Ampleforth College 13+ Guide 2026

Ampleforth College is one of England’s finest Catholic independent boarding schools, set in the North Yorkshire countryside near the village of Ampleforth, approximately 20 miles north of York. Founded by the Benedictine monks of Ampleforth Abbey, the college has been educating boys and girls — it became co-educational in the sixth form in 1976 and moved to full co-education through the junior school years — in a tradition of academic excellence, pastoral care and spiritual formation rooted in the Rule of Saint Benedict. For families seeking a school that combines rigorous academics with a genuine values-driven community, Ampleforth is uniquely compelling.

This guide covers everything families need to know about the Ampleforth College 13+ admissions process in 2026: registration, the Assessment Day, Common Entrance requirements, fees, scholarships, what life at Ampleforth is like and how to prepare effectively. Ampleforth remains one of the leading boarding schools in England: the college is regularly featured in national league tables and is consistently rated Excellent by the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

About Ampleforth College: History, Setting and Benedictine Ethos

Ampleforth College occupies a remarkable site in the Vale of York, surrounded by the North Yorkshire Moors. The college campus is vast — over 2,500 acres — and includes its own golf course, sports facilities, working farm and the magnificent Ampleforth Abbey church, which serves as the spiritual heart of the community. For boys and girls who arrive at 13+, the experience of living in this setting — close to nature, structured by the Benedictine rhythms of prayer, work and community — is genuinely transformative.

The school is governed by the Benedictine community of Ampleforth Abbey, with the Abbot playing a key role in the college’s governance. The monks teach across the school, serving as housemaster chaplains and contributing to pastoral care and spiritual life. This monastic involvement is not a relic of the past but a living reality: Ampleforth pupils benefit from a community that has maintained continuity of purpose for centuries.

Academically, Ampleforth is genuinely rigorous. Results at GCSE and A-Level are strong, with many pupils going on to Russell Group universities, Oxbridge, and leading international institutions. The college’s approach to education is holistic: intellectual development, moral formation and personal growth are all treated as essential. Sport, music, art, drama and outdoor education are integral to the curriculum, not optional extras.

The school was inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate in recent years and rated Excellent in educational quality. Alumni include Cardinal Basil Hume, the journalist and broadcaster Piers Morgan, and numerous figures in law, medicine, politics and the arts. The college’s Old Amplefordian network is active and loyal, reflecting the depth of attachment that Ampleforth typically generates in its pupils.

Key Fact	Detail
School	Ampleforth College
Location	Ampleforth, York, North Yorkshire YO62 4ER
Type	Catholic independent full boarding (co-ed sixth form, boys 13–16)
Main Entry Year	Year 9 (13+)
Pre-Test / Assessment	CEM computer-based test + interview + activities (Assessment Day)
CE Required	Yes — minimum 50% average, sat June Year 8
Registration Fee	£100 (non-refundable)
Approx. Annual Fees	~£46,740 full boarding (2024/25)
Inspection Body	ISI — Excellent

What Is the 13+ Admissions Process at Ampleforth College?

Ampleforth College’s 13+ admissions process is designed to identify boys with the academic potential, personal character and values-alignment to thrive in a Benedictine boarding school. Unlike some highly selective schools, Ampleforth is not primarily seeking academic superstars — it is seeking motivated, engaged young people who will benefit from and contribute to the college’s community. That said, a genuine level of academic ability is required, as the college’s curriculum is rigorous and the expectation is that all pupils will stretch themselves intellectually.

Registration: Families begin by completing the online registration form and paying the £100 registration fee. Registration is recommended at least two to three years before the intended entry date — ideally by the start of Year 6 — to secure a place on the year-group list and receive timely invitations to open mornings and Assessment Days.

Assessment Day: Ampleforth’s key selection event is the Assessment Day, held at the college, typically in the Spring or Summer Term of Year 6 or 7. The day involves a computer-based CEM (Cambridge Educational Measurement) assessment covering Mathematics, English and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Candidates also have an individual interview with the Registrar and spend an afternoon of activities with future potential classmates. The Assessment Day serves several purposes: it informs the college’s decision to offer a conditional place, it allows candidates to experience the school and meet potential peers, and it ensures that the family-school relationship begins well before entry.

Conditional offer: On the basis of the Assessment Day performance, the CEM results, school reports and the interview, Ampleforth makes conditional offers to candidates it wishes to admit. The condition is achieving a 50% average across Common Entrance subjects in June of Year 8. Most pupils who are offered places comfortably exceed this threshold.

Common Entrance: CE is sat in June of Year 8 at the candidate’s prep school. The ISEB Common Entrance syllabus covers a broad range of subjects, and Ampleforth requires an average of 50% across all subjects sat. This threshold is lower than at some other leading 13+ schools, reflecting Ampleforth’s interest in the whole person rather than examination performance alone. Strong preparation is still essential, particularly in core subjects.

How Do You Apply to Ampleforth College for 13+ Entry in 2026?

The application process for Ampleforth College 13+ begins online. The key steps are as follows:

Step 1: Register online. Visit the Ampleforth College admissions website at ampleforthcollege.org.uk/admissions and complete the registration form. Pay the £100 non-refundable registration fee. You will receive a confirmation and be added to the year-group mailing list. The admissions team can be contacted by telephone or email for advice on timing and next steps.

