Admissions Process
Our friendly and welcoming Admissions team will be pleased to guide you through our admissions process. Our main entry points and the year of entry we are currently working towards are Prep School, Year 7 (2026), Year 9 (2028) and 16+ (2026). Please contact our Admissions team directly on admissions@ardingly.com if you are interested in the possibility of a place outside of these main entry points. (Updated January 2025)
11+ (2027) Entry
Year 7
13+ (2029) Entry
Year 9
16+ (2027) Entry
Sixth Form
11+ (2027) Entry
Year 7
13+ (2029) Entry
Year 9
16+ (2027) Entry
Sixth Form
11+ (2027) Entry
Book an open day
The application process for 11+ entry (Year 7) takes place when your child is in Year 6. Parents are asked to visit the College for an Open Day in Year 5 or early in Year 6.
Open Morning
Monday 4th May 2026
11+ (2027) Entry
Register for a Place
You then need to register your child by the registration deadline. Once you have registered, you will be invited to bring your child to the College for an 11+ individual visit.
11+ 2026 Registration Deadline
October 2026
11+ (2027) Entry
Come for an Individual Visit
Individual visit includes a meeting with the Head, a member of the Admissions team and an individual tour with a senior member of staff.
Individual Visits
Tuesday and Thursday mornings during term time.
11+ (2027) Entry
11+ Engagement Day
Applicants will sit short academic assessments in English and Maths (paper based), and Cognitive Ability assessments (online). Applicants will also participate in fun group activities to experience just a few of the many offerings at Ardingly College.
11+ 2027, Engagement & Assessment Days
November 2026
11+ (2027) Entry
References request
We will contact the Head of your child's current school and request a reference.
Reference Request
November of Year 6
11+ (2027) Entry
Scholarship Assessment
Academic, Art, Dance, Drama, Music, Sport Scholarships are offered. These one day assessments take place between Saturday 15th November and Friday 21st November.
Scholarship Assessment
November 2026
11+ (2027) Key Dates
Our Next Open Morning
Monday 4th May 2026
Registration Deadline for 2027 entry (and the deadline to apply for all 11+ scholarships)
October 2026
11+ 2027 Entry Engagement Day
November 2026
2027 Academic Scholarship
November 2026
2027 Art, Dance, Drama, Music & Sport Scholarships
1 day during 15th - 21st November
11+ 2027, Offers sent
December 2026
11+ 2027, Acceptance deadline
March 2026
13+ (2029) Entry
Book an open day
The application process for 13+ entry into Shell (Year 9) takes place when your child is in Year 6. Parents are asked to visit the College for an Open Day in Year 5 or early in Year 6.
Senior School Open Morning
Monday 4th May 2026
13+ (2029) Entry
Register for a Place
Registered applicants will then be invited for an individual visit to the College and your child will also be asked to sit the ISEB online Pre-Test at their Prep School in the Michaelmas term of Year 6.
13+ 2029 Registration Deadline
October 2026
13+ (2029) Entry
Individual Visit
After registration you will be invited for an Individual visit. This includes a meeting with the Head, a member of the Admissions team and an individual tour with a senior member of staff.
Individual Visits
Wednesday or Friday morning during the Michaelmas Term of Year 6
13+ (2029) Entry
Engagement & Assessment
Selected candidates will then be invited to attend an Engagement Day during the following February where they will undertake short written tests and participate in a carousel of lessons and fun activities with their peers. Offers will then be made to the successful candidates in March of Year 6 for Year 9 entry.
13+ 2029 Engagement & Assessment Days
February 2027
13+ (2029) Key Dates
Our next Senior School Open Morning
Monday 4th May 2026
Registration Deadline for 2029 Entry
October 2026
Ardingly Engagement Day
February 2027
Decision letter sent
March 2027
16+ (2027) Entry
Book an Open Event
Every year we welcome a significant cohort of new joiners to our Sixth Form at Ardingly, both from the UK and from overseas, attracted by our outstanding Sixth Form provision and the broad choice of academic pathway we offer, including a wide range of A Levels or the IB Diploma. We encourage prospective applicants and their parents to attend our 16+ Open Evenings in either Year 10 or Year 11.
Open Morning
Monday 4th May 2026
16+ (2027) Entry
Register for a Place
The next step is to formally register for a place. Once registered we will request a reference from your child’s current school.
16+ 2026 Registration Deadline
September 2026
16+ (2027) Entry
16+ Assessment Day
Applicants will be invited to a 16+ Assessment day in November of their Year 11, where they will sit an online CAT test, as well as further papers, depending on the subjects they wish to study in the Sixth Form. The day will also include a one-to-one meeting with a senior academic member of staff.
16+ Assessment Day
November 2026
16+ (2027) Entry
16+ Scholarship Assessment Days
Academic, Art, Drama, Music and Sport Scholarships are offered. Each discipline requires one day of assessment.
16+ Scholarship Assessment Days
November 2026
16+ (2027) Key Dates
Our next Senior School Open Morning (relevant to Sixth Form entry)
Monday 4th May 2026
Registration Deadline for 2026 Entry
September 2026
16+ Assessment Day
November 2026
16 Scholarship Assessments
November 2026
Offers Made
December 2026
Acceptance Deadline
January 2027
Prospectus Packs
Our website provides comprehensive information about Ardingly College but we also have prospectuses which provide more in-depth information about certain areas of school life.
Year 7 to Fifth
Senior School Prospectus
Years 12 & 13
Sixth Form Prospectus
KS3, GCSE, Sixth Form
Academic Information
Whole School
Sport at Ardingly
