Key Facts
| School type | Independent day and boarding, co-educational, 11 to 18, with a linked Preparatory School |
|---|---|
| Location | Sowerby Bridge, Halifax, West Yorkshire |
| Entry points | 11+, 13+, 16+ |
| Assessment | Day pupils typically sit a CAT4 assessment and submit recent school reports; the school names Year 7 as one of its most popular entry points. |
| Test provider | CAT4 for day pupils, with the Password English proficiency test named for some international applicants |
| Day fees (2026/27) | £6,215 per term for Years 7-8 and £6,665 per term for Years 9-13, inclusive of VAT |
| Boarding fees (2026/27) | Full boarding £14,235 per term for Years 7-8 and £14,830 per term for Years 9-13; weekly boarding £11,665 per term for Years 7-8 and £12 |
| Assessment date | Scholarship assessment days in January 2027 for September 2027 entry (scholarship applications open 1 November 2026); no date published for the standard Year 7 assessment |
| Scholarships and bursaries | Academic, sports and arts scholarships at Years 7, 9 and Lower Sixth; means-tested bursaries for current families |
| A level average point score per entry (DfE, 2024/25) | 26.77 (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.
Rishworth School admissions begin with an online application form, supported by a recent school report, followed by an assessment that for day pupils typically means a CAT4 test. Year 7 (11+) and Year 12 (16+) are the entry points the school names as most popular, and Year 9 is a scholarship entry group, with other year groups considered where places exist.
The school publishes no fixed entrance-exam papers and no catchment area on its admissions pages, and it accepts applications throughout the year, so the practical steps are to register early, gather the documents the form asks for and attend a taster day or tour before the assessment.
| Entry point | Year group | Assessment | Interview | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11+ | Year 7 | Day pupils typically sit a CAT4 assessment and submit recent school reports; the school names Year 7 as one of its most popular entry points. | Meeting with senior staff on a tour; boarders also meet the Houseparents; interview details for day pupils are not published. | Not published |
| 13+ | Year 9 | The school publishes no separate Year 9 entrance papers; scholarships at this point are awarded through application, assessment or audition, and interview. | Scholarship interview as part of the scholarship process. | Places depend on availability; Year 9 is one of three scholarship entry groups |
| 16+ | Year 12 (Lower Sixth) | The school names Year 12 as a popular entry point and publishes no GCSE grade requirements or entrance papers on the pages read; scholarship candidates go through application, assessment or audition, and interview. | Personal tours are offered for the Sixth Form; interview requirements are not published. | Places depend on availability |
Entry points and places
Entry is available at Year 7 (11+), Year 9 (13+) and Year 12 (16+), with Year 7 and Year 12 named by the school as the popular points. Applications are considered across the Senior School and Sixth Form depending on availability, and mid-year admissions may also be considered where a place exists.
The school does not publish a number of places or forms of entry for any year group. Boarding places are offered on a rolling basis, subject to availability, and international pupils can join at any time in the academic year.
- Year 7 (11+): popular main entry into the Senior School
- Year 9 (13+): one of three scholarship entry groups, with places subject to availability
- Year 12 (16+): entry to the Sixth Form, also a popular point
How the 11+ assessment works
Day pupils applying for Year 7 typically sit a CAT4 assessment and submit their recent school reports. The school says assessments vary by age and are used to judge academic level, learning needs and readiness for the UK curriculum.
The pages read do not give the length, sections or question types of the assessment, nor a pass mark, so the Admissions Team is the source for the exact format. International applicants may also be asked for a recognised English proficiency test, with Password named, together with CAT4 and an interview with the Headteacher.
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Registration is made through the online Admissions Application Form, which asks for a birth certificate, a passport and a school report. A one-off registration fee follows, and an automated email sent after submission explains how to pay it and complete the application.
The school publishes no closing date for standard entry, and says early registration is advised because many year groups fill quickly. Local families often finish the process in about a week, whilst international applicants may need longer for documents and visa arrangements.
- Complete the online application form and attach the birth certificate, passport and school report
- Pay the registration fee using the instructions in the automated email
- Attend a tour or taster day and take the assessment, with the Admissions Team guiding the order
- Receive the outcome from the school
- Pay the entry deposit on joining, which is credited to the pupil's account
Interviews, taster days and references
The school uses school reports, tours and taster days alongside the assessment, and publishes interview details only for particular groups. A personalised tour includes a meeting with senior staff, and a Year 7 Taster Day lets children sit in lessons and meet teachers and future classmates.
Boarding applicants meet the Houseparents as part of the process, and international applicants may have an interview with the Headteacher. The pages read do not describe a group activity or a formal reference from the current school beyond the school report.
Scholarships and bursaries
Academic, sports, creative arts and performing arts scholarships are offered at Year 7, Year 9 and entry to the Lower Sixth, with around 30 awards available across those three groups. Pupils may apply in more than one area, and all applicants are automatically considered for the Academic Scholarship.
