Claremont Fan Court School
Independent Co-educational All-Through Day School (Ages 2½–18) · Est. 1922
Set across 100 acres of one of England's most storied landscapes — Capability Brown's Claremont estate, once home to Princess Charlotte and Queen Victoria — Claremont Fan Court is a co-educational all-through school that runs unhurriedly from nursery to sixth form. Founded by Christian Scientists in the 1920s (the merger of Claremont 1922 and Fan Court 1932 happened in 1978) and now non-denominational, it has built a quiet reputation as the warmer, more nurturing choice in Surrey's independent corridor. Parents describe a school that lets children grow at their own pace rather than push them to compete.
Surrey's nurturing all-through school in a 100-acre Capability Brown landscape — best-ever results in 2025 (51% A*–A at A-level, 57% 9–7 at GCSE) without the pressure-cooker reputation of London day schools.
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Senior School: Portsmouth Road, Esher, Surrey, KT10 9HZ · Junior School: Claremont Drive, Esher, Surrey, KT10 9LY
Senior Day Fees
£9,595
per term Y9–11 & Sixth Form (2026/27, inc. VAT). Y7–8 £8,975; Prep Y5–6 £7,310.
Exam Format
Own Papers
English, Maths, NVR — NOT ISEB
Total Pupils
1,199
ages 2½–18 (ISI Dec 2024) — capacity expanding to 1,300
Founded
1922 / 1978
Claremont 1922; merged with Fan Court 1978
11+ External Places
~70
for Year 7 entry (per school admissions page)
A-level Results 2025
51% A*–A
84% A*–B — school's best-ever cohort
Best For
Families who want a warm, all-through co-ed pathway from nursery to sixth form in stunning historic grounds — particularly Surrey and SW London families seeking less pressure than central London selective day schools, with academic outcomes that have meaningfully strengthened over the last five years.
Watch Out For
Historically less academically intense than nearby Kingston Grammar or Hampton — though 2025 results challenge that reputation. Some Sixth Form A-level cohorts can be small for specialist subjects. The school is currently expanding (1,200 → 1,300 pupils approved by ISI Dec 2024) — for some families that's an opportunity (more capacity), for others a concern about growth pace.
Entry Points
- Pre-Nursery (2½), Nursery, Reception
- 7+
- 11+ (~70 external places)
- 13+, Sixth Form. The 11+ uses the school's own paper-based assessment in November Year 6 — NOT the ISEB Common Pre-Test.
The Complete Admissions Timeline
Every key date, deadline and decision point — with insider intelligence you won't find on the school website. Click any item to reveal verified insider knowledge.
The critical window: Registration closes Tuesday 3 November 2026 (£150 registration fee + recent school report required). Entrance assessment is Saturday 28 November 2026 (morning or afternoon session) in English, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Following the assessment, successful candidates are invited to a short interview with a senior member of staff in the Autumn term. Offers issue late January 2027. Acceptance deadline early March 2027. Approximately 70 external places are available at this entry point.
Attend Open Mornings
Claremont runs Open Mornings across the academic year. The campus is dramatic and the all-through model is best understood in person — visit at least once before deciding.
Begin paper-based 11+ preparation
Unlike most selective Surrey schools, Claremont uses its OWN paper-based assessment — not the ISEB Pre-Test. Practice must be paper-based, not digital. Focus on English (timed comprehension + creative writing), Maths (Year 6 NC) and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Registration deadline
Submit application with £150 fee. Late applications go to the March 2027 second-round assessment.
Entrance assessment at school
Saturday-morning or afternoon session. Bring stationery and any access arrangements documentation. The assessment is held at the Senior School (Portsmouth Road).
Interview invitations to successful candidates
Only candidates who succeed in the assessment are invited to interview. The interview is a short conversation with a senior member of staff covering interests, school activities, and character.
Key Dates — 11+ Entry 2027 (Year 7 from Sep 2027)
- 1
Registration deadline
Tuesday 3 November 2026
- 2
Entrance assessment (English, Maths, NVR)
Saturday 28 November 2026
- 3
Interview with senior staff
Following assessment — Autumn term 2026
- 4
Offers issued
Late January 2027
- 5
Acceptance deadline
Early March 2027
- 6
Second-round (late application) assessment
March 2027 (space-dependent)
Inside the Claremont 11+ Assessment
Claremont uses its OWN paper-based assessment — NOT the ISEB Common Pre-Test that dominates Surrey selective entry. This is a critical preparation distinction: candidates write their own answers rather than choosing multiple-choice options on screen. Three papers are sat on a single Saturday (28 November 2026 for 2027 entry): English (comprehension + creative writing), Maths (Year 6 National Curriculum content), and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Successful candidates are then invited for a short, conversational interview with a senior member of staff.
