Key Facts
| School type | Independent day and boarding, co-educational, 11 to 18, with prep school Ranby House (ages 2 to 11) in Retford |
|---|---|
| Location | Worksop, Nottinghamshire |
| Entry points | 7+, 11+, 13+, 16+ |
| Assessment | Academic entrance assessment listed as a step on the How to Apply page; papers, subjects and length not published |
| Scholarships and bursaries | Academic, sport, music, art and drama scholarships at 11+, 13+ and 16+; means-tested bursaries |
| A level average point score per entry (DfE, 2024/25) | 37.00 (average grade B-) |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly.
To get into Worksop College, a child visits the school with their family, attends a taster day, sits an academic entrance assessment, is registered and receives an offer once the current school has supplied a confidential reference. That sequence applies to the senior school at 11+ (Year 7), 13+ (Year 9) and 16+ (Year 12), whilst the prep years from 7+ (Year 3) follow a family visit, taster day and registration without a listed assessment.
The school's pages do not name a test provider or publish the papers, subjects or length of the entrance assessment, and one page describes a broad-ability intake with no academic entrance test, so the Admissions Team is the source for the exact format. Scholarship candidates at Year 7, Year 9 and Lower Sixth sit separate assessment days, which the pages describe in more detail.
| Entry point | Year group | Assessment | Interview | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7+ | Year 3 | Family visit, Taster Day, registration, then offer; no entrance papers listed for the prep years (Ranby House, Retford) | Family visit to tour the school and meet the Headmaster, key teaching staff and pupils | Not published |
| 11+ | Year 7 | Academic entrance assessment listed as a step on the How to Apply page; papers, subjects and length not published | Family visit with an interview with the Head or Deputy Head; confidential reference requested from the current school | Not published |
| 13+ | Year 9 | Same senior process as Year 7; academic scholarship candidates sit written and computer-based tests plus problem-solving on an assessment day | Family visit with an interview with the Head or Deputy Head | Not published |
| 16+ | Year 12 (Lower Sixth) | Same senior process; academic scholarship candidates sit written and computer-based tests, problem-solving and a group subject debate | Family visit with an interview with the Head or Deputy Head | Not published |
Entry points and places
The school admits pupils at 7+ into Year 3 of its prep school, Ranby House in Retford, and at 11+ into Year 7, 13+ into Year 9 and 16+ into the Lower Sixth of the senior school. The senior process on the admissions pages covers ages 11 to 18, and Nursery and Reception entry sit below the 7+ point.
Numbers of places and forms of entry are not published on the pages read, so the Admissions Team is the route to availability in a particular year group. Pupils can also join in-year, with taster days, a home visit for those joining further up the school, and pairing with a pupil of similar age and interests.
- 7+: Year 3, prep years at Ranby House
- 11+: Year 7, the main senior entry point
- 13+: Year 9 (Shells)
- 16+: Year 12 (Lower Sixth)
How the 11+ assessment works
The 11+ route into Year 7 includes an academic entrance assessment, which the How to Apply page lists after the family visit and Taster Day and before registration. The page gives no test provider, subjects, length or question types, so the format is not something a parent can read from the published pages.
A separate open-days page describes the school as broad-ability, with no academic entrance test, and lists a conversation with the Headteacher and school reports as part of admissions. The two descriptions differ, so it is sensible to ask the Admissions Team to confirm in writing what your child will sit and when.
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Enquire about this tutorRegistration and the admissions timeline
Registration comes after the family visit, Taster Day and assessment for senior entry, and it carries a non-refundable registration fee. The process runs through an online portal, and the pages list no registration deadline, so the Admissions Team can confirm timing for a given entry year.
September starters usually receive a Welcome Pack in late spring, whilst in-year joiners receive theirs immediately. The deposit is refundable and usually returned when the pupil leaves; EU and other international applicants pay a different deposit.
- Step 1: book a family visit, which includes an interview with the Head or Deputy Head for senior entry
- Step 2: attend a Taster Day
- Step 3: sit the academic entrance assessment
- Step 4: register for a place
- Step 5: the school requests a confidential reference from the current school
- Step 6: receive an offer and acceptance form if the earlier steps are satisfactory
- Step 7: return the signed form and the deposit to confirm the place
Interviews and references
Senior entrants are interviewed by the Head or Deputy Head during the family visit, and the school then asks the current school for a confidential testimonial. Prep families tour the school and meet the Headmaster, key teaching staff and pupils, and Nursery applicants can be visited at home by a member of the nursery team.
Taster Days for external Year 7 and Year 12 candidates involve joining lessons and sporting activities, meeting teachers and other pupils, and getting to know the site. Lower Sixth academic scholarship candidates also take part in a group subject debate, which shows how they reason and reach conclusions.
