER OPEN MORNING
Tuesday 10th November 2026
SUMMER OPEN MORNING
Wednesday 5th May 2027
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATIONS
Tuesday 1st December 2026
DEADLINE FOR BURSARY APPLICATIONS
Tuesday 1st December 2026
OFFERS MADE
Wednesday 10th February 2027
DEADLINE FOR ACCEPTING OFFERS
Wednesday 3rd March 2027
FURTHER INFORMATION
There are many other aspects of School life that we would like to be able to share with you - such as our school policies, our GCSE, IB Diploma Programme and A Level examination results and our list of governors and staff. All relevant updates can be found on our website at www.bedfordgirlsschool.co.uk
Full copies of our ISI Inspection Reports are available on our website
ASSESSMENT DATES
Years 3 and 4
Assessment Mornings: 18th and 19th January 2027
Activities Morning: Saturday 9th January 2027
Years 5 and 6
Assessment Mornings: 7th and 8th January 2027
Activities Afternoon: Saturday 9th January 2027
Year 7 Assessment and Interview Days: 5th, 6th and 7th January 2027
Year 8 Assessment and Interview Day: Thursday 7th January 2027
Year 9 Assessment and Interview Day: Monday 11th January 2027
Year 10 Assessment and Interview Day: Friday 15th January 2027
Sixth Form Assessment and Interview Day: Wednesday 20th January 2027
