Ampleforth College 13+ Tutoring 2026 — ISEB Common Entrance

Ampleforth College is an independent Catholic boarding and day school in North Yorkshire, founded by Benedictine monks and set in a valley near the village of Ampleforth, 20 miles north of York. Entry at 13+ (Year 9) is through a CEM-based assessment held at the school each January, followed by ISEB Common Entrance in June of Year 8 for pupils from UK prep schools. The school requires a minimum 50% average in Common Entrance to confirm an offer. With boarding fees of £19,935 per term (including VAT) for the 2026–27 academic year, and a distinctive Catholic Benedictine ethos that sets it apart from other major independent schools, Ampleforth attracts families who want both strong academics and a values-driven community for their child.

What Are the Key Facts for Ampleforth College 13+ Entry 2026?

The table below sets out the essential details about Ampleforth College and the key dates for 13+ entry, drawn directly from information published by the school's admissions team.

Families applying for September 2027 entry should note that bursary applications for Year 9 close on 31 October 2026. For 2028 and 2029 entry, the assessment day is scheduled for 16 January 2027. Ampleforth encourages families to register at their earliest convenience for September 2026 and 2027 entry.

What Does the Ampleforth Admissions Assessment Involve?

All children applying for Year 9 entry at Ampleforth sit a CEM-based computer assessment in Mathematics, English and Non-Verbal Reasoning. The school states that no specific preparation is required for this assessment — it is designed to evaluate a pupil's natural academic ability rather than their preparation for a particular test format. However, in practice, pupils who have encountered CEM-style questions and have practised timed work under exam conditions consistently perform more confidently than those who encounter this format for the first time on the day.

The assessment takes place at Ampleforth College itself over the course of a day. It includes:

Computer-based CEM assessment: Pupils sit papers covering Maths, English comprehension and Non-Verbal Reasoning. CEM assessments are adaptive and curriculum-referenced; they are not the same as the ISEB Common Pre-Test used by schools such as Eton, Harrow and Winchester, though the skills being measured — mathematical reasoning, reading comprehension and pattern recognition — overlap significantly.

Interview with the Registrar: Each candidate has a one-to-one interview. This is described by the school as informal, but it provides an opportunity for the admissions team to assess character, engagement and fit with Ampleforth's distinctive Catholic Benedictine community. Pupils who can speak authentically about their interests, their current school and why they are drawn to Ampleforth College will always make a stronger impression than those who have rehearsed generic answers.

Afternoon activities: After lunch, children join an afternoon of activities drawn from Ampleforth's extensive co-curricular programme, spending time with future peers. This element is designed to assess social ease and participation rather than any specific academic skill.

For pupils who do not apply until Year 8, Ampleforth holds a separate assessment in November of that year. All applicants must be registered with the school before sitting the assessment. Following the assessment day in January, offers are made to successful candidates in late January. Conditional offers for prep school pupils are then dependent on achieving the 50% Common Entrance threshold in June of Year 8.

When Should Families Register for Ampleforth College?

Ampleforth recommends that families register by the beginning of Year 7, though the school also welcomes late applicants and asks them to contact the Admissions team directly to discuss availability of places. Registration involves completing the school's registration form and paying a non-refundable fee of £100. At the point of registration, the school will also request copies of recent school reports from your child's current school.

Understanding the timeline in full helps families plan their preparation effectively. The key milestones for most 13+ applicants are:

Year 5 or early Year 6: Visit Ampleforth at an Open Morning or arrange an individual visit. The school runs Open Mornings on Saturdays (the next one is 19 September 2026), during which families tour the school with current pupils, visit a boarding house and meet the Headmaster. Individual visits, in which families meet the Registrar, are also strongly encouraged. Register with Admissions and submit copies of current school reports.

Year 6 or Year 7 (January): The formal assessment day takes place at Ampleforth. This is the main gateway — all applicants sit the CEM assessment and have their interview on the same day. After the assessments, pupils enjoy an afternoon of activities at the school. Offers are made in late January following the assessment.

Year 7 (from autumn term): Conditional offers are typically issued from the autumn term of Year 7 onwards, though offers can be made as early as Year 6 in some cases. Families accepting a place are required to pay a confirmation deposit at this stage, and will be invited to make their House selection — one of the more significant decisions in the Ampleforth journey, as the House community is central to school life.

Year 8 (Autumn–Spring Terms): Pupils who applied for scholarships under the Basil Hume Scholarship Programme will be assessed during this period. Bursary applications for Year 9 entry must be submitted by 31 October of Year 8.

Year 8 (June): Common Entrance examinations. UK prep school pupils are expected to achieve a 50% average. Ampleforth expects pupils to continue working hard towards this standard — it is a condition of the offer, not a formality. For pupils not taking Common Entrance (including those from state schools or overseas), Ampleforth sets its own assessment instead.

New Starters' Day (June before entry): Each June, pupils joining the following September are invited to visit Ampleforth to meet classmates, spend time in their House and learn practical information about school life. For 2026 entry this took place on Friday 19 June 2026.

What Is the Common Entrance Requirement at Ampleforth?

For pupils joining Ampleforth at 13+ from UK prep schools, a conditional offer is confirmed only on achieving a 50% average score in ISEB Common Entrance, sat in June of Year 8. Common Entrance at 13+ is a subject-based examination set by the Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB) and marked by the receiving school. Ampleforth's 50% threshold is relatively accessible compared to schools such as Winchester (which sets its own scholarship papers) or Eton, but it is not trivial — candidates need to demonstrate competent, sustained attainment across multiple subjects.

