Cheltenham

Overview

One of the public schools of the Victorian period, it was opened in July 1841. An Anglican foundation, it is known for its classical, military and sporting traditions. The 1893 book Great Public Schools by E. S. Skirving, S. R. James and Henry Churchill Maxwell Lyte, which had a chapter on each of what they regarded to be England's ten greatest public schools, included Cheltenham College. There is also a prep school, Cheltenham College Preparatory School, most of whose pupils go on to the senior school. Cheltenham maintains a strong academic reputation, with the majority of pupils going to The Russell Group Universities, and around 7% going on to Oxford and Cambridge universities.

Unique Points

675 Old Cheltonians (former pupils) were killed in the service of their country in World War 1, and 363 in World War 2. Cheltenham's military past is recognised by the fact that it is one of only three schools in England to have its own military colours (last presented in 2000 by The Princess Royal). Cheltenham has links with the Wynberg Boys' High School Cape Town, South Africa; an all-boys boarding school which coincidentally was established in the same year as Cheltenham, 1841. In Polo Cheltenham were National Schools Champions in 1997, 1998, 2004, & 2005 and Arena Champions in 2004, 2005 & 2006. Gloucestershire County Cricket Club played its first game at Cheltenham College 137 years ago, making this one of the longest running cricket festivals in the world.

Entry Requirements

There are three ways to enter the College at 13+ (Year 9). 1. ISEB 13+ Common Entrance papers taken in June of the year of entry. 2. College Entrance papers. These papers are for candidates from schools that do not prepare pupils for CE and are sat by arrangement with the Registrar, usually in the Spring Term of Year 8. Pupils entering via this route will sit papers in English, Mathematics and Science. 3. Academic Scholarship papers, set by the College, taken in February of the year of entry. Each year we offer 30 or so places for entry direct into the Sixth Form. Entrance exams are held at College over two days in both November and March, in the year prior to entry.