Cheltenham Ladies' College Admissions Tutors
Individual preparation for CLC entrance assessments
One of the most useful things Cheltenham Ladies’ College says about admissions is that there is no single ‘type’ of girl it is looking for.
CLC instead talks about a positive outlook and willingness to try new things.
That makes a good starting point for preparation.
A pupil should not be coached to imitate an imagined CLC stereotype.
She should become academically prepared enough that the admissions team gets to see her strengths rather than her nerves.
What happens in the CLC 11+ admissions process?
Year 7 applicants attend an Assessment Day.
The current process includes:
- group discussions;
- activities;
- written and adaptive online assessment;
- Mathematics;
- English;
- Verbal Reasoning.
CLC then takes a holistic view of the application.
This means tutoring should prepare both academic skills and the ability to participate naturally within an unfamiliar group.
CLC 13+ admissions
The 13+ Assessment Day similarly gives CLC an opportunity to understand candidates both as learners and as potential members of its community.
Candidates currently undertake group activities and assessment involving Mathematics, English and Verbal Reasoning.
CLC also considers feedback from the assessment day, performance in entrance examinations and the Head Teacher’s reference.
This creates a broader picture than a simple ranked exam score.
How do our CLC tutors prepare girls?
English
We develop:
- comprehension;
- inference;
- vocabulary;
- written accuracy;
- expression;
- response to literature;
- clear argument.
Mathematics
Preparation includes:
- arithmetic fluency;
- reasoning;
- problem solving;
- multi-stage questions;
- speed with accuracy.
Verbal reasoning
Girls become familiar with common reasoning demands while building vocabulary and logical thinking.
Discussion
Tutors can also work on the less easily measured qualities:
Can she make a point without dominating?
Can she listen?
Can she build on somebody else’s contribution?
Can she disagree kindly?
These are useful school skills regardless of the eventual admissions outcome.
What does Cheltenham Ladies' College look for?
CLC’s own language emphasises curiosity, courage, trying new things and contributing to a community.
The strongest preparation should therefore encourage a pupil to have something to talk about.
That does not mean filling every evening with artificial extracurricular activities.
A child who genuinely loves astronomy, netball, novels, coding, horses or painting has far more to say than one who has been signed up to ten activities purely for admissions.
Depth of interest usually sounds more convincing than quantity.
Boarding at CLC: is it right for my daughter?
A large part of the CLC experience is residential.
For a girl considering boarding, parents should ask:
- Is she excited by the idea?
- Does she cope well with independence?
- Does she make friendships readily?
- How does she react when routines change?
- Does she enjoy busy communal environments?
CLC also offers day places, so boarding should not simply be assumed to be the “more prestigious” option.
The right arrangement is the one in which the child is likely to be happiest and perform best.
CLC Sixth Form entry
CLC offers Sixth Form applicants the opportunity to pursue A Levels or the International Baccalaureate.
Preparation at 16+ should therefore become increasingly subject-specific and intellectually mature.
For pupils for whom English is not their native language, UKiset may also form part of the admissions requirements.
International applicants in particular should start early enough to distinguish between academic knowledge and English-language issues.
CLC Admissions FAQs
Current assessment includes Mathematics, English, Verbal Reasoning, group discussions and activities.
No. Cheltenham Ladies' College offers both boarding and day places.
No. The School describes its admissions decision as holistic.
CLC explicitly says there is no single “type”; it emphasises a positive outlook and willingness to try new things.