Common Entrance at 13+ typically covers English, Mathematics and Science as core subjects, with additional subjects such as History, Geography, French, Religious Studies and Latin also commonly sat. Each subject is assessed through written papers at two levels: Level 1 (targeting grades A–C) and Level 2 (targeting the highest grades). Ampleforth will confirm the specific subject combination required once a conditional offer is in place.

The 50% average requirement means that strong performance in core subjects — particularly Maths and English — can offset weaker results in additional subjects. However, our specialist tutors recommend aiming well above the 50% threshold in each subject individually, since an average can mask significant underperformance in one area. Pupils who prepare thoroughly across all CE subjects, rather than banking on a few strong results, are in a far stronger position when results arrive in June.

For pupils not sitting Common Entrance (those from state schools, overseas schools, or schools not registered with ISEB), Ampleforth sets its own Year 8 assessment instead. These candidates should contact the Admissions team directly to understand the equivalent expectation. Our specialist tutors are experienced in preparing pupils for both the standard CE route and the school's own assessment alternative. See our Common Entrance guide and the ISEB Pre-Test guide for further background on the 13+ admissions landscape more broadly.

What Scholarships and Bursaries Are Available at Ampleforth?

Ampleforth offers a structured scholarship programme at 13+ under the Basil Hume Scholarship Programme, named after the former Archbishop of Westminster and Old Amplefordian, Cardinal Basil Hume. Candidates can apply for up to two scholarships across six categories:

The six scholarship categories are Academic, Art, Drama, Design Technology, Music and Sport. Scholarship assessments take place during the Autumn and Spring Terms of Year 8. Academic and Sport scholarships carry a 10% fee remission. Music and Drama scholarships cover the cost of individual lessons in the pupil's chosen instrument or LAMDA qualification during their time at the school. This is an important practical benefit for families considering extracurricular development alongside the academic programme.

In addition to scholarships, Ampleforth offers a limited number of means-tested bursaries for new applicants. Bursary applications for Year 9 entry must be submitted by 31 October of the year before entry. The school is committed to broadening access, and the bursary programme is designed to support families who would benefit from an Ampleforth education but for whom the fees would otherwise be prohibitive. Bursary levels are determined by a financial assessment of family means.

Ampleforth also offers the Randag Fellows programme, funded by the generosity of Old Amplefordian Adrian Randag and the Randag Trust. This award provides bursary support specifically to Catholic pupils joining in Year 9. It continues throughout a pupil's time at the school, subject to annual means testing. Applications are open to children who are excellent all-rounders and show leadership potential. This programme is a distinctive feature of Ampleforth's commitment to Catholic values and educational access.

Families considering scholarships should note that the assessment process for scholarships is separate from the main admissions assessment — successful scholarship candidates go through an additional evaluation in their chosen category during Year 8. This requires separate application, and our specialist tutors can help pupils prepare for both the Academic scholarship assessment and the underlying Common Entrance subjects simultaneously.

What Is Ampleforth College Like as a School?

Ampleforth College was founded in 1802 by Benedictine monks who had returned to England from France following the French Revolution. It is one of the few schools in Britain where the Benedictine tradition — rooted in the Rule of St Benedict, with its emphasis on prayer, study, community and service — shapes every aspect of daily life. The school is a member of HMC (the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference) and is consistently ranked in the top tier of independent boarding schools nationally by the Good Schools Guide.

Ampleforth is co-educational at both Junior and Senior level, with pupils in separate but connected Houses for boys and girls. House life is central — each pupil belongs to a House from the moment they arrive, and the House provides the primary community, pastoral support and competitive sporting identity throughout their time at school. House choice is made by families when accepting a place, and the school strongly encourages families to visit multiple times before making this decision.

Academically, Ampleforth covers the full range of GCSE and A Level subjects, with a curriculum that balances core academic disciplines and creative and practical subjects. The school has a particular tradition of strength in arts, music, drama, sport and outdoor education. Its CCF (Combined Cadet Force), Duke of Edinburgh programme and extensive charity and service work reflect the Benedictine tradition of active engagement with the world beyond the school gates.

Sport at Ampleforth is a significant part of life. The school has approximately 2,000 acres of grounds, including the valley that gives the school much of its distinctive character. Rugby is the flagship sport and Ampleforth has one of the most successful school rugby traditions in England, with numerous alumni going on to play at county and national level. Hockey, cricket, netball, athletics and equestrian sports are also central to the programme.

Ampleforth pupils are described in Ofsted inspection reports as receiving outstanding pastoral care, and the school's own ethos documentation frames education as forming "a compass for life" — a phrase that captures its view that academic achievement is one part of a much broader formation of character, faith, resilience and service. For Catholic families, or for families of any faith who want their child to be educated in an environment where values are explicitly and seriously held, Ampleforth offers something genuinely distinctive that very few other schools in England can match.

For more context on 13+ preparation generally, see our 13+ Preparation hub and our overview of 13+ Tuition from Leading Tuition. You may also find our guide to Common Entrance 13+ subject requirements useful when planning preparation across the CE subjects Ampleforth expects.

For full details of the admissions process, visit the Ampleforth College Year 9 Entry admissions page on the school's official website.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ampleforth College 13+ Tutoring