English
Approximately 60 minutes (specific time not officially published) · Paper-based — reading comprehension with written answers + creative writing from a prompt
Candidates trained on ISEB-style multiple-choice comprehension struggle with the written-answer format. Equally, creative writing is consistently under-prepared — many strong readers cannot produce a structured 200–400 word piece in 25–35 minutes under exam conditions.
Maths
Approximately 60 minutes (specific time not officially published) · Paper-based — Year 6 National Curriculum, written answers with working shown
Showing working matters — Claremont assesses method as well as answer. Candidates who skip working to save time can lose method marks even when answers are correct.
Non-Verbal Reasoning
Approximately 40–50 minutes (specific time not officially published) · Paper-based booklet — pattern recognition, matrices, shape transformation, spatial reasoning
Children from state primaries are typically unfamiliar with NVR question types and freeze on early questions. Without explicit exposure, even very bright children underperform — practice with CGP, Bond or Schofield & Sims paper NVR books is essential.
Topic Difficulty & Weight
Compare difficulty and exam weight for each topic
Reading comprehension (written answers)
Moderate difficulty50%
exam weight
Creative writing
Hard difficulty50%
exam weight
Key takeaway: Two-component English paper: (1) Reading comprehension — passage-based, requiring written answers in continuous prose; (2) Creative writing — a story or descriptive piece from a prompt. Tests breadth of vocabulary, control of grammar, and ability to organise ideas under time pressure. Handwriting clarity matters.
Topic Breakdown
Known Exam Traps — English
Use paper-based comprehension practice with written-answer format (CGP 11+ English, Bond 11+ English Assessment Papers)
Weekly timed creative writing practice from picture or sentence prompts — target 200–400 words in 25 minutes
The pattern: Candidates trained on ISEB-style multiple-choice comprehension struggle with the written-answer format. Equally, creative writing is consistently under-prepared — many strong readers cannot produce a structured 200–400 word piece in 25–35 minutes under exam conditions.
If you can only improve in one area, make it
Written-answer comprehension + timed creative writing
What this means in practice:
Dedicate 60%+ of prep time to this area
Practice under timed conditions regularly
Review mistakes immediately after each session
Track progress weekly to spot patterns
All focus areas ranked by impact:
#1
Written-answer comprehension + timed creative writing
English
#2
Multi-step word problems + clear written working
Maths
#3
Paper-based NVR fluency — all standard question types
Non-Verbal Reasoning
Results & League Table Position
Claremont consistently ranks among the top co-educational schools in England. These figures are benchmarked against national averages so you can see the full picture.
A-Level A* Rate
Not published
Public A-Level breakdown not published.
A-Level A*/A Rate
51%
2025: 51% A*/A, 84% A*–B — the school's strongest A-level cohort to date. Cambridge (Natural Sciences, Aerospace Engineering deferred), Imperial (Medical Biosciences), LSE (Economics) among confirmed destinations.
GCSE Grade 9-7
57%
Public GCSE breakdown not published.
A-Level A*-B Rate
84%
Claremont does not publish league table positions and explicitly de-prioritises league-table strategy. The school's positioning is built around character, pastoral care and an all-through pathway — academic results are a measure of progress, not the marketing headline.
A-Level Results vs National Average
Claremont vs England average (%)
What this means: Claremont's 2025 A-level cohort (51% A*–A, 84% A*–B) marks a meaningful step up from the school's historical positioning. The school is now demonstrably producing results that put it in conversation with more academically intense Surrey alternatives — though it deliberately remains less pressurised in culture. Parent forums note that some Sixth Form subjects have small cohorts; this is a real consideration for specialist subjects with low uptake.
GCSE Grade Distribution
Claremont vs National distribution (%)
What this means: 57% grades 9–7 at GCSE in 2025 is the school's best ever result, with strong performance in Sciences (Chemistry 15 grade 9s, Biology 11, Physics 12), modern languages (French 27% grade 9, Spanish 19% grade 9) and Religious Studies (22 grade 9s — the volume leader). Head William Brierly noted this cohort's first year in senior school was Covid-disrupted, making the outcome more notable.
