Cranleigh School is one of England’s finest co-educational independent boarding and day schools, set in the heart of the Surrey Hills on a 300-acre campus in the village of Cranleigh. Founded in 1865, the school has built a distinguished reputation for combining strong academic results with excellence in sport, music, drama and the visual arts. Year 9 (13+) is the main entry point, and with outstanding facilities, a thriving boarding community and a distinctive two-stage admissions process, Cranleigh attracts applications from families across the south-east and further afield.
This guide covers the Cranleigh School 13+ admissions process for 2026 in full: the ISEB Common Pre-Test, the school’s unique Holistic Assessment Day, registration timelines, fees, scholarships, the school’s academic and co-curricular strengths, and how Leading Tuition’s specialist tutors can help your child secure a place.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Cranleigh School |
| Location | Horseshoe Lane, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8QQ |
| Type | Co-educational independent boarding and day school |
| Age range | 13–18 (main entry at 13+) |
| Assessment method | ISEB Common Pre-Test + Holistic Assessment Day |
| Registration fee | £240 (non-refundable) |
| Registration recommended | Year 5 |
| Full boarding fees (approx) | £15,000–£16,000 per term (inc. VAT) |
| Inspection | ISI |
| Sixth form | A-levels and IB Diploma |
About Cranleigh School
Cranleigh School occupies a beautiful 300-acre campus in the Surrey village of the same name, surrounded by the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The campus has been developed steadily since the school’s founding in 1865, and today includes a state-of-the-art sports centre, a professional-standard theatre, dedicated music and art schools, science laboratories and extensive boarding house facilities. The village campus setting creates a genuine community feel: pupils, staff and families are all part of the Cranleigh ecosystem.
The school is co-educational throughout and has been since 1975. Boarding houses are single-sex, but academic and co-curricular life is fully shared. The school places great emphasis on the quality of its pastoral care: senior tutors, house parents and school counsellors work together to ensure every pupil is known, supported and challenged appropriately. Class sizes are small — typically 18 or fewer in most subjects — and teaching is consistently rated highly in ISI inspections.
Cranleigh’s academic results are strong. At GCSE, the vast majority of pupils achieve A* to B grades in their subjects. At A-level and IB, Cranleigh pupils progress to a wide range of leading universities in the UK and internationally. The sixth form offers both A-levels and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, giving pupils genuine choice in how they are assessed and recognised by universities.
The Cranleigh School 13+ Admissions Process
Cranleigh’s admissions process is two-staged and distinctive: unlike many schools that rely entirely on the ISEB pre-test, Cranleigh adds a Holistic Assessment Day that allows it to evaluate candidates as whole people, not just as test-takers. This is a deliberate and considered approach that reflects the school’s values: Cranleigh wants pupils who will flourish in every aspect of school life, not just those who maximise their performance on a cognitive reasoning test.
Stage 1: Registration. Families register via the school’s Admissions Portal, paying a non-refundable £240 registration fee. Registration is recommended in Year 5. Once registered, families are kept informed of assessment timelines, open day dates and scholarship registration deadlines.
Stage 2: ISEB Common Pre-Test. Registered candidates sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test in October to mid-November of Year 6. The test covers verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English and mathematics, and is typically administered at the candidate’s current school. Candidates from schools that do not offer the ISEB test can arrange to sit it at Cranleigh Prep School. Results are shared with Cranleigh’s admissions team.
Stage 3: Holistic Assessment Day. Candidates who perform well in the pre-test are invited to Cranleigh for a Holistic Assessment Day in January of Year 6. This is not a formal written exam; it is a day of activities, tasks and interactions designed to give the admissions team a fuller picture of each candidate — their character, creativity, resilience, social skills and enthusiasm. Feedback from the Holistic Assessment Day is combined with the pre-test results before any offer is made.
Stage 4: Conditional Offers and CE. Offers made after the Holistic Assessment Day are conditional on satisfactory Common Entrance results, taken in Year 8, and a positive headteacher’s reference. CE subjects typically required include English, mathematics, science, French and at least one humanity. Minimum CE mark targets are set out in the conditional offer letter.
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Book a Free ConsultationHow Should I Prepare My Child for the Holistic Assessment Day?
The Holistic Assessment Day at Cranleigh is designed so that it cannot be “gamed” in the way a traditional written test might be prepared for. Cranleigh is looking for genuine qualities — curiosity, warmth, the ability to collaborate, intellectual engagement, creativity — rather than the product of intensive coaching. That said, there are things families can do to help their child approach the day with confidence.
Children who are well-rounded, who have genuine interests outside the classroom, who are used to working in teams and who can speak enthusiastically about things that excite them will naturally perform well on a holistic assessment day. Encouraging reading, pursuing hobbies with real commitment, and practising talking about ideas and experiences all help. Leading Tuition’s tutors can also provide preparation coaching for assessment days and interviews, helping children organise their thoughts and present themselves with confidence without coaching them to perform inauthentically.
Cranleigh School Fees 2025–26
Cranleigh’s fees for full boarding are approximately £15,000 to £16,000 per term (around £45,000 to £48,000 per year), inclusive of VAT. Day fees are significantly lower. The school reviews fees annually. VAT at 20% has applied to independent school fees since January 2025 following the government’s policy change. The £240 registration fee is payable on registration and is non-refundable.
The school offers means-tested bursaries for families who would not otherwise be able to afford the fees. Bursary awards are made on the basis of financial need and the pupil’s suitability for Cranleigh. Families who believe they may qualify should contact the admissions team at the earliest opportunity. The school also advises that candidates seeking both a scholarship and bursary support should register their interest in both streams simultaneously.
