ADMISSION & FEES
Choosing a school is a very personal and important decision for every family we meet regardless of the stage of education you are looking for. We also know that families who choose Frensham are often looking for something different, an education that is looking to the future but that also nurtures and results in happy, fulfilled young people.
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We are proud of our unique ethos and there’s no better way to experience what makes us stand out from the crowd, than to come and see for yourself. So, if you haven’t visited already, please join us for one of our many Open Events throughout the year – we look forward to meeting you and sharing Frensham Heights with you.
ADMISSIONS DATES FOR SEPT 2026 ENTRY
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Admissions Adventure for Year 7 - 1st October 2025
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Registration Deadline for Year 7 to Year 12 - 31st October 2025
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Sixth Form Entrance Day - Friday 14th November 2025
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Interview Day for Year 7 to Year 9 - Saturday 29th November 2025
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Entrance Day for Year 7 to Year 9 - Saturday 17th January 2025
Admissions for the Firefly Nursery and Junior School
Admissions cater to individual children throughout the year as spaces allow. Please contact admissions@frensham.org
Frensham is a selective school, but not in the same sense as others may be. Our aim is to identify potential. We are looking for well-rounded children with a genuine interest in education in the broadest sense of the word, with interests that stretch beyond the confines of the academic curriculum. We have strong traditions across a broad range of subjects and there are many extra-curricular activities, all of which are important in developing a well-balanced, confident individual. Our selection process is designed to identify those children who will benefit from all that Frensham has to offer and who in turn will make a positive contribution towards the life of the School. The exact criteria for admission will depend on the year of entry. See below.
VISIT
Please come and visit! This is by far the best way to really see what makes Frensham different. You can come in for a private tour during the school day to see things in action or join us for one of our Open Mornings where you’ll have the chance to see all our facilities, meet staff and students and listen to a few words from our Head.
REGISTER
If you would like to take things further, please register your child at www.frensham.org/register for them to become part of our assessment process. It takes about 15 minutes and there is a £250 non-refundable registration fee (£100 for Nursery).
REGISTER FOR NURSERY
Watch this space for some exciting changes to our Nursery.
Please note that our Nursery fees are changing for children joining us from Sept 2025, so please contact admissions@frensham.org if you are enquiring about a Nursery place.
OUR ENTRANCE PROCESS
Our assessment process is slightly different for each area of the school. You’ll find more details below of what normally happens in our different year groups.
NURSERY & RECEPTION
Once you have registered, we’ll invite you to bring your child in for a short informal visit to meet Sarah, our Teacher in Charge of Early Years, and to explore our Early Years facilities. Children need to be three years old at the time of entry or in the first half term they join and they must be fully toilet trained.
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Exciting changes to our Nursery coming soon. Please contact our admissions team to find out more about our new year-round offer (applicable from September 2025)
YEARS 1 TO 6
Children looking to join the Junior School will be invited to spend a day with us. During their time here, they will join their year group in all their usual activities and experience a little of what is so special about Frensham. They will also spend a short time one to one with a teacher working through some core numeracy and literacy activities designed to help us ensure your child will happily access the curriculum at Frensham.
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We will also ask for a written reference from your child’s current school and for you to share their two most recent school reports. We always aim to give feedback to families within a few days.
MIDDLE & SENIOR SCHOOL (YEARS 7 - 11)
Our Year 7-9 interview day takes place in the November prior to the desired September start. The children will be invited in for a morning of informal interviews followed by fun team building activities.
Assessments take place in the January prior to entry when we will invite your child into school to take some short tests. Once the children have completed their entrance assessments they stay for lunch in our dining room before enjoying a range of activities across the afternoon. Parents are invited to join us for tea at the end of the day.
It is our aim to assess the whole child. Academic tests help us determine if your child will be able to access the curriculum but places go to those who we feel will contribute to and thrive at Frensham. To help us do this, we will request references from your child’s current school and also their two most recent school reports.
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We also accept enquiries for in-year entrance if there is space.
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Deferred Entry and Pre-testing
Pre-testing offers an opportunity for children to be assessed in the Spring Term of Year 6 for a place in Year 9. By completing assessment at this stage, families can be offered peace of mind and security with regards to their children’s education and the children themselves are free to enjoy their last years at prep school.  Note that we still welcome applications from families of children in Year 8 who would prefer to leave assessment until this stage.
We aim to have all papers marked and offers made within two weeks of the assessment weekend.
If you are interested in a place in Year 10 please contact the Admissions team to find out more.
YR 7 & UP OFFERS
Offers are normally sent out within one-two weeks and you would normally receive one of four potential responses.
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Guaranteed offer: successful candidates will be offered a guaranteed place to start the following September (or the start of Year 9 for pre-test candidates). Places must be accepted by the first Monday in March.