University Destinations
Where Claremont leavers go — % of cohort
The school signals strong progression outcomes, but does not publish a detailed destination split in the public admissions material used for this brief.
Notable Academic Achievements
100-acre historic Capability Brown estate
The school sits on the Claremont estate — originally designed by Vanbrugh and landscaped by Capability Brown, William Kent and Charles Bridgman. Former residents include Princess Charlotte, Prince Leopold, Queen Victoria and King Louis Philippe of France.
All 5 ISI Standards Met (Dec 2024 inspection)
ISI inspection 10–12 December 2024: every regulatory standard met across Leadership, Quality of Education, Pupil Wellbeing, Social/Economic Education and Safeguarding. Inspectors also approved a Material Change Request to expand the school capacity from 1,200 to 1,300 pupils. One recommended next step: develop the RSE curriculum to deepen older pupils' engagement.
Capacity approved to expand 1,200 → 1,300 pupils
Inspectors approved a Material Change Request in the December 2024 ISI report. New build complete: 5 senior classrooms, 1 junior classroom, dedicated sixth-form study space and 90 new changing spaces. Safeguarding team expanded in advance. Particular growth has been in the sixth form.
Best-ever A-level results in 2025
51% A*–A and 84% A*–B — the strongest results in the school's history. Confirmed destinations include Cambridge (Natural Sciences and Aerospace Engineering deferred) and Imperial College London (Medical Biosciences).
Best-ever GCSE results in 2025
57% grades 9–7 with 214 individual grade 9s awarded from 1,627 entries — the school's strongest GCSE outcome to date. Chemistry (15 grade 9s) and Religious Studies (22 grade 9s) led the cohort.
Founded by Christian Scientists
Claremont (1922) and Fan Court (1932) were both founded by Christian Scientists. The two schools merged in 1978 as a co-educational institution. The school has no formal current religious affiliation but retains the original 'Be Strong in Understanding' motto.
All-through pathway 2½–18
One of Surrey's few genuine all-through co-ed schools. Children can move from Pre-Nursery through Sixth Form without changing schools — significant for families prioritising stability and continuity of pastoral care.
Notable alumni across arts and sciences
Alumni include Joyce Grenfell (comedian/actress, 1910–1979 — the Joyce Grenfell Centre is named after her), Michaela Strachan (TV presenter), Clare Francis (novelist and round-the-world yachtswoman), and Christiana Figueres (UN climate diplomat, architect of the Paris Agreement).
League Table Position: Claremont does not publish league table positions and explicitly de-prioritises league-table strategy. The school's positioning is built around character, pastoral care and an all-through pathway — academic results are a measure of progress, not the marketing headline.
The Interview
Only candidates who succeed in the November assessment are invited to interview — typically in the Autumn term following the test. The school describes it as 'a short interview with a senior member of staff' focused on 'interests, school activities, approach to studies and character qualities'. Forum accounts consistently describe interviewers as warm, encouraging, and far more interested in the child's personality than in catching them out academically.
Format
1:1 short interview with a senior staff member, in person at Claremont
Duration
Approximately 15–20 minutes (specific duration not officially published)
Role in Admissions
Part of a holistic assessment, not a pass/fail gate
Character is the explicit framing
Claremont's stated values centre on character — the school motto is 'Be confident in character, be limitless in potential, be strong in understanding'. The interview reflects this: staff are listening for warmth, curiosity, resilience, and how the child describes setbacks as much as successes. Rehearsed CV-style answers about achievements register as less convincing than genuine, slightly-imperfect conversation about real interests.
What Makes a Strong Impression
The strongest candidates are warm, articulate, and genuinely interested in what the interviewer asks. They talk naturally about hobbies, current reading, what they enjoy at school, and what they're looking forward to. Specific, concrete examples (a project they built, a book that mattered, a moment of struggle they worked through) consistently outperform generic answers about 'liking sport and art'. Parents on Mumsnet describe interviewers as nurturing and unintimidating — this is not a stress-test interview.
