We are here to help you through every step of applying to Ipswich School, whether it’s transferring from our Prep School or joining us from another school. We will make sure that you have all the information you need to help you make this important decision about your child’s next step in their education. Do visit us, meet our staff and pupils and find out what makes Ipswich School the school of choice.
Individual school tours
We offer individual tours of the school with our Admissions team – you can book online here. If you would like to discuss more about an individual tour please email admissions@ipswich.school or call 01473 408328.
2025 entry
If you would like to apply for entry in Summer Term 2025, please contact our admissions department: admissions@ipswich.school.
Key Dates for 2026 entry:
Year 7
- Application deadline – Friday 5th December 2025
- Scholarship application deadline – Monday 15th December 2025
- Information Evening for Potential Y7 Parents – Wednesday 7th January 2026
- Sport scholarship assessment – Friday 9th January 2026
- Music scholarship auditions – week commencing Monday 12th January 2026
- Art scholarship assessment – Thursday 15th January 2026
- Year 7 entrance exams – Tuesday 20th January 2026
- Offers sent out – Monday 26th January 2026
- Academic scholarship assessment – Tuesday 27th January 2026
- Academic scholarship offers sent out – 30th January 2026
- Offer Holders Days – Monday 9th February 2026
- Acceptance deadline – Monday 2nd March 2026
- Introductory Afternoon – Tuesday 9th June 2026
- Induction Day – day before term starts in September 2026
Year 9
- Application deadline – 19th January 2026
- Scholarship application deadline – Monday 26th January 2026
- Information Evening for Potential Y9 Parents – Monday 2nd February 2026
- Music scholarship auditions – week commencing Monday 2nd February 2026
- Art scholarship assessment – Thursday 5th February 2026
- Year 9 entrance exams – Thursday 26th February 2026
- Academic scholarship assessment – Friday 27th February 2026
- Offers sent out – Tuesday 3rd March 2026
- Acceptance deadline – Thursday 20th March 2026
- Induction Day – the day before term starts in September 2026
Year 12
- Application deadline – Friday 24th October 2025
- Scholarship application deadline – Academic & Allrounder – Friday 31st October 2025; Music & Sport – Friday 14th November 2025
- Academic and Allrounder scholarship Assessment – Friday 21st November 2025
- Music scholarship auditions – Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th November 2025
- Offers sent out – 1 December 2025 onwards
- Acceptance deadline – Friday 30th January 2026
- Induction Day – the day before term starts in September 2026
Apply online
Applications can be made online. Receipt by us of the completed application form will be taken as permission to send for a confidential report from the pupil’s present school, as part of the normal admissions process. Parents or guardians should therefore advise the pupil’s present head teacher that they are making an application to Ipswich School. Most pupils join in September but occasionally pupils are admitted to the school in the Lent and Summer Terms, please contact us if you are applying after the entry deadline. It is our policy to ensure equitable treatment of all pupils.
Read our prospectus
Entrance to Year 7 at age 11
Admission is by means of the entrance exam which is held in January prior to entry in September. The exam consists of a Non-Verbal Reasoning test and papers in Mathematics and English. Sample papers are available and the examination is set to assess potential. All candidates sitting the entrance exam are considered for academic scholarships.
Entrance to Year 9 at age 13
Assessments will be held in February prior to entry in September. The assessments consist of a Non-Verbal Reasoning test, papers in Mathematics and English and a short interview with the Head.
Year 9 applicants may choose to sit Common Entrance exams, run by the pupil’s current school, in early June, instead of our exams.
Prospective pupils may apply for scholarships in music, sport and art; all-rounder and academic scholarships are also available.
Entrance to Year 12 at age 16
The online registration form can be found here. Scholarship and bursary forms are sent out on request and should be completed and returned by the deadline above. During November, we will request a reference from an applicant’s current school.
Academic and All Rounder Scholars will be asked to complete a questionnaire, giving further details of their current academic progress. We also ask for three pieces of marked work, in three different subjects, providing us with examples of things that the applicant is proud of. This could be a test or an essay – there are no specific requirements.
Awards
Scholarships range in value from 5% to up to 33% of day fees and are awarded on the basis of tests and assessments at 11 and 13 years. Scholarships are awarded to pupils who will make a significant contribution to the quality of art, music or sport at the school and an All-rounder Scholarship is available at 13 years of age.
Sixth Form scholarships are awarded for academic excellence, for exceptional musical talent and for an all-rounder who will do well academically and contribute outstandingly in other areas of school life such as sport or drama. Sports Scholarships are also available at 16 years of age.
Please see application forms below. We ask candidates for art scholarships to prepare a portfolio of their preferred pieces.
Means-Tested Bursaries
Means Tested Bursaries may be awarded with a value up to 100% of full fees. The purpose of a Means-Tested Bursary is to enable a pupil to take up a place whose family finances would not be sufficient to afford the fees, but who would significantly benefit from an Ipswich School education. Means-Tested Bursary holders are expected to make a good contribution to the life of Ipswich School and so they are selected based on good performance in our Entrance Examination and at interview. Bursaries are awarded subject to disclosure of family financial information, both income and assets, and potential recipients will be visited in their home for a full assessment. The means-tested remission is re-evaluated on an annual basis.
Boarding
We have three boarding houses: Westwood (Boys Year 7 – 12), Anglesea Heights Girls (Year 7 – 12) and Anglesea Heights Sixth Form (Year 13 boys and girls). Many of our boarding students come from overseas, but we also offer UK weekly and flexi options, as well as accepting CEA for military boarding families. Find out more about our boarding here.
Acceptance of a Place
All acceptances are considered firm by the beginning of the term preceding the term of entry. In the case of withdrawals after this date, a term’s fees in lieu of notice is invariably required. The only exception to this is in cases where a pupil who has accepted a Sixth Form place does not achieve the necessary GCSE grades.
