Roedean School is a leading independent day and boarding school in East Sussex. Founded in 1885, the School provides an exceptional holistic education to girls aged 11-18. Academic excellence, co-curricular enrichment, and integrated personal development are key tenets of life at the vibrant School.
Roedean welcomes applications from both UK and international students. This guide will focus on the UK admissions process for girls who wish to join Years 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12. It will also provide details of the scholarships Roedean offers.
Table of Contents
How To Apply to Roedean School
Year 7 (Ages 11-12)
Families submitting applications for Year 7 can progress through the standard entrance process or the Early Entrance Programme (EEP).
Standard Entrance
The standard entrance process for Year 7 begins in Year 6. Roedean recommends families submit an enquiry and visit Roedean before registering their daughters with the School. The registration deadline is October of the year before entry.
Roedean encourages applicants to take part in taster days at the School. Girls learn more about Roedean and become familiar with its site and facilities on these days.
Age-appropriate testing in English, maths, and non-verbal reasoning takes place in January of the year of entry, along with a short interview.
The School also invites all girls entering Year 7 to apply for a scholarship and means-tested bursary. Any tests and practical assessments for scholarships also happen in January.
Roedean then makes offers for places in Year 7 (against entrance tests, interviews, and a reference from the candidate’s current Head) by early February. .
Early Entrance Programme
The EEP for Year 7 begins in Year 5. Families can submit an enquiry and visit Roedean before registering their daughter with the School. The registration deadline is in the February of the student’s Year 5 year..
Many EEP applicants take advantage of Roedean’s experience days to get a taste of life at the School. For example, Roedean often holds netball masterclasses for any netball enthusiasts looking to join in Year 7 or 9.
EEP applicants visit Roedean in March of their Year 5 academic year for a short interview and testing in non-verbal reasoning, verbal reasoning, maths, and english. The School makes EEP offers in the following March (the year before entry). Roedean makes these offers based on the results of the Year 5 assessment, conditional on a satisfactory reference from the Head of their school, which will be requested when the student is in Year 6.
In November of the year before entry, girls entering Year 7 can apply for a scholarship and means-tested bursary. Scholarship (academic and practical) assessments take place in January of the year of entry, and Roedean makes scholarship or bursary offers in February.
Year 9 (Ages 13-14)
Families submitting applications for Year 9 can progress through the standard entrance process or the EEP.
Standard Entrance
The standard entrance process for Year 9 begins in Year 8. Families often submit an enquiry to the School and attend an Open Morning to visit the campus and meet the School community.
Families must register their daughters in October of the year before entry. Roedean also invites all Year 9 applicants to apply for a scholarship and means-tested bursary.
Come January, applicants visit Roedean to complete a short interview and sit assessments in English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. This is also when any tests and practical assessments for scholarships take place. Roedean makes offers by early February against interviews, entrance tests, and a Head’s reference.
Early Entrance Programme
The EEP for Year 9 begins in the spring of Year 6 or Year 7. Families usually start the process by submitting an enquiry and booking an Open Morning at Roedean. Open Mornings allow families and daughters to get a better idea of life at the School and meet staff and students.
The EEP registration deadline for Year 9 is in February of the year (or two years) before entry. Age-appropriate testing in English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning happens at Roedean in March of Year 6 or 7. Girls also have a short interview when they attend this assessment. Roedean makes EEP offers later that month, based on entrance tests, interviews, and subject to a satisfactory Head’s reference, which will be requested the year before entry
EEP applicants can apply for a scholarship or means-tested bursary by November of the year before entry. Any practical scholarship assessments occur in January of the year of entry. Roedean then makes scholarship or bursary offers in February.
Year 12 (Ages 17-18)
Girls wishing to join Roedean Sixth Form in Year 12 go through the standard entrance process, which starts in the autumn of Year 11.
Roedean suggests families start the process with an enquiry and a visit to the School. Families might book a tour, attend an Open Morning, or go to the Sixth Form Information Evening, which usually takes place in September of Year 11.
The registration deadline for applications is October of the year before entry. Around this time, girls can apply for a scholarship or means-tested bursary. Assessments, interviews, and scholarship testing take place at Roedean in November.
Roedean makes offers in December against entrance test results, interviews, and a Head’s reference. The School makes these offers subject to applicants meeting the minimum GCSE requirements for Roedean Sixth Form.
Years 8 and 10 (Occasional Places)
Roedean considers applications for Years 8 and 10 throughout the academic year, subject to availability. The School recommends families submit an enquiry before coming to see the site. They can then meet staff and students during a family tour or Open Morning.
Once registered, girls sit an assessment — with age-appropriate testing in maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning — and have a short interview. Roedean will make offers against the interview, assessment, and a Head’s reference.
Scholarships
Roedean awards scholarships to students in recognition of their previous achievements and their potential to thrive and deepen their interests at the School. Scholarship students receive an annual £2,500 fee reduction.
Roedean offers:
- Academic scholarships. The Brighthelm Award is an academic scholarship with means-tested funding available to girls entering Years 7 and 12. These girls must live within 20 miles of Roedean and attend a state school. Girls entering Year 7, 9 and 12 can also apply for straight-forward academic scholarships.
- Scholarships in practical areas, including Art, Dance, Drama, Music, Performing Arts, and Sport. These are available for girls entering Years 7, 9 and 12.
Learn more about Roedean School admissions.
About Roedean School
Roedean School empowers girls to be happy, creative, compassionate, and engaged in their learning. The School’s founding ethos, which the Lawrence sisters outlined over a century ago, is to provide students with a high-quality, holistic education. Girls flourish in Roedean’s caring, friendly community and inspiring coastal setting.
Curiosity, independence, and self-confidence underpin Roedean’s academic approach. The School offers a range of academic opportunities to enrich the curriculum. Roedean’s impressive exam results are a testament to the School’s dynamic learning environment.
Roedean is a forward-facing school determined to prepare girls for life in the modern world.