Confirmed interview themes (per school admissions page)
Compiled from parent reports (2023-2025)
- Interests outside school (hobbies, sports, music, reading)
- School activities the candidate enjoys most
- Approach to studies — favourite subjects and why
- Character qualities — how the child describes themselves
- What the candidate is looking forward to at secondary school
The pattern: Conversational — exploring interests, activities, approach to learning, and character
Never Asked — Don't Over-Prepare
- Trick questions or 'gotcha' academic problems
- Current affairs / political opinions (rarely at 11+ level)
- Detailed knowledge of school history or alumni
- Long abstract hypotheticals (more typical of Sixth Form interview)
What Actually Wins Offers
- 1Warm, natural manner — not over-rehearsed
- 2Specific, concrete examples of interests and activities
- 3Genuine reflection on how the child handles setbacks
- 4Curiosity about the school — informed questions about activities or sixth form
- 5Comfort talking about character, not just achievement
“I've yet to meet a parent who says anything negative about the school.”
“We loved it when we looked around and we are not looking for a hothouse.”
“The grounds are spellbindingly beautiful.”
“I know children who were bullied elsewhere who thrived and came out of their shells at Claremont.”
“The drawn out process of not knowing is driving me crazy.”
Contact Admissions
Claremont Fan Court School Admissions Team
Insider Intel: What Other Parents Don't Know
These are the verified insights you will not find on the school website, in Good Schools Guide, or from any single tutoring agency. Each insight is compiled and cross-referenced from 22+ sources including official documents, parent reports, and tutoring industry data.This is the intelligence that gives ClassAce families an edge.
Claremont uses its OWN paper-based assessment — NOT ISEB
This is the single most important preparation distinction. Most Surrey selective schools (Reed's, Hampton, St John's Leatherhead) use the ISEB Common Pre-Test — digital, adaptive, multiple-choice. Claremont uses paper-based written-answer papers in English (comprehension + creative writing), Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Families preparing only for ISEB will be under-prepared for Claremont's format. Add paper-based mock practice from July of Year 5.
Aim is an equal split of boys and girls
The school's admissions page states explicitly that the aim is roughly equal boys/girls in the offer cohort of ~70 external places at 11+. Practical implication: if your child is in the over-applied gender for a given year, the competition is sharper. This is also a useful signal that Claremont takes co-education seriously as a balanced model, not boys-with-girls-added.
100% bursary reserved for one state-school applicant per year
Per Claremont's published scholarship/bursary information: 'a 100% bursary for one applicant per year from a state school' is offered as part of the broader bursary programme. This is the single most generous access award at Claremont — covering full fees for an entire school career — and is targeted explicitly at state-school families. Apply via bursar@claremont.surrey.sch.uk well in advance of the standard admissions deadline. Means-tested by an independent external assessor including home visit. Separate from entrance assessment outcome.
Junior School is TWO sub-schools — Fan Court (2–Y2) and Stable Court (Y3–6)
Per the Admissions Policy 2025-26: the junior school is split into two sub-schools — 'Fan Court' for pupils aged 2 to the end of Year 2, and 'Stable Court' for pupils in Years 3-6. Head of Junior School is Mr M Jelley. This is more than a labelling distinction: the stated entry points are pre-nursery (age 2), nursery (age 3), reception (age 4), AND Year 3 (age 7) and Year 5 (age 9) into Stable Court — so families can enter the school at Stable Court without having gone through Fan Court. The Y3 and Y5 entry points are insider — most parents only think about reception, Y7 or Y12.
Year 10 entry possible (reviewed individually) — Year 11 and Year 13 not
Per Admissions Policy: 'the school does not accept entry into Years 11 or 13. Admission into Year 10 will be reviewed on an individual basis. GCSE curriculum is taught in all subjects from the start of Year 9.' Useful for families relocating mid-secondary — Y10 entry is possible if vacancies arise, but mid-GCSE (Y11) or mid-A-Level (Y13) is firmly off-limits.
Sibling priority is genuine — not just a tiebreaker
Per Admissions Policy section 6: 'in cases of candidates with relatively similar academic merit and interview performance, priority will be given to siblings of current Claremont Fan Court School pupils and to those with a recent family connection with the school'. This is stronger than most independent schools' sibling language. However, admission is NOT automatic — the school still requires the sibling to perform sufficiently in entry assessments.
Capacity is actively expanding — applications will get harder
The ISI Dec 2024 report records that inspectors APPROVED a Material Change Request to expand the school from 1,200 to 1,300 pupils. New build is already complete (5 senior classrooms, 1 junior classroom, sixth-form study space, 90 changing spaces). Particular growth has been in the sixth form. Short-term implication: 100 additional places are coming online — possible opportunity for 11+ and 13+ applicants in the next 2–3 cycles. Medium-term: more capacity means more applications and a tougher selection bar as the school's profile rises.