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Waiting list offer: these candidates will be offered a guaranteed place as soon as a place becomes available
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Offer to re-test (pre-test candidates only): if we feel your child has not quite reached the level required in the pre-test, but we think they would really benefit from a Frensham education, we may invite them to come back for assessments in Year 8.
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Regret: if we, unfortunately, feel that Frensham is not quite the right fit for your child.
DEPOSITS
If you wish to accept an offer of a place at Frensham for your child, we will ask you to pay a deposit as follows (for 2024/25):
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Nursery: £300
Junior, Middle & Senior School: £1,000
Should you accept a deferred place at Frensham, we would request a deposit of £2,000 per child. For overseas students, deposit details are available on request.
SIXTH FORM
For those looking to join us in Year 12 in September, our entrance day is in the November prior. Applicants will complete short assessments as part of a taster day in mid-November here at Frensham. Students looking to study Maths or Science at A Level may be asked to complete an assessment in either Maths or Science as well.   There will also be an interview with our Head and we will ask for a reference from their current school as well as a copy of their most recent school report.
Students must have achieved, or be likely to achieve, at least six GCSE passes at grades 9 – 4, of which a minimum of a 4 is required in both English Language and Mathematics. In most cases, a grade 6 is required in the subjects they want to study at A Level but please refer to the A Level Options booklet for specific entry requirements for each subject. Students who want to study Mathematics at A Level should preferably have achieved or be likely to achieve a grade 7 in Mathematics GCSE. Students who want to pursue Mathematics at A Level with a grade 6 will still be considered but may have a short interview with the Head of Mathematics to determine their suitability for the course.
INDIVIDUAL NEEDS
Frensham Heights is proud to welcome students with Individual Needs, but with a small Support for Learning team, we can only support a limited number of children with mild learning difficulties in each year. We expect most students to take the full complement of subjects. The School can provide limited support in English, Maths and with Study Skills if necessary. We can provide reasonable adjustments to accommodate students with mild learning needs.
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If your child has Individual Needs we will ask you for additional information about any known or suspected difficulties or diagnoses relating to your child’s health, wellbeing or learning abilities – such as a formal Educational Psychologist, Medical or Specialist Teacher’s report and an informal conversation with your child’s current school. This information will help us see if we could reasonably meet your child’s needs. Importantly, it will also help us see if your child could thrive and benefit from everything the school has to offer and be able to contribute in full to the life of the school.
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SCHOLARSHIPS
Years 7-11
As with most things, we do scholarships a bit differently. Our scholarships are non-monetary and are not applied for in a traditional manner. Scholars are expected to contribute and participate fully in the life of the school and beyond, involving themselves in all activities related to their scholarship as well as supporting other students. As such, scholarships are awarded on the basis of aptitude, attitude, participation and leadership potential.
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We feel it isn’t possible to fairly judge for a scholarship when a student first enters the Middle School. We wait until the end of Years 7 and 9, when students have had a chance to settle and find their real passions, before awarding scholarships. Scholarships are awarded by Heads of Departments for Academic, Performing Arts, Creative Arts and Sport and confirmed by the Head.
 
Sixth Form Arts Awards
Our Sixth Form Arts Awards are for students who show exceptional talent and potential in the Creative and Performing Arts. Monetary awards are offered to selected Sixth Form students in the following disciplines: Dance, Music, Drama, Fine Art, Photography, 3D Design and Graphics.
Those seeking a Sixth Form Arts Award for either the creative or performing arts will be invited to audition and/or submit a portfolio in the January preceding the September of the year of entry. These are for internal and external applicants. Please click here for more information.
BURSARIES
The deadline for bursaries for Sept 2025/26 academic year has now passed.
We have a limited number of means-tested bursaries available each year. The deadline for bursaries for the 2025/26 academic year has now passed. We are currently still accepting bursary applications for 2026/27.
We can only accept bursary applications from children who are registered with us. Once you have registered, please contact our Admissions team on admissions@frensham.org and request our bursary application form.
HM FORCES AND FCDO DISCOUNT
We welcome families from the Armed Forces and the Foreign Office to Frensham Heights. We offer a 10% discount off full boarding fees to families serving in HM Forces and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office for children in School Years 7-13. ​For eligible families, the CEA (Continuity of Education Allowance) can help towards the cost of a boarding school. Families will need to apply for this directly, and Frensham heights cannot advise on eligibility.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
We welcome international students, with around 25% of boarding students coming from different countries. This creates a culturally diverse, integrated community, where everyone can feel at home. Our less formal environment also lends itself to making lifelong friends so many international students will go home knowing that their Frensham experience will continue well into the future.
