A personalised tour can take place during one of our Open Mornings or at a time that suits you throughout the school year.
Email Registrar | Call (01481) 721602
Joining The Ladies’ College
Your daughter’s journey begins here
Discover the exceptional educational opportunities awaiting your daughter at our College. We understand that choosing the right school is a significant decision, and we're here to guide you through every step of the application process. Our Registrar, Rosalyn McClean, is your dedicated point of contact and is eager to answer any questions you may have.
We invite you and your daughter to experience the vibrant atmosphere of The Ladies’ College first-hand. Personalised tours of our campus are available at your convenience, allowing you to explore our facilities and gain valuable insights into life at College.
Mary Lawson, our Head of Melrose, would be delighted to welcome families considering a place in our Pre-School, Prep, or Junior sections, and introduce them to the warm, nurturing environment that Melrose is known for.
Melrose Pre-school and Junior School Application Journey
1. Initial enquiry and personalised tour
Formalise your application by completing our online registration form or download a pdf form to complete by hand.
Pre-School
Complete Registration Form Online Download Form
Melrose
Complete Registration Form Online Download Form
A non-refundable registration fee of £100 is required at this stage.
a. In Lower Prep (Reception) and Middle Prep (Year 1), the focus is on observation. The teacher assesses your daughter’s phonics, maths, and social and emotional development to determine whether she is at the expected level for her age.
b. From Upper Prep (Year 2) to Form I (Year 4) girls take part in low-key assessments in maths, reading, and reading comprehension during their taster day. These take no more than half an hour and, alongside the form teacher’s observations, help us understand whether your daughter will be able to access the curriculum.
c. Form II (Year 5) and Form III (Year 6) pupils complete their entrance assessments on a separate day from their taster day. Parents are welcome to choose whether they would prefer their daughter to complete the assessments or the taster day first.
4. Offer of a Place and Acceptance
Offers of places are contingent upon receipt of satisfactory references from your daughter's current school, if deemed necessary.
Upon acceptance, a non-refundable deposit of £450 is required, which will be credited towards your daughter's first term's fees.
Senior School and Sixth Form Application Journey
1. Initial enquiry and personalised tour
Begin your journey by contacting our Registrar, Rosalyn McClean, via our online enquiry form, email, or telephone.
We will arrange a bespoke family tour, allowing you and your daughter to experience the unique spirit of The Ladies' College.
Formalise your application by completing our online registration form.
Complete Registration Form Online Download Form
A non-refundable registration fee of £100 is required at this stage.
Our Registrar will invite you to attend our Open Morning, held annually in September.
This will take place on Saturday 20th September 2025 10am- 12pm.
Following registration, your daughter will be invited to participate in an Entrance Assessment.
The format and content of this assessment will vary depending on the year of entry. Detailed information will be provided upon application.
5. Offer of a Place and Acceptance
Offers of places are contingent upon receipt of satisfactory references from your daughter's current school, if applicable.
Upon acceptance, a non-refundable deposit of £450 is required, which will be credited towards your daughter's first term's fees.
To ensure a seamless transition and allow your daughter to fully immerse herself in our community, we invite her to participate in a Taster Day.
Key Entry Points and Timelines
While we welcome applications at any stage, we also recognise that certain entry points are particularly common. These include Pre-School from age 2, Melrose (our Prep and Junior School) at age 4 for Reception (Lower Prep), Junior Remove/Year 3, Senior School in Remove/Year 7, Year 10 for GCSEs, and Sixth Form/Year 12 for A-Levels.
We understand that circumstances vary, and we are happy to consider applications outside of these traditional entry points, subject to available places. To assist families in their planning, we provide clear timelines, particularly for entry into Remove and Sixth Form, which are often key decision-making years.
Learn more about...
Entry to Remove/Year 7
September 2026
Open Morning (10am-12pm) Saturday 20th September 2025
Closing Date for registrations Friday 3rd October 2025
Entrance Assessment Saturday 18th October 2025
Offers of Places confirmed on Friday 7th November 2025
Acceptance of place deadline Friday 21st November 2025
Open Events for entry into Year 10 (GCSE’s)
September 2026
Open Morning Saturday 20th September 2025
GCSE Subject Choices Evening January 2026
Open Events for entry into Sixth Form
September 2026
Open Morning Saturday 20th September 2025
Sixth Form Open Evening Monday 13th October 2025
Partnership Options Evening Weds 5th November 2025
We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students.
Places are awarded on the following basis:
- Registrations for Melrose Pre-School are accepted from birth.
- The first twenty applicants per year group are typically offered a place in Pre-School, guaranteeing entry to Lower Prep (Reception) at Melrose.
- Additional Pre-School places are available; however, placement in Lower Prep for these applicants will be subject to waiting list availability.
- Parents can apply for 15 hours of free childcare from the age of 3. (Please contact us for the most current information regarding this provision.)
Melrose (Lower Prep and Beyond)
- Pupils graduating from Melrose Pre-School automatically progress to Lower Prep (Reception).
- Waiting lists exist for most year groups within Melrose.
- Where places are available in other year groups, they will be offered based on relevant assessments and a taster day. (Please note that assessments are in place to ensure we can meet the individual needs of each child)
- Melrose pupils automatically transition to Remove (Year 7).
- Remaining places are offered to external candidates through our admissions process.
- Our admissions approach aims to identify students who will thrive in our unique educational environment.
- We take a holistic view of each applicant, considering their curiosity, passion, and intellectual and emotional adaptability, rather than focusing on a narrow skill set.
- In addition to English and Mathematics assessments, we evaluate pupils' skills and interests, and invite them for an informal chat to discuss their passions.
- Please contact us to inquire about availability in other year groups.
- Year 10 (start of GCSEs) is a popular entry point.
- All Sixth Form entrants must have achieved a minimum of Grade 4 in IGCSE or GCSE (or equivalent) Mathematics and English Language.
- A minimum Grade 6 is required in subjects the student wishes to study at A-Level.
- A supporting reference is also required.
- Places are available in the Sixth Form commencing September 2025. Please contact the Registrar for further details.
- The Ladies’ College offers a bursary scheme to provide financial assistance to eligible students. For more information or to apply, please visit our Bursaries Page.
