Sixth Form Admissions
The peak of school life, the start of real life
Entrance to the Sixth Form is via academic selection. Applications open in May of the preceding year of entry with assessment taking place in the autumn term of the year preceding entry. Offers are made before Christmas.
Entrance into the Sixth Form involves submitting a written personal statement as well as two recent school reports. Successful candidates will be invited to interview, and offers made are conditional on achieving at least four Grade 7/A at GCSE. Those wishing to apply for an academic scholarship (including fully-funded scholarships) will be required to sit an examination – candidates can choose between a written essay-based or mathematics assessment. At this stage we will also ask for a reference from the pupil’s current school.
To start your application register with our Admissions Portal.
Scholarships
Colfe’s offers a ground-breaking scholarship programme in its Sixth Form. Each year The Leathersellers’ Company and philanthropic donations jointly fund free places for able pupils from low-income families to study for their A-levels at the school.
Most applicants need to achieve at least five Grade 8s at GCSE. However, if your current school does not usually score highly at GCSE we may set a lower target. In addition, candidates should qualify for the government’s pupil premium or have a household income of less than £40,000 a year.
Read more about the fully funded Leatherseller Scholarship Programme.
If you are unsure if you are eligible for a fully funded sixth form scholarship, please contact Admissions to discuss further.
Other forms of financial assistance in the form of merit-based and means-tested scholarships are also available in the sixth form for academic and co-curricular (Creative Art and Design, Drama, Music and Sport) excellence. Awards are given at the school’s discretion, and the number varies yearly; in a typical year group, we expect around a quarter of pupils to benefit from fee assistance, see more information.
Application and Assessment for 2026 entry
Year 12 (16+) Key Dates
Opportunities to visit Colfe’s include tours and whole school Open Days. Please see our Open Events page for more information.
Reasonable adjustments and access arrangements
Reasonable adjustments and access arrangements may be offered to pupils in entrance assessments, provided that the application is supported by the following:
- the written recommendations of an independent and appropriately qualified physician or another medical professional; or
- a signed file note from the SENDCo/Head of Learning Support of the candidate’s current school that confirms the pupil’s underlying difficulties, their normal way of working and current access arrangements.
Should a place be offered and accepted, any access arrangements that the School may grant for 11+ or 16+ entrance assessments will stand only for these entrance assessments and the School can make no guarantee that these will apply for everyday learning. For more information please see General Admissions Policy.
