Key Facts
| School type | Independent day, co-educational, 4 to 18 (Infant, Junior, Senior School and Sixth Form) |
|---|---|
| Location | Saighton, Chester, Cheshire West and Chester |
| Entry points | 7+, 11+, 13+, 16+ |
| Assessment | January Entrance Examination: standardised digital ability tests plus writing and mathematics assessments; Year 6 taster days are offered. |
| Test provider | Not named by the school; standardised digital ability tests plus the school's own writing and mathematics assessments at Year 7 |
| Day fees (2026/27) | £6,907 per term (Senior School and Sixth Form, Years 7 to 13, including VAT); £4,993 per term for Junior School; £4,702 per term for Infant School |
| Assessment date | Senior School Entrance Examinations, Friday 8 January 2027 (Year 7 entry in September 2027) |
| Scholarships and bursaries | Limited scholarships at Year 7 and Year 12; means-tested bursaries from Year 3 |
| A level average point score per entry (DfE, 2024/25) | 33.73 (average grade C+) |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly. Compare fees at other independent schools.
Abbey Gate College admissions run through an Entrance Examination for entry to Years 3 to 11, with the main intake at Year 7 (11+) into the Senior School, and a separate observation-based assessment for the Infant School. The Year 7 examination combines standardised digital ability tests with writing and mathematics assessments, normally sat in January for September entry, and is followed by an interview with the Head and reports and references from the current school.
Sixth Form entry at Year 12 depends on an interview and GCSE grades instead of entrance papers. The school does not publish places per year group, a test provider or a registration deadline on the pages we read, so the admissions office is the place to confirm those details.
| Entry point | Year group | Assessment | Interview | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7+ | Year 3 (Junior School, Years 3 to 6) | Age-appropriate assessments in Maths, Comprehension and Reasoning, plus classroom observation; the provider is not named. | Pupils meet the Head of the Infant and Junior School and teachers; references are requested from the current school or setting. | Not published |
| 11+ | Year 7 | January Entrance Examination: standardised digital ability tests plus writing and mathematics assessments; Year 6 taster days are offered. | Interview with the Head of the Senior School, plus reports and references from the current school. | Not published |
| 13+ | Year 9 (Years 8 to 11 are assessed in the same way) | Age-appropriate entrance assessments, followed by a Taster Day. | Interview with the Head of the Senior School, plus reports and references from the current school. | Not published |
| 16+ | Year 12 (Sixth Form) | No entrance papers are published; offers are conditional on GCSE grades (6 in A-Level subjects, 5 in English Language and Maths, 4 in other subjects) and satisfactory references or reports. | Formal interview with the Head, then a discussion of proposed A-Level subjects with the Head of Sixth Form. | Not published |
Entry points and places
The school admits pupils at Reception, throughout Years 1 to 11 for external applicants, and into the Sixth Form at Year 12. The Infant School covers Reception to Year 2, the Junior School Years 3 to 6, and the Senior School Years 7 to 11 followed by the Sixth Form.
The school does not publish a number of places or forms of entry for any year group, and it states that entry into Years 3 to 11 is by Entrance Examination, with the format varying by year group. Year 7 is the main entry point into the Senior School.
- Reception to Year 2: observation-based assessment
- Years 3 to 6: Maths, Comprehension and Reasoning, plus classroom observation
- Year 7: January Entrance Examination
- Years 8 to 11: age-appropriate assessments, then a Taster Day
- Year 12: interview and GCSE conditions
How the 11+ assessment works
The Year 7 Entrance Examination consists of standardised digital ability tests together with writing and mathematics assessments. It normally takes place in January for entry the following September, and pupils are not in school on that day.
The school does not name the provider of the digital tests, and it does not publish paper lengths, question types or pass marks. It also states that it cannot provide past papers. Year 6 Taster Days run beforehand, giving pupils a day of lessons, a school lunch and the chance to meet others sitting the January examination; spaces are limited and families are asked to book only one date.
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Enquire about this tutorRegistration and the admissions timeline
Registration for the Senior School starts with a personal tour arranged through Admissions, after which the family completes the Registration Form and pays the administration fee through the Admissions Portal. The school does not publish a registration deadline for Year 7 on the pages we read.
The sequence for Year 7 follows the steps below, and the outcome is confirmed only after the assessment, interview and references are all in.
- Contact Admissions and arrange a tour; Taster Days may also be available
- Complete the Registration Form and pay the administration fee on the Admissions Portal
- Sit the entrance assessments
- Interview with the Head and reports and references from the current school
- Outcome confirmed by the school
Interviews and references at the Senior School
Every applicant to the Senior School has an interview with the Head, and the school also asks for reports and references from the current school. The school states that all students meet the relevant Head during the process, and the meeting can take place before or after the application is submitted.
