Entry Requirements

FS1 children (ages 3-4) can join Chorister School in the term following their third birthday. Starting dates are at the beginning of a new term: September, January and April.

FS2 children (ages 4-5) start school in the academic year that they are four, turning five years old.

If currently attending a Nursery setting, we will ask the Nursery to provide a reference based on development against the Early Years Assessment Framework.

Families are also asked to complete a Parental Self-Assessment Form which helps to give us an indication of your child’s developmental stages.

Prior to starting in our Early Years, a Nursery or Home visit may be helpful and can assist transition. We also offer Taster sessions in school to help with starting school.

Visiting Chorister School is the first step in our Admissions process booked via our Admissions portal. This gives you the opportunity to learn more about our school and meet our staff. Following your visit, we can answer any further questions that you may have and continue with the application process.

We will require an academic report from your child’s current school. A taster session is also suggested so that you and your child develop ‘a good feel’ for our school.

If you are unable to visit our school, we will work with you to communicate all the required information and/or arrange a virtual meeting.

Children joining the senior school at Year 7 will sit our 11+ entrance examinations in English, Mathematics, verbal and non-verbal reasoning.

Children joining in Year 9 sit our entrance examinations in English and Mathematics.

Pupils wishing to join in Year 12 must satisfy our minimum entrance criteria of 5 GCSEs at grade 6 (or equivalent) and English Language and Mathematics at grade 4.

All international pupils who join us will normally be required to sit an entrance test appropriate to their age.

All admissions are also subject to a satisfactory reference being received from the candidate’s current school.

Year 7, 8, 9 and 10

Children joining the senior school at Year 7, 8, 9 or 10 will sit our entrance examinations in English, mathematics and have an interview with our Director of International Students.

One Year GCSE programme

Children joining the One Year GCSE programme or our Three Year A Level programme will sit our entrance examinations in English, mathematics and have an interview with our Director of International Students.

Sixth Form

Pupils wishing to join the Sixth Form in Year 12 must satisfy our minimum entrance criteria of 5 GCSEs at grade 6 (or equivalent) and English language and mathematics at grade 5. When the pupil is not sitting iGCSEs /GCSEs, age-appropriate assessments and an interview will be arranged.

For entry directly into our Sixth Form for international students for whom English is not their first language, students need a minimum academic IELTS score of 5.5

Most English-speaking universities require a score of 6.0 or higher, depending on the course. More selective universities set a 7.0 as a minimum for application.

Interview Requirements

All applicants must be available for either a virtual interview or if possible, an interview in person at Durham School. Interviews are normally carried out by our Director of International Students or a senior member of staff. Scholarship applicants may also be required to be interviewed by our Headmaster, Deputy Head (Academic) or Director of Scholars depending on the Scholarship.