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What are the entry requirements for international students?
We take great care over every application made to Queen Ethelburga’s and do our best to make the process as easy as possible.
You can begin your application at any point in the year, and you will be kept in close contact with the Admissions Team and key senior staff.
UK Education System Explained
UK schools follow a National Curriculum that is constructed into five Key Stages:
Key Stage | Year Group | Pupil’s Age |
---|---|---|
Key Stage 1 | Years 1 to 2 | 5 to 7 |
Key Stage 2 | Years 3 to 6 | 8 to 11 |
Key Stage 3 | Years 7 to 9 | 12 to 14 |
Key Stage 4 | Years 10 to 11 | 15 to 16 |
Key Stage 5 | Years 12 to 13 | 17 to 18 |
International Education systems vary, so when applying to the school, we will look at your previous academic history to place you in the most appropriate year group.
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Are You Visiting The UK?We’d love to take you on a personal tour around campus to show you our amazing facilities and boarding houses. If you decide to visit, you can also meet one of our senior academic staff members who can explain the different courses and subjects available. |
Overview Of Queen Ethelburga's Four Schools
Explorers Nursery (3 Months to Age 3) |
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Children can join Explorers Nursery at any point of the year. The Nursery is situated within Chapter House School and includes three rooms for babies and toddlers to progress through. At the age of 3, children will move into Chapter House's Foundation Stage provision. |
Chapter House (Age 3 to Year 5) |
Children join Chapter House at the age of 3 as part of the Early Years Foundation Stage provision and move to Reception in September. From Reception, children are expected to join Chapter House at the beginning of the academic year. In Year 3, students can begin boarding at Queen Ethelburga’s, and we have a comprehensive programme for students who speak English as an additional language (EAL). At the end of Year 5, students are prepared for transitioning to King’s Magna. |
King’s Magna (Year 6 to Year 9) |
Pupils attend King's Magna when they reach Year 6. Pupils are welcome to apply to join any of the King’s Magna year groups, with the expectation that they will start at the beginning of the academic year. To enrol in King’s Magna for Year 6 or 7, students must achieve a minimum score of 3.5 on their IELTS exam or an equivalent qualification. In Years 8 and 9, students with lower-level English skills can enrol in the Junior English Language Programme. New Year 8 students must achieve a minimum score of 4 on their IELTS exam or equivalent, and new Year 9 students must achieve a minimum score of 4.5 on their IELTS exam or equivalent. At the end of Year 9, students are prepared to transition into QE College. |
QE College (Year 10 to Year 13) |
Students may join the College at the beginning of Year 10, Year 11, or Year 12. We offer a variety of options to international students, depending on their level of English and academic strengths. Students with lower-level English skills can enrol in the English Language Programme to improve their English before accessing the mainstream curriculum. Before joining Queen Ethelburga's, students will take a CAT4 test and an IELTS exam to determine which course is most suitable.
We also offer the NCUK International Foundation Year for 17 year olds looking to progress onto an English-speaking university. Students must score in the 25th percentile or above in the Mathematics, Non-Verbal, and Spatial sections of the CAT4 and must achieve at least a score of 5.5 on their IELTS exam. |
For more information on the available options, please see the table below. Boarding for international students is available for the Year Groups in bold.
Age (Sept-Aug) | Year Group | Key Stage | School |
---|---|---|---|
3 Months - 3 Years | Nursery | EYFS | Explorers Nursery |
3 - 4 Years | Foundation Stage | EYFS | Chapter House |
4 - 5 Years | Reception | EYFS | Chapter House |
5 - 6 Years | Year 1 | KS1 | Chapter House |
6 - 7 Years | Year 2 | KS1 | Chapter House |
7 - 8 Years | Year 3 | KS2 | Chapter House |
8 - 9 Years | Year 4 | KS2 | Chapter House |
9 - 10 Years | Year 5 | KS2 | Chapter House |
10 - 11 Years | Year 6 | KS2 | King's Magna |
11 - 12 Years | Year 7 | KS3 | King's Magna |
12 - 13 Years | Year 8 | KS3 | King's Magna |
13 - 14 Years | Year 9 | KS3 | King's Magna |
14 - 15 Years | Year 10 | KS4 | College |
15 - 16 Years | Year 11 | KS4 | College |
16 - 17 Years | Year 12 | KS5 | College |
17 - 18 Years | Year 13 | KS5 | College |
17 - 18 Years | International Foundation Year | - | College |
Entry Requirements
Year Group | Entry Requirement | School | Programme | Month Course Starts |
---|---|---|---|---|
7 | IELTS 3.5 | King's Magna | Key Stage 3 Curriculum with EAL classes | September |
8 | IELTS 4 | King's Magna | Junior English Language Programme | September |
9 | IELTS 4.5 | King's Magna | Junior English Language Programme | September |
10 | IELTS 4, CAT4 25th percentile | College | English Language Programme | September/January |
10 | IELTS 5 | College | Two-year GCSE course | September |
10 | IELTS 5, CAT4 60th percentile | College | Advanced English Language Programme | September |
10 | IELTS 5.5 | College | Two-year GCSE course with additional qualifications | September |
11 | IELTS 4.5, CAT4 25th percentile | College | English Language Programme | September/January |
11 | IELTS 5, CAT4 60th percentile | College | Advanced English Language Programme | September |
12 | IELTS 4.5, CAT4 25th percentile | College | English Language Programme | September/January |
12 | IELTS 5, CAT4 60th percentile | College | Advanced English Language Programme | September |
12 | IELTS 6 | College | Two-year A-Level/BTEC course with IELTS/EAL lessons | September |
12 | IELTS 6, 60% + in CAT4, GCSEs grade 7+ or equivalent | College | Two-year A-Level course with IELTS/EAL lessons | September |
13 | IELTS 5.5, CAT4 25th percentile | College | International Foundation Year | September |