Scholarships at Cranleigh School for 13+ Entry
Cranleigh offers a range of scholarships at 13+ entry across multiple disciplines. Academic Scholarships recognise outstanding intellectual performance in the entrance assessments. Music Scholarships are available for pupils with exceptional musical talent, assessed via audition. Drama Scholarships reward outstanding performance and creative potential. Art Scholarships recognise excellence in visual arts, assessed via portfolio and a practical element. Design Technology Scholarships are available for pupils with outstanding creative and technical skills. Sport Scholarships recognise exceptional ability across one or more sports.
All scholarships carry a fee reduction and the distinction of a named award. Scholarship holders with additional financial need may apply for a bursary to supplement their scholarship. Families are advised to indicate their interest in scholarships at the time of registration and to confirm this with the admissions team when they receive their invitation to the Holistic Assessment Day.
Sport, Music and the Arts at Cranleigh
Cranleigh has an outstanding reputation for sport. The school has produced numerous county, regional and national sporting representatives, and its coaching provision is exceptional. Rugby, cricket, hockey, football, netball, tennis, swimming and athletics are among the main sports offered. The sports centre includes an indoor swimming pool, a fitness suite, squash courts and a climbing wall. The school’s location in rural Surrey provides additional opportunities for outdoor sports and activities.
The music department at Cranleigh is of the highest quality. The school has its own concert hall, a music technology suite, practice rooms and a thriving tradition of orchestral, choral and chamber music-making. Pupils can take individual lessons in virtually any instrument. Drama productions — from main stage musicals to black box studio pieces — are of a professional standard, and the school’s dedicated theatre space is among the best in any UK independent school. Art and Design Technology also flourish, with dedicated studios and consistently excellent public examination results.
Notable Alumni of Cranleigh School
Cranleigh’s alumni include a wide range of distinguished figures in the arts, sport, business and public life. The actor and writer Mark Gatiss (known for Sherlock, Doctor Who and The League of Gentlemen) is among the school’s most celebrated former pupils. The school has also produced successful sportspeople, entrepreneurs, medical professionals and public servants. The Old Cranleighan Society is an active alumni network that organises events, mentoring and networking opportunities for former pupils.
What Is Academic Life Like at Cranleigh in Year 9?
Pupils joining Cranleigh in Year 9 enter a broad curriculum that is designed to develop confidence, skills and enthusiasm across a wide range of subjects before GCSE choices are made in Year 10. Mathematics, English language and literature, the three separate sciences, history, geography, modern languages (French, Spanish, German, Mandarin), Latin, religious studies, art, music, drama, PE and PSHE are all included in the Year 9 timetable. Setting by ability operates in core subjects from entry.
The boarding community means that learning does not stop at the end of the school day. Evening activities, societies, concerts, rehearsals and inter-house competitions are woven into the week, and the house tutor system ensures that every pupil has a trusted adult they can turn to for academic and pastoral support. The culture is one of high expectations and warm support in equal measure.
Frequently Asked Questions: Cranleigh School 13+ 2026
When should I register for Cranleigh School 13+?
Registration is recommended in Year 5. A non-refundable fee of £240 applies. The ISEB pre-test is taken in October to mid-November of Year 6, so registration must be complete before then. Early registration is particularly important for scholarship and bursary candidates.
Does Cranleigh School use the ISEB pre-test?
Yes. The ISEB Common Pre-Test is taken in Year 6. Strong performers are then invited to the Holistic Assessment Day in January. Offers are only made after both stages have been assessed.
What happens at the Holistic Assessment Day?
The Holistic Assessment Day at Cranleigh is a day of activities and tasks designed to reveal character, creativity, collaboration and enthusiasm rather than pure academic performance. It complements the ISEB pre-test results to give the admissions team a fuller picture of each candidate.
What are Cranleigh’s fees for full boarding?
Approximately £15,000 to £16,000 per term (inc. VAT), around £45,000 to £48,000 per year. Day fees are lower. A £240 registration fee applies. Means-tested bursaries are available.
What scholarships are available at Cranleigh 13+?
Academic, Music, Drama, Art, DT and Sport Scholarships are offered. Scholars with additional financial need may apply for a supplementary means-tested bursary.
Is Cranleigh School co-educational?
Yes. Cranleigh is fully co-educational, admitting boys and girls as full boarders, weekly boarders, flexi-boarders and day pupils. Boarding houses are single-sex; academic and co-curricular life is shared.
How can Leading Tuition help with Cranleigh 13+ preparation?
Leading Tuition provides specialist one-to-one tuition for the ISEB pre-test, Common Entrance subjects and preparation for the Holistic Assessment Day. Rated 4.8/5 on Trustpilot. Contact us via WhatsApp.
How Leading Tuition Can Help with Cranleigh 13+ Preparation
Preparing for Cranleigh’s distinctive two-stage admissions process requires a different approach from preparation for schools that rely solely on written assessments. Leading Tuition’s specialist tutors are experienced with both the ISEB Common Pre-Test and with the character of holistic assessment processes. We work with pupils from Year 5 onwards, building the reasoning skills needed for the pre-test, the CE subject knowledge needed for the conditional offer stage, and the confidence and presentation skills needed to shine on an assessment day.
Our approach is tailored to the individual: every pupil starts with a diagnostic assessment, and every programme is built around the specific strengths and gaps we identify. We avoid rote coaching and instead focus on building genuine understanding and confidence. Rated 4.8/5 on Trustpilot, Leading Tuition is trusted by families across Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire and London preparing for competitive 13+ independent school entries. Contact us on WhatsApp at wa.me/447360278449 or book a free consultation on our website.