Registration & Admissions
Introduction
Pupils may join Cheltenham Prep School in any year group and may join the Nursery School from the term when they have their third birthday. Entrance in all years is usually in September but entry at any point during the year is possible, subject to place availability.
Entry into Years 7 and 8 is selective and is based upon our assessment of a child’s ability to thrive at College. Entry to younger year groups is also assessment based, but this is less formal and focused primarily on whether or not a child will flourish within our school environment.
Boarding places are available for all pupils from Year 3 upwards. Cade House, our Boarding House is located in the main building of Cheltenham Prep School and has separate self-contained accommodation for boys and girls. Pupils wishing to enter the school as Boarders are invited to have an overnight taster Boarding Sleepover.
The Admissions Team are responsible for all aspects of the entry procedure and will be happy to assist with any additional questions you may have. They can be contacted by email: prepadmissions@cheltenhamcollege.org or by telephone: 01242 265 639.
More information can also be found on the website or via this QR link: www.cheltenhamcollege.org/prep-admissions
Visiting Us
The admissions process normally begins with a visit to the school as this is by far the best way to see all we have to offer. You can come to an Open Morning (usually in October and May) or book a personal visit. A visit normally lasts around two hours and you will meet the Head, Deputy Heads or another senior staff member who would be instrumental in your child’s education. You will be given a tour of the school and be able to meet our current pupils. If you are interested in a Boarding place, you will also have the opportunity to look around Cade House.
Please contact the Admissions Team to book a visit and/or to book onto an Open Morning.
Registration
Registration to place your child on the entry list for admission may be made at any time. To register your child, please complete the online Registration Form which can be found on our website.
The Registration Form must be completed and signed by both parents or legal guardians. Once submitted, this secures a provisional place on our entry lists and ensures that your child will be considered for a place at Cheltenham Prep School.
Please note that in the event of places being oversubscribed, registration for a place does not automatically guarantee that a place will subsequently be available.
Taster Days
Prior to receiving a place offer, we request that all pupils hoping to attend Cheltenham Prep School join us for a Taster Day. These are offered on school weekdays in term time and enable your child to experience a normal school day within their year group. Each visiting child is given a ‘buddy’ for the day who is in the same class, making our visitors feel at home from the outset. During the Taster Day, we will informally and unobtrusively assess your child to make sure that they will thrive within our community.
We recommend that all prospective Boarders or Flexi Boarders join us for a Sleepover in our Boarding House in addition to their Taster Day.
Entry into Pre-Prep
Our Pre-Prep Department includes Nursery School, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. Offers are made subject to children completing a Taster Day with us, and our staff confirming that we are able to meet each child’s needs academically and socially.
The aim of the Taster Day is to assess your child’s development informally, ensuring we can offer the most appropriate care and education. Where necessary, priority for the allocation of Nursery School days will be given to families with older children at The Prep.
Please note that children entering the Nursery School are expected to be potty-trained.
Entry into Years 3 - 8
After registration, pupils looking to join in Years 3 to 8 are invited to attend a Taster Day. At some point in this day, they will be asked to sit our age appropriate assessments. The assessment activities are relatively informal, and designed to ensure that all new pupils can access and enjoy our curriculum. Should a pupil find these particularly challenging, this will be highlighted to the parents.
For pupils joining us in Years 7 and 8, children sit College entrance papers which, if successful, would result in a combined Prep and College place.
Final Acceptance and Terms and Conditions
When a place is formally offered, parents or legal guardians receive a formal Letter of Entry, Final Acceptance Declaration and a copy of our Terms and Conditions. The Final Acceptance Declaration must be completed and signed by both parents or legal guardians, then returned to the Admissions Team together with the relevant Final Acceptance deposit. This includes consent to adhere to all current school policies. We reserve the right to revise all policies on an ongoing basis.
Non-UK residents will be required to pay a full term’s fees as their Final Acceptance deposit. We reserve the right to require a banker’s reference and/or an additional deposit before a pupil is admitted to Cheltenham Prep School.
In all cases, the deposit provides financial security against the final fee invoice that is raised after a pupil has left and it is put towards final outstanding items where necessary. The deposit will be refunded at the time the pupil leaves, minus sums due to the school.