For the Junior School the equivalent meeting is with the Head of the Infant and Junior School and teachers, with references requested from the current school or setting. For the Infant School, a satisfactory reference from the current setting is sought where applicable, after a play-based classroom observation for Reception applicants.
Scholarships and bursaries
The school offers a limited number of scholarships for students joining the Senior School at Year 7 and the Sixth Form at Year 12. Its bursaries page does not list scholarship types, values or the assessment process, and refers families to the Admissions Policy for further details.
Bursaries are available for entry from Year 3 and are means-tested on an annual basis, with all information shared treated as confidential. Families should contact the Admissions Manager to check whether they may be eligible. The school publishes a bursary application deadline for each intake on its bursaries page, but it does not state a maximum share of fees.
Fees and what they include
Fees are charged per term and differ between the Infant School, the Junior School, and a single band covering the Senior School and Sixth Form, with the current figures on the school's fees page. They are reviewed annually and may change, and they include VAT and the school's Personal Accident Scheme for pupils.
Lunches, external examination fees, some GCSE and A Level books, uniform, trips and activities are charged separately, and optional absence and personal effects insurance is arranged through Marsh. Sibling discounts of 5%, 10% and 15% apply automatically for the first, second and third or later sibling. Payment is termly by default, with monthly Direct Debit, School Fee Plan and Fees in Advance options.
Sixth form entry requirements
Sixth Form entry at Year 12 requires grade 6 or above in the GCSE subjects to be continued at A-Level, grade 5 or above in English Language and Maths where these continue, and grade 4 or above in other GCSE subjects. Offers are conditional on these results and on satisfactory references or reports.
External applicants have a formal interview with the Head and then a discussion with the Head of Sixth Form about proposed A-Level subjects. The school runs a Sixth Form information evening and a Sixth Form Taster Day, and the course list includes 20 A Level subjects alongside the EPQ, an Oxbridge Programme and a Medicine and Healthcare programme.
Where pupils join from
Many pupils can start in the school's own Infant School at Reception and continue through the Junior School, which covers Years 3 to 6. The school's pages do not say whether Infant or Junior pupils move up automatically, and they name no external feeder or partner schools.
Junior pupils visit the Senior School site for several Friday lessons, with lunch included for Junior 5 and 6, which the school says supports a smooth transition. External applicants for Year 7 usually come from other primary and prep schools, which supply the reports and references the school requests.
How to prepare
Preparation for the Year 7 examination is best built around the three components the school names: a standardised digital ability test, a piece of writing and a mathematics paper. Since the school cannot supply past papers, practice on a screen with general reasoning questions, regular extended writing and the mathematics covered in the primary curriculum is a sensible use of time.
The Year 6 Taster Day offers a calm rehearsal of the day itself, with lessons, lunch and other candidates, so booking one date is worthwhile. For the interview, a child who can talk comfortably about their interests and school life tends to feel at ease. For Sixth Form, the practical focus is GCSE grades in the planned A-Level subjects and a clear view of why those subjects were chosen.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the Abbey Gate College entrance exam?
- Entry into Years 3 to 11 is by Entrance Examination, and the format varies by year group. At Year 7 it combines standardised digital ability tests with writing and mathematics assessments, normally sat in January for September entry. The school does not name the test provider and says it cannot provide past papers.
- How much are Abbey Gate College fees?
- Fees are termly and set in three bands: Infant School, Junior School, and Senior School with Sixth Form, all including VAT. The current figures are on the school's fees page, which says they are reviewed annually. Lunches, exam fees, uniform and trips are extra, and sibling discounts of 5%, 10% and 15% apply.
- Does Abbey Gate College offer scholarships and bursaries?
- A limited number of scholarships are available for entry at Year 7 and Year 12. Means-tested bursaries are available for entry from Year 3, assessed annually and kept confidential. The school does not publish a maximum share of fees, so families should contact the Admissions Manager to check eligibility.
- How does a family register for Abbey Gate College Year 7?
- Contact Admissions for a personal tour, then complete the Registration Form and pay the administration fee through the Admissions Portal. Pupils sit the Entrance Examination, have an interview with the Head, and the school collects reports and references. The school confirms the outcome once all of these are complete.
- What grades do you need for Abbey Gate College sixth form?
- The standard requirements are grade 6 or above in the subjects to be continued at A-Level, grade 5 or above in English Language and Maths where these continue, and grade 4 or above in other GCSE subjects. Applicants have an interview with the Head, and offers are conditional on results and references.
- Does Abbey Gate College take pupils from a catchment area?
- The pages we read describe no catchment area for admission, and entry depends on the assessment, interview and references. The school does publish transport routes on a separate page for families who need to plan travel to the Saighton site.
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