Schools/United Kingdom/York/Ampleforth College
United Kingdom — Yorkshire

Ampleforth College

Ampleforth
Scholarships
Ampleforth College logo
Data verified from public sources
Annual FeesFrom $ 59,360
Ages11 – 19

Ampleforth College is an international school in York, United Kingdom. Founded in 1945. It serves 404 students for students aged 11–19. Annual tuition from $59,360 USD.

Explore This School

Location & getting here

Setting
Semi-rural
Nearest town
Helmsley5.7 km

Small Yorkshire market town in countryside; remote location suited to families prioritizing rural seclusion and a traditional boarding-school atmosphere over easy city access.

Nearest airports

Framed for international families — drive times are from the school, not the city centre.

AirportDistanceDrive from schoolInternational note
Manchester121 km~167 minMAN — Northern gateway; global connections
Birmingham199 km~269 minBHX — Midlands gateway
Edinburgh243 km~326 minEDI — Scottish gateway

NanaSays Scorecard

Est. 1945
Year Founded
404
Students Enrolled
Boarding Available
Scholarships Available
Bursaries Available

Key Details

Accreditations
BSA
Languages of Instruction
English

Scholarships Available

Types Available
Academic Development Award (Years 7-8) — 10% fee remission
Music Development Award (Years 7-8) — covers cost of individual music lessons
Drama Development Award (Years 7-8) — covers cost of LAMDA lessons
Dance Development Award (Years 7-8)
Sport Development Award (Years 7-8) — 10% fee remission
Basil Hume Scholarship (Years 9-11) — Academic, Art, Drama, Design & Technology, Dance, Music, Sport categories; honorary (no fee remission except music tuition)
Senior Scholarship (Sixth Form) — Academic, Art, Drama, Design & Technology, Dance, Music, Sport categories; honorary
JCB Scholarship (Sixth Form) — Engineering or Business; includes mentoring, work experience, and internship
Bursaries (means-tested): Means-tested bursary assistance is available to families whose financial circumstances prevent access to the school; applicants must exhaust external Educational Trust Funds first.
💡 Scholarship amounts and bursary likelihood analysis are in the Full Deep Report.
Merit-based Scholarships

Means-Tested Bursaries

Means-tested bursaries are available. Contact the school admissions office for details.

ISI Inspection Report

This progress monitoring visit concluded that Ampleforth College meets all standards regarding safeguarding, behaviour, bullying, complaints handling, and leadership management. The school has appropriately implemented action plans to address previous regulatory failures, with substantial improvements in safeguarding procedures, senior leadership restructuring, and governance. New leadership and trustees are focused on embedding the cultural changes needed to prevent future failures.

ISI Standards
Met
Key Strengths
Safeguarding procedures in the school are now more robust
New headmaster appointed with appropriate skills and experience to lead safeguarding cultural change
Pupils and staff report that there is now a more open culture based on listening to children
Pupils report behaviour in the school was good and had improved since new sanctions and rewards policy was introduced
New senior leadership demonstrates appropriate skills and experience to lead culture change
Pastoral hub established as a base for DSL team and senior pastoral staff
Better communication established between trustees and senior leadership
Areas for Development
Many new aspects of safeguarding are on-going and need to be fully embedded in the school's culture
Continual review and monitoring of safeguarding implementation is required
Limited evidence of how recommendations from house culture audits will be followed up and evaluated for success
New procedures need to be fully embedded and must be kept under review
View Full ISI Report (2020-01-29)

Key facts

Founded
1945
Ages
11–19 (Co-ed)
Pupils on roll
404
Fees
$ 26,730$ 57,615 / year
Inspectorate
ISI

Fees & the true cost of attendance

Published fees · inclusive of VAT

PhasePer termPer year
College Boarding£19,205£57,615
College Day£13,375£40,125
Junior Boarding (Years 7-8)£13,707£41,121
Junior Day (Years 7-8)£8,910£26,730

Compulsory extras (on top of tuition)

ItemFrequencyAmount
EAL lessons (Years 12-13)Per year£3,630
Public examination entrance feesPer term

Budget beyond the sticker price. Assume the real annual spend is 5–15% higher than the headline fee. Hidden costs typically include: registration fee, acceptance deposit (usually one term's fees, refundable at the end of schooling), uniform + sports kit, trips and expeditions, individual music tuition, exam entry fees, travel to/from home.

Ask the Bursar for a sample "all-in" first-year invoice before committing.

Scholarships & financial assistance

Merit-based scholarships (8 types)

Academic Development Award (Years 7-8) — fee remission10% fee remission
Music Development Award (Years 7-8) — covers cost of individual music lessons
Drama Development Award (Years 7-8) — covers cost of LAMDA lessons
Dance Development Award (Years 7-8)
Sport Development Award (Years 7-8) — fee remission10% fee remission
Basil Hume Scholarship (Years 9-11) — Academic, Art, Drama, Design & Technology, Dance, Music, Sport categories; honorary (no fee remission except music tuition)
Senior Scholarship (Sixth Form) — Academic, Art, Drama, Design & Technology, Dance, Music, Sport categories; honorary
JCB Scholarship (Sixth Form) — Engineering or Business; includes mentoring, work experience, and internship

ℹ️ This school has not published the exact % fee remission for each award. Ask the admissions team directly — typical independent school scholarships range from 5% to 50% of fees.

