St Bede's College Manchester
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Admissions

We aim to make joining St Bede’s as simple as possible. Our Admissions Team will guide you through every stage of the process, ensuring a smooth and supportive experience from your first enquiry to your child’s first day.

INSPIRED · COMMITTED · GRATEFUL ·

Nursery and Reception

Step 1 – Enquiry and Application

Attend an Open Event
Sign up for one of our upcoming Open Events or email admissions@sbcm.co.uk to arrange a visit.

Submit Your Application

Use our online application form to begin your child’s journey with St Bede’s.

Step 2 – Meeting with our Head of Prep School

For children in Nursery and Reception, you as a family will be invited to a meeting with the Head of Prep School.

Step 3 – Offer Decisions

Receiving an Offer
Offer decisions will be sent via email

Step 4 – Accepting the Offer, Registration and Enrolment Confirming Your Offer

Once your offer has been received, complete the registration and enrolment steps through our online portal to secure your child’s place.

Prep School (Years 1 – 6)

Step 1 – Enquiry and Application

Attend an Open Event
Sign up for one of our upcoming Open Events or email admissions@sbcm.co.uk to arrange a visit.

Submit Your Application

Use our online application form to begin your child’s journey with St Bede’s.

Step 2 – Entrance Assessment, Reference Requests

Complete the Application Process

Pay the application fee and provide referee contact details through our secure online admissions portal. We will then request a reference from your child’s current school.

Step 3 – Taster Day

Receiving an Offer

Offer decisions will be sent via email

Your child will spend the day from 9.15am to 3.15pm with us for a Taster Day. In the first half of the day, they will be assessed in literacy and numeracy and classroom based PSED (personal, social and emotional development). The second part of the day will be appropriate age based assessments

Step 4 – Offer Decisions

Receiving an Offer

Offer decisions will be sent via email once assessments, interviews and references have been reviewed.

Step 5 – Accepting the Offer, Registration and Enrolment Confirming Your Offer

Receiving an Offer

Once your offer has been received, complete the registration and enrolment steps through our online portal to secure your child’s place. If you are applying as an in year application, we will then contact you to confirm your child’s first day of school.

Year 7 entry into the Senior School

Step 1 – Enquiry and Application

Attend an Open Event
Sign up for one of our upcoming Open Events or email admissions@sbcm.co.uk to arrange a visit.

Submit Your Application

Use our online application form to begin your child’s journey with St Bede’s.

Step 2 – Entrance Assessment, Reference Requests

Complete the Application Process

Complete the online application form, Pay the assessment fee and provide referee contact details through our secure online admissions portal. We will then request a reference from your child’s current school.

Assessment

Our main Upper Third Entrance assessment takes place on 10th January 2026. To be eligible to sit this assessment, the application form, assessment fee and reference requests MUST BE completed before the 12th December 2025.

Reference Request

A reference will be requested directly from your child’s current school.

Step 3 – Interview with the Headteacher

Interview

You will be asked to select a timeslot for both you and your child to attend an interview with the headteacher.

Step 4 – Offer Decisions

Receiving an Offer

Offer decisions will be sent via email once assessments, interviews and references have been reviewed.

Step 5 – Accepting the Offer, Registration and Enrolment

Confirming Your Offer

Once your offer has been received, complete the registration and enrolment steps through our online portal to secure your child’s place.

Senior School – In Year and other Year group Applications (Y8 – Y10)

Step 1 – Enquiry and Application

Attend an Open Event
Sign up for one of our upcoming Open Events or email admissions@sbcm.co.uk to arrange a visit.

Submit Your Application

Use our online application form to begin your child’s journey with St Bede’s.

Step 2 – Entrance Assessment, Reference Requests, Headteacher Interview

Complete the Application Process

Complete the online application form. Pay the assessment fee and provide referee contact details through our secure online admissions portal. We will then request a reference from your child’s current school

Assessment

Your child will be invited to attend an assessment and interview day. If you are an In-year entry for Year 7 or applying for Y8, your child will sit English and Maths Assessments. If your child is applying for Years 9 and 10, they will sit an additional Science paper.

Reference Request

A reference will be requested directly from your child’s current school.

Interview with the Headteacher

You will be advised of the time for you and your child to attend an interview with the headteacher.

Step 3 – Offer Decisions

Receiving an Offer

Offer decisions will be sent via email once assessments, interviews and references have been reviewed.

Step 4 – Accepting the Offer, Registration and Enrolment

Confirming Your Offer

Once your offer has been received, complete the registration and enrolment steps through our online portal to secure your child’s place. We will then contact you to arrange your child’s first day.

Sixth Form Admissions Process

Step 1 – Enquiry and Application

Attend an Open Event
Sign up for one of our upcoming Open Events or email admissions@sbcm.co.uk to arrange a visit.

Submit Your Application

Use our online application form to begin your child’s journey with St Bede’s.

Step 2 – Completing the Application form, admission fee, reference

Complete the Application Process

Complete the online application form you MUST include your predicted grades at GCSE level. Pay the assessment fee and provide referee contact details through our secure online admissions portal. We will then request a reference from your child’s current school.

Reference Request

A reference will be requested directly from your child’s current school.

Interview with the Head of Sixth Form

After the February Half term, you will be invited to an interview with the Head of Sixth Form.

Step 3 – Offers

Receiving an Offer

Once Step 2 is complete you may receive a conditional offer. Your offer letter will advise the grades that are required for the subjects you wish to take.

Step 4 – Accepting the Offer, Registration and Enrolment

Confirming Your Offer

GCSE results day is 20th August 2025. Offers MUST be accepted no later than 24th August 2025. You can then complete the registration and enrolment steps through our online portal to secure your child’s place.

Top 5 FAQs

1. When should I apply for a place?

We welcome applications throughout the year. However, to secure a place for the Upper Third (Year 7) Entrance assessment on 10th January 2026, the deadline for applications is 12th December 2025.

2. How do I apply?

Applications can be completed via our online application form. Once submitted, our Admissions Team will guide you through each step, from assessment to offer.

3. Can we visit before applying?

Absolutely. Families are warmly invited to attend one of our Open Events or to book a private tour by emailing admissions@sbcm.co.uk

4. What year groups do you accept new pupils into?

We accept pupils into Prep (Nursery –Year 6), College (Years 7–10) and Sixth Form (Years 12). Mid-year entries may also be considered depending on availability. We are unable to accept any applications for Upper Fifth (Y11) or Upper Sixth (Y13).

5. Do you accept applications from families of all faiths?

Yes. St Bede’s is a Catholic school, but we warmly welcome children of all faiths and none. We simply ask that all families are supportive of our ethos and values.
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