Vertical pastoral structure for Years 7–11
Per the ISI Dec 2024 report, Claremont has introduced a 'vertical pastoral structure' for Years 7 to 11 — mixing year groups within house communities rather than segregating by year. Pupils 'speak enthusiastically' about it and it 'has created further opportunities for older pupils to mentor younger pupils'. Worth knowing if your child would benefit from a tutor-group setup that builds cross-year friendships and mentoring rather than peer-only year cohorts.
The school is on the up — historical reputation is out of date
Parent forums repeatedly describe Claremont as 'on the up', 'improving', and 'not a shoe-in anymore' for SW London families seeking pressure-free alternatives. The 2025 GCSE result (57% 9–7, school's best ever) and A-level (51% A*–A, school's best ever) confirm this trajectory. The older reputation — quietly less academic than Kingston Grammar or Hampton — is increasingly out of date. But application pressure is rising in step.
Some Sixth Form subjects have very small cohorts
One Mumsnet parent noted A-level cohorts with 'as little as just 1 person taking them' for some subjects. The school is smaller in Sixth Form than its 11–18 capacity might suggest, and uptake is uneven across subjects. If your child is set on a particular A-level (e.g. an unusual language, classics, an applied subject), call admissions to confirm current and projected cohort sizes before committing.
SEN provision — older Mumsnet concern directly contradicted by ISI Dec 2024
Older single Mumsnet account (thread 3689205) claimed 'the school isn't interested in SEN'. The ISI December 2024 inspection directly contradicts this: 151 pupils are identified as having SEND (3 with EHC plans), 12 with EAL, and inspectors found 'pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) succeed in their learning because of the targeted support that they receive'. Trust the ISI finding over the forum quote. If your child has specific needs, raise them with admissions — the school is now demonstrably set up for them.
Christian Science founding — no current religious affiliation
Both founding schools (Claremont 1922 and Fan Court 1932) were established by Christian Scientists. Since the 1978 merger and subsequent restructuring, the school has no formal current religious affiliation and is owned by a company limited by guarantee. The motto 'Be Strong in Understanding' is inherited from Fan Court. Worth knowing for parents wondering about religious context — Claremont is neither Christian Science in practice nor Anglican like neighbouring St John's Leatherhead.
Beautiful grounds — and they matter
Multiple parent forums describe the 100-acre Capability Brown estate as 'spellbindingly beautiful' and 'incredible'. This is not just aesthetic — the all-through nature of the school means children spend their entire educational lives 2½–18 in this setting. Visit in different seasons if you can; the grounds feel materially different from most Surrey day schools and influence the school's unhurried pace.
Common Mistakes Parents Make
The errors we see most often from families preparing for Claremont Fan Court School. Avoid these and you're already ahead of the majority of applicants.
Preparing for ISEB Pre-Test and assuming Claremont is similar
Claremont uses its OWN paper-based assessment with written answers — NOT the ISEB digital adaptive MCQ format. Most other Surrey selective schools use ISEB. Families preparing only for ISEB are under-prepared for Claremont's written-answer format.
Fix: From July of Year 5, add weekly paper-based mock practice. Use CGP 11+, Bond 11+ Assessment Papers, Schofield & Sims problem-solving books. Practice handwritten answers under time pressure.
Under-preparing creative writing
Half the English paper is creative writing — a structured 200–400 word piece from a prompt, written by hand in 25–35 minutes. Strong readers often cannot produce coherent timed creative writing without practice.
Fix: Weekly timed creative writing practice from picture or sentence prompts. Coach structure (opening, middle, end), sensory detail, and varied sentence openings. Target 200–400 words consistently within the time limit.
Not showing Maths working
Claremont's Maths paper is marked on method as well as answer. Skipping working to save time loses method marks even when final answers are correct.
Fix: Practice with the explicit rule: always show working, even on questions the child can do in their head. Method marks are worth the few extra seconds.
Treating the interview as a stress test
Claremont's interview is conversational and warm — focused on character and interests, not academic performance. Over-coached, rehearsed answers register as less authentic than natural conversation.
Fix: Practice talking about real interests, hobbies, and reading — not rehearsing scripted answers. The interviewer is on the candidate's side.
