Admissions Process

The best way to learn more about Pre-Reception and The Acorn Centre is to attend one of our Stay & Play events, which are strongly recommended for all parents and guardians of children aged four and under.

We offer Stay & Play sessions in The Acorn Centre for children aged two to three, along with their parents or guardians. These sessions give you the opportunity to meet our Head and speak with The Acorn Centre staff, before joining the Pre-Reception class for a fun, interactive activity. They are designed to help both you and your child become familiar with The Acorn Centre ahead of joining St Joseph’s.

If you are unable to attend a Stay & Play session or a Discover Prep event, private visits to The Acorn Centre can be arranged through our Admissions Department.

The next step is registration, which confirms your interest and preferred start date. Places in Pre-Reception are offered when your child turns three, subject to availability. As demand is high, early registration is strongly advised.

Following registration, your child will be invited into school for a morning visit, during which an age-appropriate assessment will take place. They will also spend the remainder of the morning in class.

We offer flexible attendance options. Government funded provision (up to 15 hours per week) is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays, up to 7.5 hours per day. Morning sessions run from 08.20 to 13.00 and include a hot lunch. Additional days can be added as required, up to full-time attendance across five days per week. We encourage full-time attendance in the summer term prior to the transition into Reception.

If your child is successful in the assessment, a place will be offered, subject to availability. For children attending beyond the two funded days, a £500 deposit is payable upon acceptance. No deposit is required for children attending only funded hours. The deposit is refundable when your child leaves St Joseph’s at the end of Year 6 or Year 13.

While the majority of children join us in Pre-Reception, pupils may be considered for entry into Reception or other year groups, should places become available.

For children wishing to join in Reception to Year 6, we advise attending one of our Discover Prep: Tour & Coffee with the Head sessions.

The next step is registration to confirm your interest. Places in Reception – Year 6 are offered subject to availability. If a place is not immediately available, your child will be added to the waiting list and you will be contacted if a place subsequently becomes available.

Attending one of our termly Senior School Open Mornings is the best way to find out more about St Joseph’s. Parents, guardians and pupils are taken on a tour of the school by current pupils, listen to a talk by the Head and have the opportunity to ask questions over refreshments.

Our annual autumn Open Evening is a key event and includes a showcase of activities organised by staff and pupils. Private visits can also be arranged through our Admissions Department.

The next step is registration to confirm your interest. Places in Year 8 to Year 10 are offered subject to availability. If a place is not immediately available, you will be added to the waiting list and you will be contacted if a place subsequently becomes available.

A £120 (£180 for international applicants) non-returnable administration fee is payable on registration.

The deadline for registration for Year 7 is 31 October, for a September start the following year.

Attending our Experience Day in June is an excellent opportunity for you to experience a typical school day, try out our facilities and meet teachers and other pupils.

The application process involves an interview and an entrance assessment. Interviews typically take place in the autumn term before potential entry the following September, however it is possible to join at other times of the year, if places are available.

Assessment Day takes place in January each year for a September start. This consists of an online skills assessment (including verbal and non-verbal reasoning) and a written Descriptive Writing paper. Assessments can be held at other times of the year subject to the availability of places. Offers are made based on your interview, entrance assessment performance, your school report and school reference.

A £500 acceptance fee is payable when you accept the place. This is only refundable when you leave St Joseph’s at the end of Year 13.

Attending our Sixth Form Open Evening in mid October is the best way to find out more about St Joseph’s.

Private visits can also be arranged through our Admissions Department throughout the year.

The next step is registration to confirm your interest. Places in the Sixth Form are offered subject to availability.

A £120 (£180 for international applicants) non-returnable administration fee is payable on registration. The deadline for applications is 1 November for entry the following September.

Sixth Form interviews with the Head and Head of Sixth Form take place in late November. Applicants are also invited to join current Year 11 St Joseph’s students on the College’s Sixth Form Taster Day. This gives you the opportunity to try out A Level subjects that you may wish to study, experience St Joseph’s and meet teachers and other students.

Offers are made before Christmas and are conditional on meeting the GCSE entry requirements for each A Level choice.

A £500 deposit is payable when you accept the conditional offer of a place.

In June each year, Year 5 pupils from local Primary and Prep Schools are invited to spend a day at St Joseph’s College to find out what it’s like to be part of our Senior School. The day is a great opportunity for children to meet other pupils, who may be interested in joining St Joseph’s, and to experience a typical school day.

The day is open to all and does not require application for a place at St Joseph’s beforehand.