Admissions Process

We love welcoming prospective families to Cranleigh. We have open events for children wanting to start their Cranleigh journey at our Prep School in Year 7 and then move up to Cranleigh School in Year 9. Events are held throughout the year but we also see families for personal visits at any time. During your tour, we’ll show you our facilities at Cranleigh, including boarding houses, and introduce you to our friendly pupils and staff.

Book a visit

After a successful visit, parents should register their child on the online portal and pay the £200 fee. We recommend that families register as early as possible, ideally in Year 4 or 5.

Registration for 11+ entry for September 2026 will open at the beginning of the Autumn Term.

Register Now

Registered applicants will be invited to one of our Cranleigh Explorers taster events in the Summer term of Year 5 or Michaelmas (Autumn) term of Year 6. Explorers events allow children to meet Cranleigh staff and familiarise themselves with our campus. Explorers activities have included food technology, indoor fireworks and archery. Parents are invited to join for drinks and meet the staff informally. Advance booking is essential.

We ask all registered applicants to sit an ISEB Pre-Test at their current school between October and November of Year 6. This gives us an idea of academic attainment. We invite all applicants to an assessment day in November of Year 6, which will include an interview with a senior member of staff, a discussion group, a creative writing paper and fun team building activities.

After we have reviewed performance in the ISEB Pre-Test, Holistic Assessment Day and received a positive recommendation from your child’s current school, we may make an unconditional offer. This is a 7 year offer of entry to Year 7 at Cranleigh Prep School, with an expectation that your child will move up to Cranleigh School in Year 9. We make offers to those we feel will thrive academically and make a positive contribution to the wider Cranleigh community.

We make the majority of our offers by December of Year 6. We are happy to accept late applications, subject to the availability of spaces at that time.

We reward excellence with Scholarships and Exhibitions. To be successful in gaining an award, candidates should demonstrate an exceptional level of performance and great potential.

Scholarships

After you have accepted a place, you will be invited to various events where the focus is on getting to know your child and introducing you all to the wider community at Cranleigh. We hold a New Pupils’ Day in June and our admissions team will keep you informed about other opportunities to come and visit us.

All pupils will join the Prep School for 2 years during which time there will be numerous linked events with the Senior School, getting them ready to join in Year 9.

All pupils in our Prep School will take end of year exams. The results will be shared with the Senior School. This is used for setting purposes. The Prep School will decide on the type of examination.