Step 2: Open Mornings and visits. Ampleforth holds Open Mornings throughout the year for prospective families. These are excellent opportunities to see the college, meet current pupils and staff, attend the Abbey church, and gain a genuine feel for the community. The school’s setting is dramatic and the pastoral environment is warm — most families who visit Ampleforth are struck by the sense of genuine community that pervades the college.

Step 3: Assessment Day. Candidates are invited to an Assessment Day, typically in Year 6 or 7. This involves the CEM test, interview and activities. There is no formal preparation required for the CEM test, though familiarity with the format and practise of reasoning-style questions is helpful. Our tutors at Leading Tuition prepare pupils effectively for CEM-style assessments.

Step 4: Conditional offer. Successful candidates receive a conditional offer, subject to achieving the 50% CE average and maintaining satisfactory school reports. Families confirm their acceptance and pay a deposit to secure the place.

Step 5: Common Entrance. In June of Year 8, candidates sit CE at their prep school. Papers are marked by ISEB and results are sent to Ampleforth. Subject to reaching the threshold, the conditional offer becomes unconditional and the pupil prepares to join the college in September.

Fees, Scholarships and Bursaries at Ampleforth College

Ampleforth College is a full boarding school, and the majority of pupils board throughout the term. Fees for 2024–25 were £46,740 per year for full boarding. Fees typically increase annually and families should request the current fee schedule from the admissions office when planning for 2027 or 2028 entry.

The college offers a range of scholarships for 13+ entry, including academic, music, art, design technology, sport and all-rounder awards. Academic scholarships are assessed on the basis of outstanding performance at the Assessment Day. Music scholarships are awarded by audition and are particularly prestigious at a school with a strong choral and orchestral tradition. Sport awards recognise exceptional ability in rugby, cricket, rowing or other sports that are central to Ampleforth’s co-curricular life.

Means-tested bursaries are available for families who would benefit from financial assistance. The bursary process is separate from the scholarships process and involves a detailed financial assessment. The college’s admissions team can advise on eligibility and the application process. Ampleforth is committed to ensuring that the school is accessible to talented pupils from all backgrounds, and the bursary fund is a genuine route to an Ampleforth education for families who could not otherwise afford it.

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How Should Pupils Prepare for Ampleforth College 13+ Entry?

Preparation for Ampleforth 13+ entry has two distinct phases: the Assessment Day in Year 6 or 7, and Common Entrance in June of Year 8. Each requires a different approach, and families who plan their preparation programme carefully will be significantly better placed than those who leave everything until the last term of Year 8.

CEM Assessment Day preparation: The CEM computer-based test covers Mathematics, English and Non-Verbal Reasoning. While the college states that no special preparation is required, candidates who are familiar with the format, the time pressures and the types of questions used in CEM-style assessments will perform more consistently. Leading Tuition tutors work with pupils on all three areas, building familiarity and confidence without over-coaching in a way that is unhelpful or inauthentic.

Common Entrance preparation: CE at 13+ covers a broad curriculum across approximately ten subjects. The key areas for Ampleforth-bound pupils are Mathematics, English Language and Literature, the Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), French (and other MFL), History, Geography and Religious Studies. Latin is also commonly offered and can contribute to the average score. A 50% threshold across all subjects is the minimum requirement, but pupils who are aiming for scholarships or who want to demonstrate genuine academic ability should target 65–75% or above in their strongest subjects.

Interview preparation: The Ampleforth interview is relatively conversational compared to the highly intellectual interviews at schools like St Paul’s or Winchester. The Registrar is looking for pupils who are engaged, curious, respectful and genuinely interested in what Ampleforth has to offer. Preparation should involve thinking about why the candidate wants to attend Ampleforth specifically — and the answer should be authentic. Candidates who have visited the school, attended Open Mornings and engaged with the college’s ethos will naturally have more to say.

Reading and enrichment: Ampleforth values the whole person. Pupils with genuine passions — whether in music, sport, art, science or literature — tend to thrive in the selection process because they have authentic things to discuss in interview and in their school reference. Encouraging broad intellectual and cultural engagement from an early age is the best long-term preparation for Ampleforth.

What Does Life at Ampleforth College Look Like?

Life at Ampleforth College revolves around the house system, with each house overseen by a resident housemaster and a chaplain from the Benedictine community. The houses at Ampleforth are named after Benedictine saints and the structure is genuinely intimate: each house is a community in itself, with shared meals, house prayers and a strong sense of belonging that most Old Amplefordians cite as one of the defining features of their time at school.

The academic programme in Year 9 covers a full spread of subjects, with specialist teaching from highly qualified staff across the humanities, sciences, arts and languages. Music is a particular strength: the college has an outstanding choral tradition, with regular performances in the Abbey church and touring opportunities across Europe and beyond. Sport is equally central — rugby, cricket, rowing, athletics and many other sports all feature prominently in the life of the school, and sporting fixtures against other leading independent schools are an important part of the calendar.

The outdoor education programme at Ampleforth takes full advantage of the North Yorkshire Moors. Duke of Edinburgh, CCF, climbing, hiking and farming all feature in the curriculum, and many pupils develop a genuine love of the outdoors that stays with them long after they leave school. The college’s agricultural connection — through the college farm — is a distinctive feature that reflects the Benedictine tradition of work and stewardship of creation.

Frequently Asked Questions: Ampleforth College 13+ 2026