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Assessments can be sent to a child’s current school in their home country and interviews conducted remotely.​​
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How big are your classes?We have one class per year group from Nursery up to Year 3 with small numbers to ensure individual attention. This splits into two classes per year group in Years 4, 5 and 6 with up to 18 per class. In Years 7 and 8, there are usually three tutor groups per year with 16 or 18 students in each. In Year 9, there are four tutor groups. The GCSE and A Level class sizes vary depending on the popularity of student subject choices.
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What clothes can students wear?We don’t have a uniform, we just ask our students to dress for purpose. Students are free to express their individuality through their clothes as long as it doesn’t interfere with their school day or cause any distraction or offence. Please also ensure that your child has sensible footwear, including waterproof or walking boots and everyday shoes.
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Can students have bicycles on site?Yes, from Year 7 – please make sure it is insured and in good working order with a strong lock. All students who have a bicycle at school are asked to sign a Bike Contract, which states the basic expectations on safe and considerate use of bicycles in and around school. Apart from those in the Sixth Form, all students need to wear a bicycle helmet.
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Can students bring medication to school?All medications, including over-the-counter medications, must be handed to the Health Centre on arrival for safe keeping.
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Do students need a school bag and stationery?Yes, please make sure the bag is suitable for students to carry their books around our vast site. Please also bring a pencil case, pencils, pens, erasers, colouring pencils, etc. It's a good idea to name all personal items.
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What proportion of students board?We offer boarding from Year 7 upwards - roughly 25% of the students board either as full, weekly or flexi 3 day boarders. Where we have space, students are welcome for an 'occasional night' boarding as well. This should be booked with the boarding house. During the school week there is no differentiation between day and boarding students.
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How do you handle discipline?Our disciplinary measures are based on mutual respect and self-discipline. We use discussion rather than detention and set targets for changes in behaviour. Depending on the nature of the situation, discussions will occur between the student/s and their teacher or with the Head of School, Deputy Head or Head and if the situation escalates disciplinary sanctions may be used. Aggressive language, shouting and detentions are not used by any staff at Frensham.
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Can my child take part in competitive sports?We have over 450 sporting fixtures each year for students who love competitive games. If you want your children to love sport, love going to matches and know how to win or lose well, then that’s what they’ll get here. As well as the main sports, we also offer mountain biking, high ropes, surfing trips, hill walking, rock climbing. At the end of the day, our goal is for students to be fit and healthy.
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Why do teachers use their first names?We have a very different style of relationship between teachers and students. The teachers are still authority figures, but they aren’t frightening or distant. Using first names breaks down a barrier and creates a relationship based on mutual respect rather than reverence. It helps to create a culture of open and honest communication which flows both ways and puts the students in good stead for the real world. Students are treated as equals here at Frensham and leave with the confidence to speak with adults and people in positions of authority.
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Do you have a space for my child?We fill up quickly from Year 2 upwards so it is worth registering interest as soon as possible. All students who want to be included in the entrance process for entry into all year groups must be registered in advance. Please get in touch at admissions@frensham.org or call 01252 792 561 before registering to see if we have space. The majority of students join for Nursery, Reception, Years 4, 5, 7, 9 and 12, but we welcome interest in other year groups if there is space
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Do you offer scholarships or bursaries?We offer Honorary Scholarships in Academic, Music, Art, Dance, Drama and Sport. These do not have monetary value but they recognise and celebrate excellence. Scholars have access to a bespoke enrichment programme, with events and trips organised throughout the school year. Means-tested bursaries are available. For more information, please contact admissions@frensham.org
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Do you specialise in supporting children with learning difficulties?Unfortunately, we are only able to provide support for children with mild learning difficulties as we only have a small Support for Learning team.
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Do you follow a curriculum? A timetable?We do follow curriculums and class timetables throughout the school. The difference at Frensham is that we can breakaway from the lesson plan if the students aren't truly absorbed, if a different approach is needed - or head outdoors if it will enrich the lesson. Our classrooms are set up for discussions and group work rather than in a linear, face-the-front arrangement and we don’t have a traditional hierarchical system among teachers or students, but there is a strong underlying structure to all aspects of the school.
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Why don't you have uniforms?Young people need an opportunity to express themselves and to become who they want to become. Don’t be frightened by the non-uniform policy, we haven’t had a school uniform for over 40 years and our students don’t feel the pressure to show off, they simply want to be comfortable. We do have standards and importantly we do have expectations, but it allows students to express themselves and also prepares them for the real world, whether it be university or professional life. In essence, wearing their own clothes helps children feel more at ease and therefore in a better frame of mind to learn.
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Would your school be suitable for a very academic child?We have a lot of very academic children. We offer a balanced curriculum where students are exposed to traditional academic subjects alongside the creative and performing arts and physical and outdoor education. We encourage students to learn for themselves, to think independently rather than simply study for results. If your child is very academic, open-minded and self-motivated, they will thrive here.