Visa Requirements for International Pupils
Some pupils may require a Child Student Visa in order to be able to study in the UK. While it is the responsibility of parents or guardians to determine whether or not their child needs such a visa (and to apply for it), the Admissions Team will provide the required Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS) to enable you to do this once the place has been formally accepted. The CAS is issued, on request from either parents, legal guardians or agents, in the term prior to entry and can be used when making any visa application.
Further details regarding visas and entry into the UK may be obtained from the United Kingdom Visa and Immigration (UKVI) website: www.gov.uk/child-study-visa
As the rules are complex we do encourage you to read this thoroughly if you suspect that a visa might be required. Please note that we only support Full Boarding Child Student Visa applications.
Guardianship
All parents who reside abroad, or who spend extended periods abroad with work, must appoint a guardian in the UK to act with their full authority. Pupils whose parents have failed to appoint a guardian will not be permitted to begin their studies at The Prep.
The choice of guardian is the responsibility of the parent. The guardian should be at least 25 years of age, English-speaking and be a British citizen or have permanent settled status (indefinite leave to remain). The guardian must be based no further than 90 minutes from The Prep. For further information, please read the guardianship policy which is available on our website or via this QR link: www.cheltenhamcollege.org/college-policies
Fees 2024-25
Information on our fees and additional charges are on the Cheltenham College website. www.cheltenhamcollege.org/admissions/fees
Military and FCDO Discount
Cheltenham College has strong military links of which we are proud. We offer generous discounts for parents currently serving in the UK Armed Forces. www.cheltenhamcollege.org/admissions/ fees/military-bursaries
Policies
School policies are available to download from our website and include: Admissions, Boarding Principles, Bursaries, Child Protection and Safeguarding, Complaints Procedure, Data Protection (Privacy Notice), Guardianship and Health and Safety. on our website or via this QR link : www.cheltenhamcollege.org/policies
More information can be obtained from Mrs Sue Hopkins, the Bursar’s PA: s.hopkins@cheltenhamcollege.org
Who’s Who
Mr Bill Straker-Nesbit President of Council president@cheltenhamcollege.org
Mr Tom O’Sullivan Head prep.head@cheltenhamcollege.org
Senior Leadership Team
Mr Nick Drake Senior Deputy Head n.drake@cheltenhamcollege.org
Mr Noll Jenkins Deputy Head (Pastoral) n.jenkins@cheltenhamcollege.org
Miss Charlotte Webb Deputy Head (Academic) c.webb@cheltenhamcollege.org
Mr Jonny and Mrs Emma Bell Cade Houseparents prep.boarding@cheltenhamcollege.org
Mrs Rebecca Hughes-Noon
Dr Kit Perona-Wright
Mr Duncan Simpson
Admissions
Head of Pre-Prep r.hughes-noon@cheltenhamcollege.org
Assistant Head Creative Arts, Compliance & Co-Curricular k.perona-wright@cheltenhamcollege.org
Assistant Head, Admissions d.simpson@cheltenhamcollege.org
Mrs Anisa Rowe Tours and Events Lead prepadmissions@cheltenhamcollege.org
Mrs Natasha Millard Tours and Events Co-ordinator prepadmissions@cheltenhamcollege.org
Special Responsibilities
Mr Andy Theedom
Dr Kit Perona-Wright
Ms Sarah Reid
Mrs Christina Conner
Ms Catherine Solomon
Cheltenham College Prep School
Thirlestaine Road
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL53 7AB
Tel: +44 (0)1242 522 697 prep.reception@cheltenhamcollege.org
Head of Lower School (Years 3 & 4, ages 7 - 9) a.theedom@cheltenhamcollege.org
Head of Middle School (Years 5 & 6, ages 9 - 11) k.perona-wright@cheltenhamcollege.org
Head of Upper School (Years 7 & 8, ages 11 - 13) s.reid@cheltenhamcollege.org
Head of Learning Support c.conner@cheltenhamcollege.org
Head of Wellbeing c.solomon@cheltenhamcollege.org