How to Apply

The first stage is to complete our online registration form, and pay the registration fee. The registration fee of £150 covers administration costs and is non-refundable. Completing a registration form does not in any way commit you to the school, nor does it guarantee admission. But you do need to register for your child to be assessed for entry to the school.

Kent College offers learning support through our Learning Support Centre, and individual tuition. Please let us know at this stage if your child needs extra support and provide us with any assessment reports. There will be an opportunity to meet our SENDCO to discuss your child’s needs, and to make sure that Kent College is able to meet them, once we have all the relevant information.

Once you have registered your child will automatically be invited to the relevant assessment days. If you wish to enter your child for any scholarships you will need to fill out the relevant forms by registering online and following the scholarship application details. If you would like to enquire about bursaries please contact the Bursar via bursar@kentcollege.co.uk. Please see the Scholarship and Bursaries page for more detailed information.

Kent College holds annual assessment days for the main points of entry into the school. Pupils wishing to enter into other years should speak to the Admissions team about requirements. In all cases a school report will be requested from the pupil’s current school.

Year 7 (11+) Kent College entrance assessments are held at the end of January and cover English, Mathematics and Non-verbal reasoning. There is also a ‘getting to know you’ session for both pupils and parents with a member of the Senior Management Team. Offers are generally sent out during the February half term.

Year 7 English Trial Test Paper

Year 7 Maths Trial Test Paper

Years 8, 9, 10 and 11 (ages 12-15) Applicants are required to take entrance examinations in English, Mathematics and Non-verbal reasoning. There is also a ‘getting to know you’ interview session for both pupils and parents with the Head or a member of the Senior Management Team. Following the marking of their examination papers, applicants should expect a response within a week.

Year 12 (16+) Pupils wishing to join from other UK schools and taking GCSEs are usually offered a place based on their school reports, mock GCSE results and meeting our minimum requirements. Pupils normally need a minimum of 6 GCSE passes with at least a grade B in the subjects they choose to study at A Level or for the IB Diploma.

For information about scholarship assessments please see the Scholarships and Bursaries page.

You have met our entry criteria – congratulations!

Once a place has been offered by the school you will be asked to complete an acceptance form and pay a deposit (refunded from school fees when the pupil leaves).

We require all parents to complete a Parents' Contract that sets out the terms and conditions on joining the school. In addition parents will need to complete the following online forms before their child joins the school:

• Medical questionnaire – the school is required by UK law to hold medical information including emergency contact details and parental consents for all pupils; Please note new pupils cannot start term until this online form has been completed
• Laptop and IT usage agreements – these agreements summarise the commitments of the school by providing a laptop computer for educational purposes, and of pupils and parents/guardians; They also outline acceptable usage within the school premises and on school laptops
• Biometrics consent form – biometrics information is used for systems such as print and copy cost control, access control, purchase of items in Cafe 1885 and registration

Induction

All Year 7 pupils are invited with their parents to our New Pupils’ Information Day in June. All new pupils are asked to attend an induction morning before term starts in September.

Arranging a visa to study in a UK boarding school

If you need a visa to study at an independent school in the UK you should read the information on the UK Government portal.

If your child is aged between 7 years to 17 years you will need to apply for a Child Student visa and a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS).

Kent College is on the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) register of Tier 4 sponsors and is therefore allowed to issue a CAS once the student’s place at school is confirmed, the Guardian agreement is in place, the deposit has been paid, and evidence of funds to cover 1 year’s fees have all been provided.

To support your application Kent College has appointed Sable International who specialise in immigration services for the education field in the United Kingdom. Their clients include many of the UK’s most prestigious universities and colleges and independent schools.

The window for applying for CAS and visas for a September start at school starts in April each year and can take a few months for everything to be processed. Please supply all the required documents to Sable in a timely fashion.

From February 2024, nationals from certain countries will require an Electronic Travel Authorisation before travelling to the UK. Please check if you are eligible before you travel.

The best way to make a decision about what is the best Prep school for your child, is to visit. Pupils and staff love welcoming prospective families to Kent College Junior School and explaining the benefits of attending KC. So we can get to know you and your child better we would appreciate it if you can complete the information at the link here in advance. This will enable us to personalise your visit and meeting with the Head, Mr Simon James.

For our international applicants, we would be delighted to arrange an online meeting for you to meet with Mr James if you are unable to visit us personally.

Please contact the Head’s PA, Miss Holly Bayly, by telephone 01227 762436 or by email prepenquiries@kentcollege.co.uk to arrange a mutually convenient date and time.

If you decide you would like to progress with your application, the next step is to complete our online registration form, and pay the registration fee. The registration fee of £150 covers administration costs and is non-refundable. Completing a registration form does not in any way commit you to the school, nor does it guarantee admission. But you do need to register for your child to be assessed for entry to the school.

Kent College offers learning support through our Dyslexia Support Centre, and individual tuition. Please let us know at this stage if your child needs extra support and provide us with any assessment reports. There will be an opportunity to meet our Learning Strategies Coordinator or SENCO to discuss your child’s needs, and to make sure that Kent College is able to meet them, once we have all the relevant information.

TASTER DAYS

We encourage prospective pupils to experience a taster day or getting to know you session with us. Your child will have the opportunity to join normal daily activities and lessons with their school year group as if they were a current pupil.

For Pre-Reception we offer a 1 hour to 1 and a half hour session for children.

For Reception to Year 6 pupils can join us for the whole day.