Scholarships and bursaries
The school offers academic, sport, music, art and drama scholarships, usually for entry to Year 7, Year 9 (Shells) or Lower Sixth, with candidates at other points considered on request. A leadership award and a named scholarship are also listed without detail. Awards can include a fee reduction, and the overall scholarship offered tends not to exceed 25% of fees.
Candidates apply through the Admissions Team for a form and, if the application succeeds, are invited to an assessment day in their chosen area, usually in the autumn term, with results typically following before the end of that term. Academic assessments combine written and computer-based tests across several subjects with problem-solving.
Music candidates perform two contrasting pieces, sight-read an unseen piece after 20 minutes of preparation, take an aural test and sit a written paper broadly covering ABRSM theory towards Grade 5. Art candidates draw from still life, take 20 photographs with their own camera, write about a familiar artwork, attend an interview with the Head of Department and present a portfolio. The pages read do not describe the sport or drama formats.
Bursaries are means-tested fee discounts, with the amount depending on household income, savings and assets, investments and personal situation. The pages read give no maximum share of fees, and applying for a scholarship does not prevent a bursary application.
Fees and what they include
Fees are charged per term and vary by year group and by day, flexi, weekly or full boarding, with separate bands for Years 7 and 8, for Shells to Fifth Form, and for the Sixth Form. The published amounts, which include VAT, are in the fees field above and on the school's fees page.
Day fees include Day Extra, which gives seven complimentary boarding nights a year (three in the autumn term, two in spring and two in summer) that weekly boarders cannot use. Extra flexi nights and occasional boarding are priced per night, with higher rates at weekends.
Payment options include an Advance Payment Scheme that reduces fees for a lump sum covering several years, School Fee Plan, Direct Debit and Flywire for overseas payments.
Where pupils join from
Ranby House, the prep school in Retford, is the school's own route into the senior years, and the two schools describe themselves as one community serving ages 2 to 18. The pages read name no other feeder or partner schools and do not describe an automatic progression from Ranby House to Year 7.
External candidates are expected, since the school runs Taster Days specifically for external Year 7 and Year 12 entrants and a Transition Day for the Year 7 intake. The reference requested from the current school applies to those joining from elsewhere.
How to prepare
Preparation is shaped by the stages the school publishes: the family visit and interview, the Taster Day, the academic assessment and the reference. Because the assessment format is not published, a calm first step is asking the Admissions Team what your child will sit, then practising only what they confirm.
For the interview and Taster Day, it helps if your child can talk about their current schoolwork, interests and sport, since lessons and sporting activities form part of the day. For Lower Sixth entry, GCSE grade requirements are not published on the pages read, so ask which grades the chosen A-level subjects need.
Scholarship candidates can prepare against the published tasks: theory work towards Grade 5 and sight-reading for music, observational drawing and a portfolio for art, problem-solving practice for the academic papers, and practice at presenting a reasoned view for the Lower Sixth debate.
Related guides
- Independent school fees compared
- The ISEB Common Pre-Test explained
- 13+ Common Entrance explained
- The 11+ entrance exam explained
- The 7+ entrance exam explained
- 11+ and 13+ scholarship exams explained
- What is a bursary? Private school bursaries explained
- Boarding schools in the UK
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Frequently asked questions
- Is there an entrance exam for Worksop College?
- The How to Apply page lists an academic entrance assessment as a step for senior entry at ages 11 to 18, but it publishes no papers, subjects or test provider. Another page describes a broad-ability school with no academic entrance test. The Admissions Team can confirm what your child will sit.
- How can families apply to Worksop College?
- Senior applicants book a family visit with an interview with the Head or Deputy Head, attend a Taster Day, sit the academic assessment and register for a place. The school then requests a confidential reference from the current school and sends an offer. Returning the signed form and deposit confirms the place.
- Does Worksop College offer scholarships and bursaries?
- Scholarships are offered in academic, sport, music, art and drama, usually for Year 7, Year 9 or Lower Sixth entry, and the overall scholarship tends not to exceed 25% of fees. Means-tested bursaries depend on household income, savings, assets and personal situation, and a scholarship application does not prevent a bursary application.
- Where can families find Worksop College fees?
- Termly fees are published on the school's fees page, by year group and by day, flexi, weekly or full boarding, and they include VAT. Day fees include seven complimentary boarding nights a year. A registration fee and a refundable deposit are listed separately.
- Does Worksop College have a sixth form and how do you join?
- Yes, the school has a Sixth Form with entry at Year 12. Entry follows the senior process of family visit and interview, Taster Day, academic assessment, registration and a school reference. GCSE grade requirements are not published on the pages read, so the Admissions Team can advise on grades for each subject.
- Is there a catchment area for Worksop College?
- The admissions pages read do not describe a catchment area. The school takes day pupils, who receive seven complimentary boarding nights a year, and offers flexi, weekly and full boarding, with a separate process and deposit for international applicants.
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