Admissions Process

Families are invited to register for our Prep School via our online admissions portal OpenApply. If you’d like further information, please call us on 01277 243 291.

Foundation (3+)
For all registered children, we will be holding a family interview. You and your child will meet with one of our Foundation team, for approximately 30 minutes. Offer decisions will be communicated in mid-December and you have until mid-January to accept.

Please also note that at Foundation, sibling applications are given a priority. However, some families may prefer to wait a year until Reception, but please be aware that all applications, including siblings, are considered on an equal basis at this entry point.

If you have any questions or would like to find out more about the availability we have in September 2027 please do not hesitate to contact the Prep Admissions Team.

Reception (4+)
You and your registered child will be invited in for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, your child will be asked to participate in class-based activities whilst you enjoy a cup of tea in a nearby room.

Offer decisions will be communicated in mid-December and you have until mid-January to accept.

EYFS Admissions Timeline

Families are invited to register for our Prep School via our online admissions portal OpenApply. If you’d like further information, please call us on 01277 243 291.

Children will be assessed in English (including Reading, Grammar, Punctuation & Spelling & Writing), Mathematics and a class-based collaborative task. Places will be offered to children who perform best on the day. In addition, we will also request a confidential Headteacher’s report from each pupil’s current school as part of our admissions process.

Offer decisions will be communicated in mid-December and you have until mid-January to accept.

KS2 Admissions Timeline

Whilst our Year 7 September 2026 admissions are now officially closed, if you have a late enquiry for Year 7, please contact the Admissions Team on 01277 243343 option 2 or email: admissions@brentwood.essex.sch.uk  and we will be happy to assist you.

To apply for a Senior School place, please register via our online admissions portal OpenApply. A Registration Fee of £125 is applicable for ‘Day’ applications.

Year 7 (11+) Entrance Exam
Candidates will sit GL Assessment’s Adaptive Admissions Tests (AAT) online assessments in Mathematics and English. The tests can be taken at the candidate’s school if offered, alternatively, registered candidates will be invited to sit the exam at Brentwood School.

Here are the links to the AAT Familiarisation Tests:

• Maths
• English

The entrance exam will also include an English Writing task, and candidates will be invited to take this part of the exam at Brentwood School on Saturday 28th November 2026.

Individual Candidate Meetings
As part of our admissions process, all registered candidates will be invited for an individual 15-20 minute meeting with a senior member of our teaching staff during which we assess each candidate’s intellectual curiosity, potential and flair for learning. These meetings will take place in November whilst the candidates are in Year 6. Candidates with special educational needs (SEN) will be met by a member of our Learning Support team to make them feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible. During the meetings, parents will be hosted in our original school building ‘Old Big School’ and have the opportunity to speak with senior members of staff as well as the Admissions Team.

Headteacher’s Confidential Reference
In addition to the entrance assessment and candidate meeting, we will also request a confidential reference from each candidate’s current school as part of our admissions process.

Academic Bursaries & Scholarships
All candidates registered to sit the Entrance Examination are automatically entered for an Academic Scholarship, therefore no additional Scholarship application is required. For parents applying for an Academic Bursary, a separate Bursary application must also be completed and submitted by the 1st November deadline to be considered.

Specialist Bursaries & Scholarships
We offer a range of Specialist Bursaries and Scholarships for 11+ candidates who demonstrate talent in any of the following areas: Chess, Dance, Drama, Music or Sport.

Candidates may apply for up to three Specialist Scholarships (which can be linked to a Bursary application).

Parents are asked to indicate their interest in applying for a Specialist Bursary or Scholarship on their child’s initial Registration Form by no later than 1st November. For parents applying for a Specialist Bursary, a separate Bursary application must also be completed alongside the Specialist Scholarship application/s, and must be submitted by the 1st November deadline to be considered.

For more information, please refer to our Bursaries and Scholarships pages and booklet.

If you have any further questions, please get in touch with our Admissions Team on 01277 243243 (select option 2) or email them below.

Senior Admissions TimelinePreparation for Year 7Email Admissions

Whilst our Sixth Form September 2026 admissions are now officially closed, if you have a late enquiry, please contact the Admissions Team on 01277 243343 option 2 or email: admissions@brentwood.essex.sch.uk, and we will be happy to assist you.

Applications for Sixth Form 2027

Candidates are invited to register for our Sixth Form via our online admissions portal OpenApply.

We also require the most recent school report and proof of current academic attainment. Registered candidates will be invited to attend a Sixth Form Consultation Interview (during late November/early December) to discuss options for one of our three Sixth Form Pathways:

• International Baccalaureate
• A Level
• BTEC Extended Diploma in Business, Creative Media or Sport

Entry Requirements
We require:

• A minimum of 54 points from the eight best subjects at GCSE to study IB
• At least 50 points from the eight best subjects at GCSE to study A Level
• A minimum of 40 points from the eight best subjects at GCSE to study BTEC

(Subjects will also carry their own entry requirements.)

Conditional offers will be made on a review of current reports, current Year 11 ‘working at’ or attainment grades, the consultation interview and a Headteacher’s confidential reference. We will also request results from Mock GCSE examinations, where possible, to inform our decision.

Academic Scholarships
An Academic Scholarship at Sixth Form is conditional upon candidates receiving at least 64 points at GCSE. Candidates wishing to apply for an Academic Scholarship at Sixth Form can indicate this on their application and will be asked to complete a written essay in the weeks that follow.

Specialist Scholarships
We also offer Specialist Scholarships at 16+ in Art, Chess, Dance, Drama, Music and Sport, and you can apply for these when you register. Following a review of all applications, shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend assessment days for these subjects, which will take place in early December.

Academic or Specialist Bursaries
For parents applying for an Academic or Specialist Bursary, a separate Bursary application must also be completed, alongside the relevant Scholarship application/s to be considered.

For more information, please refer to our Bursaries and Scholarships booklet.

If you have any further questions, please contact our Admissions Team on 01277 243243 (select option 2) or email them below.

Sixth Form Admissions TimelinePreparation for Life Email Admissions

Click here to access OpenApply where you can begin your registration.

Please note: There is a non-refundable registration fee of £125 (inc VAT), which registers your interest in a place for your child and secures their place to sit our Entrance Examination.

If you have any questions on how to apply, please contact our Admissions Team.

Already registered? Access your personal Applicant Status page here.