Assuming the school is still 'the easy alternative'
Claremont's historical reputation as less academically intense is increasingly out of date. 2025 results (best-ever GCSE and A-level), rising application pressure from SW London migration, and the equal-split gender target all mean competition is tightening.
Fix: Prepare seriously and apply early. Don't rely on Claremont as a 'safety net' if other Surrey selectives are your child's primary target.
Claremont vs Competitor Schools
How does Claremont Fan Court School compare to the schools your child is most likely also applying to? This analysis covers the key factors that actually matter to families.
Important context: On academic intensity, Claremont sits below Kingston Grammar and Hampton, on par with St John's Leatherhead and Reed's, and above ACS Cobham (which is non-selective). On grounds, atmosphere, and all-through continuity, Claremont is genuinely distinctive — Surrey has no real peer for the Capability Brown estate or the 2½–18 pathway.
| Factor | Kingston Grammar School | St John's Leatherhead | FeaturedClaremont Fan Court | Reed's School (Cobham) | ACS Cobham (International School) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Type | Independent Co-Ed Day | Independent Co-Ed Day/Flexi-Boarding | Independent Co-Ed Day (all-through 2½–18) | Independent Boys Day/Boarding (girls 6th) | Independent Co-Ed Day (American/IB) |
| Co-educational | |||||
| VR in Exam | |||||
| Annual Fee | |||||
| 11+ Difficulty | Higher | Medium-High | Medium | Medium-High | Non-selective |
| Interview Style | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Why Parents Choose Claremont
- True all-through 2½–18 co-ed pathwayOne of Surrey's few genuine nursery-to-sixth-form co-ed schools. For families prioritising continuity, the same pastoral team can know your child for 15 years.
- 100-acre Capability Brown estateGenuinely distinctive grounds — Princess Charlotte's former home, designed by Capability Brown. No Surrey day school comes close on landscape or sense of place.
- Warm, non-hothouse culture with rising academicsBest-ever 2025 results (51% A*–A at A-level, 57% 9–7 at GCSE) combined with parents' consistent description of warmth and pastoral focus. A real 'best of both' for many families.
- Paper-based exam — different filter from ISEBClaremont's own paper-based assessment may suit children who are strong handwritten thinkers and may not test well on ISEB's digital adaptive format.
Points to Consider
- Less academic peer group than Kingston Grammar / HamptonHistorically less intense than the top Surrey selectives. Results are catching up but the culture remains gentler. If your child needs to be among genuinely top-decile academic peers, look at Kingston Grammar.
- Small Sixth Form cohorts in some subjectsForum accounts mention A-level subjects with very small cohorts (sometimes single-figure groups). Confirm cohort size for any specific A-level subject before committing.
- Sixth Form subject cohorts can be smallRecent A-level cohorts have included subjects with very small group sizes — confirm before committing your child to a specialist subject.
Scholarships & Financial Support
Claremont's scholarships open on 1 September each year with a 4 November deadline (for following-September entry). Year 7 strands: Academic, Sport, Creative Arts (art/drama/music), Community. Sixth Form strands: Academic, Art & Design (art/photography/textiles), Drama, Music, Sport. At Year 9, a single dedicated award — the Shane Lalani Sport Scholarship — provides £2,000/year fee remission until end of Year 11. Bursaries up to 100% are available separately on a means-tested basis.
