Admissions > Admissions Process

Admissions Process

If you are interested in joining Brentwood School, take a look at our admissions process below to find out the available entry points for your child.

Start your journey with an entry point

Ages 3+

EYFS (3+ and 4+)

1.Attend an Open Event or Visit 2.Register your Child 3.Open Day & Foundation Parents Evening 4.EYFS Offers

Key dates

EYFS Acceptance Deadline

Mid January 2026

EYFS Induction Programme Begins

Early April 2026

Step one

Attend an Open Event or Visit

We want you to be sure that Brentwood is right for your child, so we ask you to visit us before registering.

Please make an appointment to visit the School at our Open Morning or book a tour.

Open Events & School Visits

Step two

Once you have visited the school and would like to begin the application process, please register your child by completing our online registration form by 1st November and pay the registration fee of £125 (inc VAT) which is non-returnable.

Please note that we do have places available for a Foundation (3+) start in September 2026. For more information, please contact the Admissions Team.

Step three

Open Day & Foundation Parents Evening

Once you have registered, all parents will be invited to attend our next Open Morning in June and Foundation parents will be invited to an information evening in November. We will arrange an appointment for Foundation parents, along with the child, to attend a family meeting and Reception children to participate in class-based activities, as part of the selection process.

Step four

EYFS Offers

All children are observed by EYFS specialists and offers are made to successful applicants in mid-December preceding the September of the year of entry.

Ages 7+

KS2 (Year 3, 7+)

1.Attend an Open Event or Visit 2.Register your Child 3.Open Day & Assessment Day 4.Entrance Test

Key dates

KS2 Offer Acceptance Deadline

Mid January 2026

KS2 Induction Programme Begins

Summer Term 2026

Step one

Attend an Open Event or Visit

We want you to be sure that Brentwood is right for your child, so we ask you to visit us before registering.

Please make an appointment to visit the School at our Open Morning or book a tour.

Open Events & School Visits

Step two

Please note that we do have places available for a KS2 start in September 2026. For more information, please contact the Admissions Team .

Step three

Open Day & Assessment Day

Once you have registered you will be invited to attend our next Open Morning. You will also be asked to bring your child to an Assessment Day to sit the Entrance Test for the year you intend your child to join.

Step four

Entrance Test

All prospective pupils will be tested in English (including Reading, Grammar, Punctuation & Spelling & Writing) and Mathematics. Candidates will also be asked to participate in a collaborative practical task.

These tests are based on the appropriate age-related topics in the National Curriculum, which the children should have covered at school, and therefore no special practice papers are necessary.

All the Entrance Tests are taken in small groups, in an informal environment where every effort is made to put the children at ease and make the experience enjoyable.

Ages 11+

Year 7 (11+)

1.Attend an Open Event or Visit 2.Register your Child 3.Entrance Examination 4.Entrance Tests

Key dates

11+ Specialist Scholarship Shortlisting Decisions & Assessment Days: Chess, Dance, Drama, Music & Sport

Early December 2025/Early January 2026

11+ Offer Decisions Communicated

Mid January 2026

Confirmation of 11+ Scholarship & Bursary Outcomes

Mid February 2026

11+ Acceptance Deadline

Tuesday 3rd March 2026

Year 7 New Pupil & Parents’ Evening

Thursday 25th June 2026

Induction Day for New Joiners

September 2026 (Date TBC)

Step one

Attend an Open Event or Visit

We want you to be sure that Brentwood is right for your child, so we ask you to visit us before registering.

Please make an appointment to visit the School at our Open Morning or book a tour, held on Tuesdays and Fridays in term time.

Open Events & School Visits

Step two

Once you have visited the school and you would like to begin the application process, please register your child by completing our online registration form by 1st November and pay the registration fee of £125 (inc VAT) which is non-returnable. This deadline has now passed. Please contact our Admissions Team for any late enquiries.

Step three

Entrance Examination

Once you have registered, you will receive confirmation from the Admissions Team. You will also be notified of the date for the Entrance Examination.

