Key Facts
| School type | Independent day and boarding, co-educational, 11 to 18 |
|---|---|
| Location | Upper Dicker, Hailsham, East Sussex |
| Entry points | 11+, 12+, 13+, 14+, 16+ |
| Assessment | Bede's Experience Day (BE Day) taken in Year 6: academic masterclass, group discussion, one-to-one interview, online test and an afternoon activity |
| Test provider | School's own online test (Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning on BE Day); provider not named |
| Day fees (2026/27) | £11,750 per term (tuition, Senior School and Sixth Form) |
| Scholarships and bursaries | Academic, arts, drama, dance, music and sport scholarships at 11+, 13+, 16+; means-tested bursaries |
| A level average point score per entry (DfE, 2024/25) | 41.79 (average grade B+) |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly. Compare fees at other independent schools.
Getting into Bede's Senior School at Upper Dicker means registering online and then taking the Bede's Experience Day (BE Day) for entry to Year 7, Year 8 or Year 9, or an interview and online test for Year 10 and Sixth Form entry. Admissions Panel decisions follow within about two weeks, and Year 9 offers are unconditional.
BE Day combines an academic masterclass, a group discussion, a one-to-one interview and an online test in Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Sixth Form offers depend on GCSE outcomes, and the school publishes fees, scholarship and bursary details on separate pages that are summarised below.
| Entry point | Year group | Assessment | Interview | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11+ | Year 7 | Bede's Experience Day (BE Day) taken in Year 6: academic masterclass, group discussion, one-to-one interview, online test and an afternoon activity | One-to-one interview on BE Day; Admissions Panel also reviews school reports and the school's reference | Not published |
| 12+ | Year 8 | Bede's Experience Day (BE Day) taken in Year 6: academic masterclass, group discussion, one-to-one interview, online test and an afternoon activity | One-to-one interview on BE Day; Admissions Panel also reviews school reports and the school's reference | Not published |
| 13+ | Year 9 | Bede's Experience Day (BE Day) taken in Year 6, 7 or 8, with the same components as for Years 7 and 8; offers are unconditional | One-to-one interview on BE Day; Admissions Panel also reviews school reports and the school's reference | Not published |
| 14+ | Year 10 | Formal interview and online test | Formal interview | Not published |
| 16+ | Year 12 (Sixth Form) | Personal statement, formal interview with senior staff, online test and review of predicted GCSE grades; offers are conditional on GCSE outcomes | Formal interview with senior staff | Not published |
Entry points and places
Bede's takes pupils into Year 7, Year 8, Year 9, Year 10 and Year 12, which correspond to 11+, 12+, 13+, 14+ and 16+ entry, and considers mid-year transfers when space allows. Overseas pupils aged 15 to 16 can also join a one-year GCSE programme called Pre Sixth.
The school does not publish numbers of places or forms of entry on the pages read. Year 7 and Year 8 candidates sit BE Day whilst in Year 6, and Year 9 candidates sit it whilst in Year 6, 7 or 8.
- Year 7 or 8 (11+ or 12+): BE Day
- Year 9 (13+): BE Day
- Year 10 (14+): formal interview and online test
- Pre Sixth (overseas, aged 15 to 16): formal interview and English test
- Year 12 (16+): formal interview and online test
How the 11+ and 13+ assessment works
Entry to Years 7, 8 and 9 runs through the Bede's Experience Day, a single day on which staff observe each child and report to the Admissions Panel. A sample timetable begins with an ice breaker, followed by an academic masterclass, a group discussion and an interview.
The online test follows mid-morning and covers Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. After lunch there is an activity, and parents join an afternoon tea to meet the staff involved. The school describes the day as judging ability, character, creativity, communication and potential, so the test is one component among several.
The school does not name a test provider or publish the length or question types of each online section on the pages read.
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Enquire about this tutorHow the 16+ and 14+ assessment works
Sixth Form entry at Bede's combines a personal statement, a formal interview with senior staff and an online test, together with a review of predicted GCSE grades. Offers are conditional on GCSE outcomes.
Year 10 applicants also take a formal interview and an online test. Overseas applicants to Pre Sixth take an English test, ideally at the school and otherwise online. The subjects, length and pass marks of these online tests are not published on the pages read, and no GCSE grade thresholds appear there either.
Registration and the admissions timeline
Families register through the school's online admissions portal at apply.bedes.org, which is the first formal step after visiting. Registration involves creating an account, uploading a copy of the child's passport, a recent photograph and the latest school report, and paying a non-refundable registration fee.
