FAQs

CHANGES TO THE 13+ ADMISSIONS PROCESS FROM JULY 2011 

What is the change in the Registration system?

With effect from July 2011, all new registrations for 13+ entry will be placed on the Headmaster's List and will then be invited to an assessment in Year 7.   Those registered before July 2011 and who already have conditional places, regardless of date of entry, will be unaffected by this change.  The number of places available by this route will vary from year to year, but over recent years around 65% of those who attended the Headmaster's List assessments were later offered conditional places.

My child is already registered on the Main List - how will he/she be affected?

Your child's chances of entry will not be affected at all by this change.  We will write to you in Year 7 to ask you to confirm his/her place.  If you choose to do so, the place will then be conditional on passing an entrance examination - either Common Entrance OR the Canford Entrance Tests OR an Academic Scholarship - and a satisfactory reference from his/her current school.

My child is already registered on the Headmaster's List - how will he/she be affected?

Your child will not be affected at all by this change.  He/she will be invited to a Headmaster's List assessment in Year 7.  Success here will lead to the offer of a conditional place.  If you accept the place, it will then be subject to passing an entrance examination - either Common Entrance OR the Canford Entrance Tests OR an Academic Scholarship - and a satisfactory reference from his/her current school.

I have not yet registered my child - how will this affect him/her?

Your child will be placed on the Headmaster's List when you register him/her.  He/she will then be invited to a Headmaster's List assessment day in Year 7.  Success here will lead to the offer of a conditional place. If you accept the place, it will then be subject to passing an entrance examination - either Common Entrance OR the Canford Entrance Tests OR an Academic Scholarship - and a satisfactory reference from his/her current school.

GENERAL FAQs

Are places booked up years in advance?

Canford is a very popular school so it is advisable to register as early as possible.  Most places are booked by the end of Year 7, but a few do become available in Year 8, mainly for successful scholarship candidates.

How academically selective is Canford?

For us, attitude is the key.  We are interested in potential and people who enjoy their academic work.  Excellent exam results emerge from a broad-based, rounded education.  55% average is the minimum expected for those sitting Common Entrance.  Pupils not prepared for Common Entrance sit our own entrance papers, usually in English, French, Maths and Reasoning.  Some pupils enter via scholarships.

Can I join in the Sixth Form?

Sixth Form entrants sit either our scholarships or entrance exams;  to those who are successful offers are made subject to achieving a minimum of 42 points on the best seven GCSEs  (where A* = 8, A = 7, B = 6, C = 5).  Normally we would expect at least A grades in subjects to be studied at AS level and at least B grades in English and mathematics.

Why are the fees so high?

Over 60% of the fees are spent on staff salaries.  To attract high quality teaching staff, Canford pays a little above the national rate.  The staff/pupil ratio is 1:7.5 and there are necessarily many support staff.  Facilities are modern and investment, particularly in equipment, continues rapidly.

Is there any assistance with fees?

Canford offers scholarships at 13+ and 16+ in a range of subjects and means-tested bursaries throughout the school which are worth up to 100% of fees.

Can I visit again before I join?

Once entrance examinations are completed, future Canfordians are invited to an induction day where they meet staff, their year group and the pupils in the year above them.  They also become more familiar with where they will be living and, if necessary, with the courses they will be pursuing.  In the first two weeks, each new entrant also has a pupil mentor.