For further information, please contact our Admissions Team below.

Contact Admissions

Step four

Entrance Tests

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:

The entrance exam will also include a writing task and candidates will be invited to take this part of the exam at Brentwood School.

AAT Familiarisation Test

Ages 16+

Sixth Form 16+ (Day)

1.Attend an Open Event or Visit 2.Register Online 3.Requirements & Consultation Interview

Key dates

16+ Standard Conditional Offer Decisions Communicated

Early January 2026

Confirmation of Bursary & Scholarship Outcomes

Mid February 2026

16+ Acceptance Deadline

24th February 2026

Step one

Attend an Open Event or Visit

We want you to be sure that Brentwood is right for you, so we ask you to visit us before registering.

Please make an appointment to visit the School at our Open Morning or book a tour.

Open Events & School Visits

Step two

Once you have visited the school and you would like to begin the application process, please register by completing our online registration form by 6th November and pay the registration fee of £125 (inc VAT) which is non-returnable. This deadline has now passed. Please contact our Admissions Team for any late enquiries.

We also require a most recent school report and proof of current academic attainment.

Step three

Requirements & Consultation Interview

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 or BTEC Extended Diploma in Business or Sport.

We require at least 54-72 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 and 40-72 points from the eight best subjects at GCSE to study BTEC. Conditional offers will be made on a review of current reports, predicted 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.

For further information, please get in touch with our Admissions Team below.

Contact Admissions

Ages 11+

Boarding (11+ to 16+)

1.Attend an Open Event or Visit 2.Main Boarding Admissions 3.English Entry Requirements 4.Late Boarding Admissions

Key dates

Late Boarding Admissions - Application Deadline

Sunday 1st March 2026

Late Boarding Admissions - Decisions and Offers

Tuesday 31st March 2025

Step one

Attend an Open Event or Visit

As part of the application process we would like to invite you to visit the school before registering.

Please make an appointment to visit the School at our Open Morning in June or alternatively book a tour, held on Tuesday mornings at 10.30am during term time.

If you would like to book a Boarding tour, please contact our Boarding Admissions Assistant, Vicki Virciglio below.

Contact Mrs Virciglio

Step two

Main Boarding Admissions

Apply by 1st December. Interviews and other relevant assessments follow the date of application and are personalised to the student.

Early boarding admissions for 11+ and 16+ can apply for Brentwood School Scholarships.

Find out more about our Scholarships below, or contact Mr Hays, Boarding Admissions Manager by email for further information.

Scholarships Email Mr Hays

Step three

English Entry Requirements

Year 9 & 10: Equivalent to B1 on Common European Framework
Year 11: Equivalent to B2 on Common European Framework
Lower Sixth: Equivalent to B2 on Common European Framework

Decisions and offers for applications made by 1st December, will be communicated before the end of the Michaelmas (Autumn) Term in December.

Step four

Late Boarding Admissions

Late applications can be made by 1st March, but please get in touch with Brian Hays, Boarding Admissions Manager, to check for availability in your chosen year group.

Interviews and other relevant assessments follow the date of application and are personalised to the student. Late boarding admissions can apply for a ‘Boarding Talent Award’. Please contact Brian Hays for further information at the email below.

Decisions and offers for late applications made by 1st March, will be communicated by 31st March.

After 31st March, please contact Brian Hays if you would like to enquire about availability, or join any relevant waiting lists.

Email Mr Hays Contact Admissions

Additional Information

Applications for EYFS (3+ and 4+)

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 20 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 2026 please do not hesitate to contact the Prep Admissions Team.

Reception (4+)
You and your registered child will be invited in for approximately 20 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

Applications for KS2 (Year 3, 7+)

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 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

Applications for Year 7 (11+)

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:

The entrance exam will also include a writing task and candidates will be invited to take this part of the exam at Brentwood School.

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 Bursaries or Scholarships.

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 Timeline Email Admissions

Applications for Sixth Form (16+)

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 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 Timeline Email Admissions

Ready to Apply?

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.