| Scholarship Type | Value | Available Places | Selection Method | Stackable? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 7 Academic Scholarship | Detailed in scholarship brochure (request via admissions) | Not publicly disclosed | Strong performance in Y7 entrance assessment + scholarship-specific tasks. Deadline 4 November Year 6 (for September Year 7 entry). Enquiries: Mrs Williams 01372 473794. | Yes |
| Year 7 Sport Scholarship | Detailed in scholarship brochure | Not publicly disclosed | Practical assessment across major school sports + interview. Deadline 4 November Year 6. | Yes |
| Year 7 Creative Arts (Art / Drama / Music) | Detailed in scholarship brochure | Not publicly disclosed | Portfolio (Art), audition (Drama, Music) or combination. Deadline 4 November Year 6. | Yes |
| Year 7 Community Scholarship | Detailed in scholarship brochure | Not publicly disclosed | Strand recognising service, leadership and contribution to community. Deadline 4 November Year 6. | Yes |
| Year 9: Shane Lalani Sport Scholarship | £2,000/year fee remission until end of Year 11 | Limited annually | Recognises passion and talent across multiple sports + sportsmanship + mentoring of younger players. External applicants must pass general entrance assessment. Award contingent on maintaining standards through to end of Year 11. | Yes |
| Sixth Form Scholarships (Academic / Art & Design / Drama / Music / Sport) | Detailed in scholarship brochure | Not publicly disclosed | Five strands at Sixth Form entry. Art & Design covers art/photography/textiles. Apply by 4 November Year 11. Enquiries: Mrs Norris 01372 473780. | Yes |
| Bursary (means-tested) — up to 100% fee remission | Up to full fee remission. INCLUDES a guaranteed 100% bursary for one applicant per year coming from a state school. | Limited annually — exact number not publicly disclosed | Per Admissions Policy 2025-26: 'level of support varies according to parental need; can extend to full fee remission in cases of proven need'. Means-testing via independent external assessor with home visit. Both parents must provide income/asset proof. Separate from entrance assessment. Apply via bursar@claremont.surrey.sch.uk. | Yes |
* Y7 scholarship enquiries: Mrs Williams 01372 473794. Sixth Form scholarship enquiries: Mrs Norris 01372 473780. Bursar (for bursaries): bursar@claremont.surrey.sch.uk or 01372 473602. Specific scholarship monetary values (except Shane Lalani) are detailed in the scholarship brochure — request via admissions@claremont.surrey.sch.uk.
The Preparation Roadmap
Everything here is built around Claremont Fan Court School's specific exam format, interview style, and selection criteria. This is not generic 11+ advice. Every recommendation is calibrated to this school.
Year 4 — Visit and decide
Get to know the school
- Attend at least one Open Morning at Claremont
- Visit at least one rival Surrey school for comparison (Kingston Grammar, St John's Leatherhead, Reed's)
- Decide if the all-through pathway and unhurried culture genuinely fit your family
- Encourage wide independent reading
Useful resources
School Open Morning visits · Times Tables Rock Stars (daily mental arithmetic) · Local library reading scheme
Year 5 — Foundation (paper-based focus)
Build paper-based fluency in all three subjects
- Begin paper-based 11+ practice — Bond, CGP, Schofield & Sims (NOT digital ISEB practice for Claremont)
- Weekly timed creative writing from prompts — target 200–400 words in 25 minutes
- Build Year 6 NC Maths fluency with explicit working-shown discipline
- Start NVR practice — 4–6 weeks of paper-based NVR booklets before assessment
Useful resources
Bond 11+ Assessment Papers (English, Maths, NVR) · CGP 11+ practice books · Schofield & Sims problem-solving
Year 6 Autumn Term — Sharpening
Full timed mocks and registration
- Full-length timed paper-based mocks weekly under proper test conditions
- Focus on creative writing structure and sensory detail
- Polish NVR speed and accuracy on harder shape transformation questions
- Register with Claremont by Tuesday 3 November 2026
- Confirm date and session (morning or afternoon) for Saturday 28 November assessment
Useful resources
Bond 11+ How to Do mock papers · CGP 10-Minute NVR drills · Atom Learning (for general 11+ fluency only — Claremont format is paper)
Late November — Assessment day
Saturday 28 November 2026
- Arrive rested and well-fed
- Bring stationery (HB pencils, blue/black pen, eraser, ruler)
- Trust paper-based preparation — speed and clarity matter
- Remember: show working in Maths, structure your creative writing
December–January — Interview prep
Conversational interview preparation
- If invited to interview, practise warm conversation about interests, books, hobbies
- Identify 2–3 concrete examples to talk about (project, book, moment of struggle)
- Avoid over-rehearsing — natural conversation beats scripted answers
- Re-read school website for context — Sixth Form options, sport, arts
Useful resources
Family discussions about current interests · Recent reading list · School website re-read
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- Peer comparison data from ClassAce families
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Intelligence Score
Updated May 2026 (incl. ISI Dec 2024 report + 2024/25 fees PDF — both fully extracted) · 22 sources
Coverage
Measures how much of the admissions picture is directly evidenced rather than inferred from comparable schools or legacy material.
Freshness
This edition was last checked May 2026 (incl. ISI Dec 2024 report + 2024/25 fees PDF — both fully extracted). Recency scores fall when public evidence ages or current-cycle detail is sparse.
Use it well
Treat lower-scoring areas as prompts to verify with admissions, not as automatic red flags. The score is about evidence quality, not school quality.
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