Admissions and Fees

Everything you need to know about joining us

Welcome!

Choosing and joining a school can be a really daunting and overwhelming time. We know Frensham isn’t quite like other schools, we’re really proud to be different. But how can you be sure we’re right for your child? Luckily, we have a very experienced Admissions Registrar, Sarah Windsor, who is here to help you do just that. Sarah has been at Frensham for over 20 years and knows the school through and through. She knows where we have spaces and who the school is best for and she can take you step by step through the entire admissions process. She’s helped hundreds of children find their place here.

“I joined the Junior School at Frensham Heights in 1997 as the Junior School secretary – I had such an amazing time working with the younger children, their parents and a fabulous team of teaching staff.  As my own children grew up and became more independent, I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to move up to the Senior School to take over the role of Admissions Registrar for the whole school. This was an exciting new challenge and my knowledge of the Junior School made this a perfect role for me!  What an amazing place Frensham is! I feel so privileged to work here and meet so many interesting parents and children and watch them fly as they move through the school!”

If you’re considering Frensham for your child, please get in touch with Sarah at [email protected] or call 01252 792561.

Our Admissions Process

We hope our admissions process is as clear and easy as possible. We want each parent to be sure that Frensham is the right place for their child to grow. By chatting with our admissions registrar and coming in for an open morning or a private tour we hope you’ll start to get a strong understanding of what makes us different.

We fill up quickly from Year 2 upwards so it is worth registering interest as soon as possible. The registration fee for all prospective students is £100. After registration, your child will be included in the entrance process and invited to key events during the school year, giving you many informal opportunities to see the school in action and meet other families. Most children join the school during the following year groups: Nursery, Reception, Years 5, 6, 7, 9 and 12. If places are available, children can register to join other year groups.

We choose our students based not just on exam results, but also on who we believe will thrive and benefit from everything the school has to offer and who, in turn, will fully contribute to the life of the school. But, unfortunately, we are only able to provide support for children with mild learning difficulties. We strongly encourage parents to send a copy of any professional educational report into the school for feedback from our Head of Learning Support before registering. If Frensham is not the right place to support your child, we can certainly advise you on where might be more suitable.

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Our Assessment Process

Our assessment process is slightly different for each area of the school. The best place to start, no matter the age of your child, is to come in for a visit and then register once you’ve decided Frensham might be the right place for you. We have summed up below the different processes, but if you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Junior School: Nursery - Yr 6

Nursery
Once you have registered, we’ll invite you to bring your child in for an informal visit of about an hour to meet the teachers and other children properly and to explore our wonderful 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 really must be fully toilet trained.

Reception – Year 6
Registered children looking for a September start are invited in for an informal assessment day in February. Assessments take place during the morning, often without the children realising, and they are then free to join their peer groups for the rest of the day. We aim to give feedback within a few days. The assessment is not a formal exam process but is designed to give us a good idea of your child’s reading, spelling and maths level.

If there is a place for your child and an offer is made, you will need to make a deposit to secure their place.

Middle School: Yrs 7 - 11

Years 7 – 10
Students who register to sit our Middle School exams will be invited in for a group interview with the Headmaster and the Head of the Middle School in January. Students applying for scholarships will have their auditions on the same day. The entrance exams are taken by all candidates on a Saturday morning in January. We aim to have all papers marked and offers made within a week. All students sit tests in reading, writing, spelling, maths and non-verbal reasoning. Those apply for Years 9 or 10 will also sit a science paper.

After the exams, students will have lunch with current Frensham students and spend the afternoon participating in group activities.

If places remain available after the January exams, individual candidates will be invited in for interview and to sit the entrance exams on a mutually convenient date.

Sixth Form

Sixth Form: Non Scholarship
Students are called for interview with the Headmaster and Head of Sixth Form. Students also sit a 30 minute general paper, complete an online standardised test and a 60 minute paper comprising three 20 minute questions.
Students must have achieved, or be likely to achieve, at least six GCSE passes at grades 9 – 4, with, where relevant, a grade 6 in the subjects they want to study at A Level. 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 the subject at A Level with a grade 6 will be considered and will have a short interview with the Head of Mathematics to determine their suitability for the course.

Sixth Form: Scholarship Students
Students are called for interview with the Headmaster and Head of Sixth Form. Candidates will also have an audition and interview with the head of department relevant to their chosen scholarship. Students also sit a 30-minute general paper, complete an online standardised test and complete a 60-minute scholarship-specific paper.
Students must have achieved, or be likely to achieve, at least six GCSE passes at grades 9 – 4, with, where relevant, a grade 6 in the subjects they want to study at A Level. 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 the subject at A Level with a grade 6 will be considered and will have a short interview with the Head of Mathematics to determine their suitability for the course.

If spaces are available after the assessment process, students will be invited in individually for assessment and interview

Our Fees (per term for the 2019-2020 school year)

Termly fees cover most classroom stationery, lectures and the majority of books. Catering – all routine meals for boarders and lunches for day students – is included in the fees. There may be additional charges for some activities, some transport and use of non-school sports facilities. Parents will be made aware of any such charges before these are added to bills.

Honorary scholarships and means-tested bursaries are available. For more information, please contact [email protected].

Nursery

Nursery
EYFE Scheme:
EYFE session (8:30 – 11:30am): Free of charge
Morning including lunch: £20
Afternoon including lunch: £35
Full Day: £38
Outside EYFE Scheme:
EYFE session (8:30 – 11:30am): £29
Morning including lunch: £48.50
Afternoon including lunch: £35
Full Day: £67
Extended Day activities: £5.50 per hour or part thereof

Reception - Yr 6

Reception: £2,370
Years 1 & 2: £2,900
Year 3: £3,470
Extended Day activities: £5.50 per hour or part thereof

Year 4: £3,550
Years 5 & 6: £4,390

Middle School

Years 7 & 8 day students: £6,300
Years 7 & 8 boarding: £9,150
Years 9, 10, & 11 day students: £6,610
Years 9, 10, & 11 boarding: £10,290

Sixth Form

Years 12 & 13 day students (concession – students from Yr 11): £6,610
Years 12 & 13 day students: £7,020
Years 12 & 13 boarding students (concession – students from Yr 11): £10,290
Years 12 & 13 boarding: £10,690
Download our full schedule of fees here