Brighton College: Comprehensive 11+ Admissions Guide

Key Information Summary

• School Type: Co-educational independent school
• Location: Brighton, East Sussex
• Entry Point: 11+ (Year 7) and 13+ (Year 9)
• Assessment: ISEB Pre-Test followed by school assessments
• Registration: Early registration essential
• Scholarships: Academic and specialist awards available

About Brighton College

Brighton College enjoys an exceptional reputation as one of Britain's leading independent schools, recognised by The Sunday Times as "United Kingdom School of the Decade". Located in the vibrant coastal city of Brighton, the school consistently delivers outstanding academic results, ranking amongst the highest performing co-educational schools for A-level and GCSE outcomes.

The school has established itself as a powerhouse for STEM education, recently crowned "top school for STEM" in the UK. This excellence stems from Brighton College's commitment to innovative teaching and state-of-the-art facilities that inspire scientific curiosity and mathematical rigour.

Central to Brighton College's philosophy is its culture of kindness and individual development. The school recognises that academic excellence flourishes when students feel valued and supported, creating an environment where personal happiness and intellectual growth proceed hand in hand.

The 11+ Assessment Process

Brighton College operates a rigorous yet supportive admissions process designed to identify students who will thrive in their academic environment. The assessment begins with the ISEB Pre-Test, typically taken during Year 6 at your child's current school.

The ISEB Pre-Test evaluates four key areas:

• Verbal Reasoning - assessing language comprehension and logical thinking
• Non-Verbal Reasoning - testing spatial awareness and pattern recognition
• English - examining reading comprehension and written expression
• Mathematics - covering numerical reasoning and problem-solving skills

Successful Pre-Test candidates receive invitations to Brighton College's orientation day in February of Year 7. This comprehensive assessment day includes further academic evaluations, interviews with teaching staff, and opportunities for candidates to experience the school's distinctive atmosphere.

The school also offers prestigious scholarship opportunities, including academic scholarships assessed during Year 8, alongside specialist awards in chess, dance, design and technology, and music.

How to Apply

The application process requires careful planning and early preparation:

Step 1: Early Registration
Register your child with Brighton College as early as possible, ideally by Year 5, to secure your place in the admissions process.

Step 2: ISEB Pre-Test
Arrange for your child to sit the ISEB Pre-Test at their current school during Year 6. This computerised assessment provides the initial screening for Brighton College entry.

Step 3: Orientation Day
Successful Pre-Test candidates attend the orientation day in February of Year 7, featuring academic assessments, interviews, and school tours.

Step 4: Offers
Brighton College typically makes offers in March of Year 7, providing families with clear timelines for secondary school planning.

For families considering boarding, places become available from Year 9 (age 13), though younger students can access boarding at Handcross Park, one of Brighton College's family schools.

Preparing for the Brighton College 11+ with Taylor Tuition

The Brighton College 11+ rewards steady preparation over a year or so, with the last term given to timed practice and interview confidence. Having prepared pupils for entry to leading independent and grammar schools, with placements including Westminster, St Paul's, Wycombe Abbey and Eton, our tutors match the programme to the school's assessment format and to where the child is starting from.

Because the pool includes former heads of department, exam-board examiners and teachers from independent and boarding schools, and more than half of our tutors hold Qualified Teacher Status, families get a tutor who understands what the assessors are looking for. Every tutor who works with children holds an enhanced DBS check.

Families in the South and South West and further afield work with us online, and in person in central London. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level and subject, with no registration fee and a free initial consultation to talk through your child's current level and the timeline to the 11+. Families receive progress reports after sessions and have a dedicated point of contact, and we reply to enquiries within one working day with tutor recommendations.

Read more about our 11+ entrance exam tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.