Cheltenham Ladies' College (CLC) is one of the most prestigious girls' boarding schools in the world — a school with a 170-year history of educating extraordinary women in science, medicine, politics, the arts and beyond. Full boarding, academically rigorous and set in the elegant surroundings of Cheltenham, it is a natural destination for families seeking the finest girls' boarding education available. Entry is at 13+ via the ISEB Pre-Test and Common Entrance.
About Cheltenham Ladies' College
CLC is situated in the centre of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 — a beautiful Regency town with excellent rail and road connections from London, Bristol and the Midlands. The school educates around 850 girls aged 11–18, with the majority boarding. Year 9 is the main 13+ entry year; some girls also enter at Year 7 (11+) or Sixth Form.
CLC's academic results are exceptional — it sends more girls to Oxford and Cambridge than almost any other girls' school — and its provision across sciences, arts and sport is world class. The school has a particular reputation for empowering girls to pursue traditionally male-dominated fields such as mathematics, physics and engineering with confidence.
The entry process for 13+
- Registration in Year 5 or Year 6 — families should register their daughter when she is 10–11. CLC is oversubscribed and early registration is essential.
- ISEB Common Pre-Test — girls sit the ISEB online Pre-Test (English, Maths, VR, NVR) at their prep school. CLC uses results alongside school reports to assess potential.
- CLC's own assessment — shortlisted girls visit Cheltenham for academic assessment papers and an interview. The interview assesses intellectual interests, personality and readiness for boarding life as well as academic ability.
- Conditional offer — subject to Common Entrance in Year 8.
- Common Entrance in Year 8 — CE across major subjects. CLC's pass mark is typically around 65%, reflecting the school's academic selectivity.
Common Entrance at CLC
CE subjects at CLC include: English, Mathematics, Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), French, History, Geography, Religious Studies and optionally Latin. CLC places particular emphasis on academic rigour in the sciences — girls should approach CE Physics and Chemistry with the same seriousness as English and Mathematics.
Scholarships
CLC awards scholarships in academics, music, art, drama and sport. Academic scholarship papers are substantially harder than standard CE and require preparation beyond Year 8 level in Maths and Science in particular. CLC is also notable for its Academic Development Scholarships, which support girls from less privileged backgrounds who demonstrate outstanding academic potential.
Why Cheltenham Ladies' College?
CLC occupies a unique position in UK girls' education: it offers the academic rigour and breadth of opportunity of the leading boys' boarding schools, in a community that is entirely girls-focused. Girls are explicitly encouraged to be ambitious, to take on challenges and to pursue any field — including those where women have historically been under-represented. For families who want their daughter to board with the very best, CLC is an exceptional choice.
When to start preparation
- Year 4–5: English and Mathematics foundations; science curiosity encouraged; broad reading and co-curricular development.
- Year 6–7: ISEB Pre-Test preparation and CLC's own assessment preparation.
- Year 7–8: CE preparation across all subjects, with particular attention to Sciences, Mathematics and any areas identified as weaker during the Pre-Test phase.
Finding a tutor for CLC preparation
CLC's relatively higher CE pass mark and emphasis on sciences makes thorough CE preparation critical. Subject tutors for Mathematics, Sciences (especially Physics and Chemistry) and English are the most commonly needed in Years 7 and 8.
Find tutors with Common Entrance and boarding school experience on the parent portal.