The sequence then runs as follows, and no registration deadline appears on the entry page.
- Visit through an Open Morning or a Personal Tour led by the Registrar, the Director of Admissions or a pupil
- Register online and upload the documents
- Attend BE Day for Years 7 to 9, or the interview and online test for Year 10 and Year 12
- Receive the outcome, usually within two weeks of BE Day and no more than 14 days after an interview
- Return the acceptance form and pay the security deposit, which secures the place
Interviews and references
Every candidate has an interview: a one-to-one conversation on BE Day for Years 7 to 9, and a formal interview for Year 10, Pre Sixth and Year 12. At Sixth Form level the interview is conducted by senior staff.
The Admissions Panel discusses all pupils and reviews school reports, the school's reference and other relevant documents for every entry point. Year 9 offers are unconditional, Sixth Form offers are conditional on GCSE outcomes, and the pages read state no conditions for Year 7, Year 8 or Year 10.
Scholarships and bursaries
Bede's offers scholarships at 11+, 13+ and 16+ in academic, creative arts, drama, dance, music, sport and performing arts, and these usually carry fee remission. Each discipline has its own competition date, with a separate application deadline for each entry point, and applications go to admissions@bedes.org or through the Senior School Scholarship Application Form.
Means-tested bursaries are available to parents on low incomes and can be combined with scholarships. A family needing funding beyond the scholarship completes a Statement of Financial Circumstances in advance of the scholarship. The maximum share of fees a bursary can cover is not stated on the page.
Fees and what they include
Bede's publishes one per-term tuition fee for the Senior School and Sixth Form, with boarding supplements added for day boarding, weekly boarding and full boarding; the figures are in the key facts above. Fees cover tuition, pastoral care and the vast majority of co-curricular and social activities, and boarding fees also include meals, accommodation and laundry.
A Pre-Sixth and Sixth Form supplement and a Legat dance supplement are listed as additional per-term charges. A place is secured only once the security deposit is paid and the acceptance form is returned; the registration fee and deposit amounts are in the linked fee structure document.
Where pupils join from
Bede's Prep School in Eastbourne takes children up to Year 6, after which families choose between the Upper School at Eastbourne and the Senior School at Upper Dicker. The prep page presents this as a choice of pathway, and automatic progression is not stated.
The school names no feeder or partner schools. Year 9 entry is open to pupils sitting BE Day whilst in Year 6, 7 or 8, so children from other schools can join at several points.
How to prepare
Preparation for Years 7 to 9 centres on the four online test subjects named for BE Day: Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Practising these in short, relaxed sessions on screen suits a computer-based test, and the school describes the day as assessing character and communication as well.
Children can also rehearse speaking about their interests for the one-to-one interview and listening to others during the group discussion. For Sixth Form entry, applicants prepare a personal statement and expect a formal interview with senior staff. Visiting on an ordinary school day, through a Personal Tour, helps children know the site before the assessment.
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Preparing for the Bede's Senior School 11+ with Taylor Tuition
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Frequently asked questions
- How do you get into Bede's Senior School?
- Families register online at apply.bedes.org, then attend the Bede's Experience Day for Year 7, 8 or 9 entry. Year 10 and Year 12 applicants take a formal interview and an online test instead. The Admissions Panel also reviews school reports and the school's reference before deciding.
- What is the Bede's Senior School entrance exam?
- There is no separate entrance exam for Years 7 to 9. The Bede's Experience Day includes an online test in Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, alongside a masterclass, group discussion, interview and activity. The school does not publish the test length or provider.
- How much are Bede's Senior School fees?
- Fees are published per term on the school's fees page, with one tuition fee for the Senior School and Sixth Form and boarding supplements for day boarding, weekly boarding and full boarding. They cover tuition, pastoral care and most co-curricular activities. See the fees field above for the figures.
- Does Bede's Senior School offer scholarships and bursaries?
- Yes. Scholarships in academic, creative arts, drama, dance, music, sport and performing arts are available at 11+, 13+ and 16+. Means-tested bursaries support parents on low incomes and can be combined with scholarships. The school does not state the maximum share of fees on its page.
- How quickly does Bede's tell families the outcome?
- Candidates are told the outcome about 14 days after BE Day, and letters are typically sent within two weeks. For Year 10 and Sixth Form entry the decision follows no more than 14 days after the interview.
- What are the sixth form entry requirements at Bede's?
- Sixth Form applicants complete a personal statement, a formal interview with senior staff and an online test, and the school reviews predicted GCSE grades. Offers are conditional on GCSE outcomes. The pages read do not publish specific grade requirements.
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