Joining Leweston Senior School — Admissions for Years 7 to 11
- Senior
- Senior Admissions
Leweston Senior School welcomes day and boarding pupils at Year 7 (11+) and Year 9 (13+), with occasional mid-year places available subject to space. Whether you are just beginning to think about independent education or ready to register your child now, the admissions process at Leweston is designed to be straightforward, personal and unhurried. The best first step is always a visit but if you have questions before then, our admissions team is happy to talk.
Whether you are joining us from Leweston Prep, transferring from another school, or beginning a new chapter in your education, our Admissions Team is here to ensure the process is smooth, clear and personal.
We welcome boarding and day pupils into the Senior School at age 11 (Year 7) and age 13 (Year 9). Pupils join us from preparatory and primary schools across the South West, the wider UK and overseas. While we have a strong intake from our own Prep School, new pupils typically account for around 30–40% of our Year 7 cohort. In Year 9, we usually open an additional class to accommodate those joining at this stage, and most pupils remain with us through to the end of Sixth Form. We also consider applications for Year 8 and Year 10 (the start of GCSE courses), subject to availability.
Leweston is a lively, purposeful community with high expectations of its pupils. We are looking for well-rounded young people with a genuine love of learning in its broadest sense, whose curiosity and enthusiasm extend beyond the academic curriculum. The school has established strengths in music, drama, art, debating, community activities and sport. Our extensive co-curricular programme plays a central role in developing confident, balanced individuals.
Our admissions process is designed both to help you decide whether Leweston is the right fit for your family and to welcome you into our vibrant, supportive community. The Admissions Team will guide you at every stage: answering questions, explaining each step and ensuring you have all the information you need.
Experience Leweston for Yourself
The best way to appreciate what makes Leweston distinctive is to visit us. We would be delighted to welcome you and show you what our school can offer. If you are unable to visit in person, we are very happy to meet you online; the Headmaster regularly holds Zoom meetings with families who live further away or overseas.
Following your initial enquiry, if you wish to apply for a place at Leweston, we ask you to register your child for entry by completing our registration form. Registrations are considered in the order they are received, which may affect selection decisions if a year group moves to a waiting list. Once we have received your registration, we will acknowledge your application and you will receive ongoing updates and news from the school.
After registration, we invite all prospective pupils to attend a taster day. At this stage, we will request a reference from your current headteacher and ask to see previous school reports. Following the taster day, if both you and the school wish to proceed, we will offer a place. We will email you our Parent Contract and Acceptance Form. To secure the place, you will need to complete the Acceptance Form and pay a deposit (refunded against your final school bill). If the number of applications exceeds the number of places available, some candidates may be placed on a waiting list until a space becomes available. When allocating places, we make offers to pupils who perform well in the school assessments, receive positive references and are a strong overall fit for Leweston.
How to join Leweston Senior School
We welcome pupils at Year 7, Year 8, Year 9 and occasionally Year 10. The process is personal, unhurried and designed to help both your family and the school make the right decision. Select your child's year group below.
Year 7 (age 11+)
We encourage families to visit and register when their child is in Year 5. In the Summer Term of Year 5, all families who have expressed interest are invited to an activity afternoon, a chance for children to experience life at Leweston and meet others likely to be in their year group, while parents tour the school and meet staff.
Following registration, your child is invited to a taster day, usually in the Autumn Term of Year 6. Tasters are held in small groups. Your child joins Year 7 classes for the day, accompanied throughout by a current pupil, sits a short age-appropriate assessment in English and Maths, and meets the Head of Year and other staff. The assessment results help us shape their academic programme when they join, not to select them in or out.
After the taster day we will formally offer a place. All new pupils are invited to a Move Up Day in June before they start, and full joining information is shared well in advance.
Year 8
Year 8 places are subject to availability. Prospective pupils are invited to spend a day at Leweston with their year group, following a normal timetable accompanied by a current pupil. During the visit your child will sit an age-appropriate assessment in English and Maths and meet the Head of Year and other staff. If both you and the school are happy to proceed, we will formally offer a place. Find out more about Years 7 and 8 at Leweston.
Year 9 (age 13+)
We encourage families considering Year 9 entry to visit and register when their child is in Year 5, this allows you to complete the process early and secure a confirmed place. We are still pleased to accept applications later while places remain available.
Registered families are invited to the same Summer Term activity afternoon as Year 7 applicants. Your child then joins us for a taster day: small groups, a full day of lessons with a current pupil, a short assessment in English and Maths, and time with the Head of Year and staff.
Following the taster day we will formally offer a place. We will contact you at the start of Year 8 about 13+ scholarship opportunities and guide you through the process if you would like to apply. All new pupils are invited to a Move Up Day in June. Find out more about Year 9 at Leweston.
Year 10
Year 10 places are considered subject to availability, as pupils are joining at the start of their GCSE programme. Prospective pupils are invited to spend time at Leweston, meet the relevant Head of Year and sit a short assessment. If both you and the school are happy to proceed, we will formally offer a place. Find out more about GCSEs at Leweston.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Leweston require an entrance exam?
Leweston does not select by exam in the way that highly selective independent schools do. The admissions process is designed to find pupils who are a genuine fit for the school — academically curious, engaged beyond the classroom and ready to contribute to the community. The key steps are a taster day, a reference from your current headteacher and a review of recent school reports. For Year 9 entry, assessments are part of the process, but the emphasis is always on the whole child rather than exam performance alone.
When should we start the admissions process?
Earlier is always better because visiting early gives your child time to see the school properly without the pressure of an imminent deadline. For Year 7 and 9 entry, we encourage families to visit and register when their child is in Year 5. That said, we do consider mid-year and later applications subject to availability, if your child is ready to move now, it is always worth getting in touch. Register your child →
What is a taster day and what does it involve?
A taster day is exactly what it sounds like — your child spends a day at Leweston as if they are already a pupil. They join real lessons, move between classes, have lunch in the dining room and are looked after throughout by a current Leweston student. Taster days are held in small groups and are available throughout the year. Find out about taster days →
What is the difference between a day place and a boarding place?
Day pupils attend school during the day and go home each evening. Boarding pupils live on site during term time, either full boarding, weekly boarding or flexi boarding on selected nights. All three options are available at Leweston. Find out about boarding →
How much do Leweston school fees cost?
Current fee information is set out on our fees pages, updated each academic year. Fees vary depending on year group and whether your child is a day pupil, weekly boarder or full boarder. See current fees →
10 Things Parents Love About Leweston
We know that happy children learn best and so we consider it of the upmost importance that both pupils and parents are getting the most from their experience with us, so we thought we would ask them. Read, in their own words, the top ten things that our parents said they love most about our school.