💰
Means-tested bursaries — the school looks at your family income and can offer a much larger discount than any scholarship. Means-tested bursary assistance is available to families whose financial circumstances prevent access to the school; applicants must exhaust external Educational Trust Funds first. Ask the Bursar directly — these are rarely advertised prominently.

About

Ampleforth College is a boarding school in York, Yorkshire, led by Headmaster Jon Mutton. It is grounded in Benedictine values and emphasises faith, shared community, and learning that goes beyond the academic. The school focuses on the individual and creating transformative learning experiences.

School data verified by NanaSays. Last updated: April 2026.

What Makes This School Different

Compass for Life
Benedictine Scholarship programme
Development Awards (Academic, Drama, Mus
Basil Hume Scholarship Programme (13+)
Senior Scholarships (16+)
Clubs & Activities
Land Rover Restoration ClubArcheryCookingChess ClubGeographical SocietyMental Health Ambassadors TeamRugbyHockeyRowingDesign and Technology+3 more
Expeditions include: CERN physics trip, Annual Lourdes Pilgrimage, Annual skiing trip

Academic Results

University Destinations 2025
University of CambridgeUniversity of OxfordImperial College LondonUniversity of DurhamUniversity of EdinburghUniversity of Exeter

Admissions

Entry pointAssessmentAssessment dateRegistration deadline
11+ (Year 7)CEM computer-based test in Mathematics, English, and Non-Verbal Reasoning; interview with Registrar; afternoon activitiesJanuaryBeginning of Year 7 recommended; applications accepted throughout the year
13+ (Year 9)Ampleforth entrance test (CEM assessments) or Common Entrance (50% average required); interviewJanuary for Ampleforth assessment; June for Common EntranceBefore assessment; September for Year 8
14-15 (Year 10-11)CEM tests in Mathematics, English, Non-Verbal Reasoning; interview with Registrar; school reports requiredUpon applicationNo formal deadline; applications considered throughout the year
16+ (Year 12 - Sixth Form)Interview with Registrar; assessment based on GCSE predicted grades (minimum 3 Grade 6s and 2 Grade 5s) and school reportsDecember for offersBeginning of Year 11 recommended
Overseas studentsAmpleforth entrance tests (English and Mathematics); interview (can be remote); school reportsAs arrangedNo formal deadline

How to apply

  1. Complete registration form and pay non-refundable registration fee (£100)
  2. Submit school reports and relevant documentation
  3. Sit entrance assessment (CEM tests, interview)
  4. Receive offer of place
  5. Complete confirmation form and pay confirmation deposit (refunded at end of student's time)
  6. School obtains Head's reference from current school
  7. Select House preference
  8. Attend New Starters' Day (June)

What you'll need to submit

  • Online registration form
  • School reports
  • Predicted GCSE grades (for Sixth Form entry)
  • Passport copy (for overseas students)

Open events

  • Open Morning — Saturday 2 May and other dates throughout the year
  • Sixth Form Information Morning & Options Fair — November
  • Sixth Form Taster Lessons — March
  • New Starters' Day — June

Scholarships: Scholarship applications separate; fees include £50 per scholarship application (non-refundable). Assessment dates: 11+ 16 January 2026; 13+ 27-28 November 2025; 16+ 7 November 2025.

Admissions contact: 01439 741081, [email protected]; Kate Pope (Head of Admissions), Rebecca Steinebach (Registrar)

Comprehensive application process with multiple entry points from Year 7-12. CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) available for overseas students requiring student visas.

Why Families Choose

Benedictine Catholic ethos, strong faith community, focus on individual pastoral care and shared values

Fees & Financials

From $59,360

Student Demographics

School Type
co-ed
Age Range
1119

School Background

Governance & Ownership

Independent

Religious Affiliation

Catholic

Sports Programme

40
teams across 17 sports
Signature Sports
Rugby UnionHockeyCricketTennisNetball
Teams by Sport
Rugby Union
10
teams
Hockey
25
teams
Cricket
16
teams
Tennis
25
teams
Netball
15
teams
Rugby Sevens
5
teams
Swimming
9
teams
Cross Country
3
teams
Football
2
teams
Squash
3
teams
Badminton
3
teams
Golf
1
teams
Lacrosse
1
teams
Hockey Sevens
1
teams
Rugby Tens
1
teams
Basketball
1
teams
Fencing
1
teams
Notable Coaches
David Laventure
Head of Sport
Former London Irish player; advanced Level 4 practitioner in rugby union; worked with England Age Grade/schools programme and Leicester Tigers in talent identification
Will James
Head of Games and Rugby (departed 2025)
Former Gloucester Rugby and Wales player; led 11-year tenure transforming sports at Ampleforth
Facilities
19 dedicated tennis courts9 astroturf tennis courts (floodlit)25m swimming poolCricket astroturfDyer Cricket Nets (newly opened)Multiple rugby pitchesHockey astroturf pitchesHockey grass pitches
Director of Sport: David Laventure

Notable Alumni

Rupert Everett
actor and screenwriter
Julian Fellowes
creator and writer of Downton Abbey
James Norton
actor
Antony Gormley
renowned British sculptor
Edward Holcroft
actor
David Stirling
founder of the SAS

Frequently Asked Questions

The annual fees at Ampleforth College are From $59,360 per academic year.