Awards are made through application, assessment or audition, and interview, and the school expects scholars to show high ability and contribute fully to school life. Scholarships are worth 10% of fees and may be increased depending on talent; in rare circumstances other year groups can be considered after speaking to Admissions.
Means-tested bursaries rest on a confidential declaration of income and assets, are reviewed annually and are for current families facing financial hardship. The school states no maximum share of fees.
Fees and what they include
Fees are charged termly, set separately for Years 7-8 and Years 9-13, and differ for day, weekly boarding and full boarding. An elite football programme carries an additional charge, and the figures are listed on the school's fees page.
Fees include VAT and the school provides personal accident insurance for UK school activities. School lunches are compulsory and charged each term, whilst external exam fees, optional extras and emergency expenses are additional.
A one-off registration fee and a refundable reservation deposit apply, and discounts exist for clergy families, UK forces families with day pupils, siblings attending together and early payment of annual fees. A term's written notice is needed to withdraw.
Where pupils join from
Senior School pupils join either from the Preparatory School or as new pupils, and the school names the Preparatory School as its feeder. The pages read give no further detail on how the move up is handled and name no other partner schools.
The school states that it admits pupils from the local area, from elsewhere in the UK and from overseas, and it publishes no catchment boundary. A Location and Transport page and a School Bus Service page are linked from the site for families planning the daily commute.
Sixth form entry
Sixth Form entry at Year 12 uses the same online application form and school report, and the school offers a broad choice of A-level and BTEC courses described in a Sixth Form course guide. Personal tours and a Sixth Form Open Evening are the routes the school lists for families to see the provision.
GCSE grade requirements, entrance papers and interview arrangements are not published on the pages read, so applicants should ask Admissions for the criteria for their chosen courses. Lower Sixth entrants can also apply for the academic, sports, creative arts and performing arts scholarships.
How to prepare
Preparation for Year 7 entry centres on the CAT4 assessment, the school report and the taster day. Because the school describes the assessment as a measure of academic level and readiness, steady schoolwork and familiarity with sitting a timed test on screen tend to serve a child better than last-minute practice.
Practical steps start with gathering the birth certificate, passport and latest report, booking a tour or the Year 7 Taster Day, and asking Admissions to confirm the assessment format for the relevant year group. Scholarship candidates also prepare for their chosen audition or assessment and an interview.
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Preparing for the Rishworth School 11+ with Taylor Tuition
Families preparing for the Rishworth School 11+ usually come to us a year or so before the assessment, though shorter runs work where the foundations are already sound. Having prepared pupils for entry to leading independent and grammar schools, with placements including Westminster, St Paul's, Wycombe Abbey and Eton, our tutors build each programme around the format the school actually uses, whether a written paper, an online pre-test, an interview or a combination of them.
More than half of our tutors hold Qualified Teacher Status and around three in five hold a master's degree or doctorate, and the pool includes former heads of department, exam-board examiners and teachers from independent and boarding schools, so the preparation is led by people who know how selective schools assess. 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.
Read more about our 11+ entrance exam tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Rishworth School entrance exam?
- Day pupils typically sit a CAT4 assessment and submit recent school reports. The school says it assesses academic level, learning needs and readiness for the UK curriculum. International applicants may also take an English proficiency test such as Password and have an interview with the Headteacher. The length and sections are not published.
- How do families apply to Rishworth School?
- Complete the online Admissions Application Form, attaching a birth certificate, passport and school report. A registration fee is then paid following an automated email. The Admissions Team guides families through tours, taster days and assessments. Applications are accepted year-round, though early registration is advised because many year groups fill quickly.
- What are Rishworth School fees?
- Fees are set termly, separately for Years 7-8 and Years 9-13, and differ for day, weekly boarding and full boarding. They include VAT, and compulsory school lunches are charged each term. Current figures, discounts and deposits are on the school's fees page, which states the academic year they apply to.
- Does Rishworth School offer scholarships and bursaries?
- Yes. Academic, sports, creative arts and performing arts scholarships are available at Year 7, Year 9 and Lower Sixth entry, worth 10% of fees and sometimes increased. Means-tested bursaries are for current families facing financial hardship and rest on a confidential assessment of income and assets.
- What are the sixth form entry requirements?
- The school offers A-level and BTEC courses and takes Year 12 applications through its online form with a school report. GCSE grade requirements, entrance papers and interview details are not published on its pages, so applicants should contact Admissions to confirm the criteria for their chosen courses.
- Is there a catchment area for Rishworth School?
- The school publishes no catchment area. It states that it admits pupils from the local area, from elsewhere in the UK and from overseas, and it offers day, weekly boarding, full boarding and flexi boarding. A School Bus Service page and a Location and Transport page are linked from its site.
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