Bishop's Stortford College is an international school in Bishop's Stortford, United Kingdom. Founded in 1868. It serves 1,245 students for students aged 3–18.
Explore This School
Location & getting here
Postcode
CM23 2PQ
Setting
Semi-rural
Nearest town
Bishop's Stortford1100 m
Historic market town in East Hertfordshire with suburban development, surrounded by countryside; ~25 miles north of London, convenient for international families.
Nearest airports
Framed for international families — drive times are from the school, not the city centre.
| Airport | Distance | Drive from school | International note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stansted | 6 km | ~18 min | STN — European and budget carriers |
| Luton | 35 km | ~56 min | LTN — European and budget carriers |
| London City | 41 km | ~63 min | — |
NanaSays Scorecard
Est. 1868
Year Founded
1,245
Students Enrolled
Boarding Available
Scholarships Available
Types Available
✓Academic Scholarship — available at 11+ (up to 10%), 13+ (up to 20%), and Sixth Form (up to 30% fee remission)
✓Music Scholarship — available at 11+, 13+ and Sixth Form; up to 20% fee remission at all levels
✓Music Exhibition Award — contribution to termly voice or instrumental lessons at College
✓Sport Scholarship — available at 11+, 13+ and Sixth Form; up to 20% fee remission at all levels
✓Sports Exhibition Award — access to Sports Academy Programme and one-off monetary contribution to sports equipment
✓Art Scholarship — available at 11+, 13+ and Sixth Form; up to 20% fee remission at all levels
✓Drama Scholarship — available at Sixth Form entry; up to 20% fee remission
✓3D Design Scholarship — available at Sixth Form entry; up to 20% fee remission
✓Honorary Scholarship Award — full benefits and accolades of scholar with no fee remission
Bursaries (means-tested): Means-tested Financial Assistance Awards available separately; scholarship and bursary applications considered independently.
💡 Scholarship amounts and bursary likelihood analysis are in the Full Deep Report.
Merit-based Scholarships
Key facts
Founded
1868
Ages
3–18 (Co-ed)
Pupils on roll
1,245
Fees
$ 11,259–$ 56,217 / year
Inspectorate
ISI
Fees & the true cost of attendance
Published fees · inclusive of VAT
| Phase | Per term | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| The Nest (3+) - 5 Full Days | £5,004 | £15,012 |
| The Nest (3+) - 4 Full Days | £4,504 | £13,512 |
| The Nest (3+) - 3 Full Days | £3,753 | £11,259 |
| The Nest (3+) - 5 Mornings | £3,973 | £11,919 |
| Reception - Year 2 | £5,004 | £15,012 |
| Years 3-4 | £7,718 | £23,154 |
| Years 5-6 | £8,135 | £24,405 |
| Years 7-8 | £8,409 | £25,227 |
| Year 9 Day | £10,158 | £30,474 |
| Years 10-13 Day | £10,256 | £30,768 |
| Senior School Weekly Boarding | £16,605 | £49,815 |
| Senior School UK Full Boarding | £18,060 | £54,180 |
| Senior School Overseas Full Boarding | £18,739 | £56,217 |
Compulsory extras (on top of tuition)
| Item | Frequency | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| External examination fees | Per 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 (9 types)
Academic Scholarship — available at 11+ (up to ), 13+ (up to 20%), and Sixth Form (up to 30% fee remission)10% fee remission
Music Scholarship — available at 11+, 13+ and Sixth Form; up to fee remission at all levels20% fee remission
Music Exhibition Award — contribution to termly voice or instrumental lessons at College
Sport Scholarship — available at 11+, 13+ and Sixth Form; up to fee remission at all levels20% fee remission
Sports Exhibition Award — access to Sports Academy Programme and one-off monetary contribution to sports equipment
Art Scholarship — available at 11+, 13+ and Sixth Form; up to fee remission at all levels20% fee remission
Drama Scholarship — available at Sixth Form entry; up to fee remission20% fee remission
3D Design Scholarship — available at Sixth Form entry; up to fee remission20% fee remission
Honorary Scholarship Award — full benefits and accolades of scholar with no fee remission
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 Financial Assistance Awards available separately; scholarship and bursary applications considered independently. Ask the Bursar directly — these are rarely advertised prominently.
About
Bishop's Stortford College is a private boarding and day school in the English public school tradition for more than 1,200 pupils aged 4–18, situated in a campus on the edge of the market town of Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England.
School data verified by NanaSays. Last updated: April 2026.
What Makes This School Different
Comprehensive Scholarship Awards across
Academic Enrichment pathways
Performance Sports Programme
Water Lane recital series
Bishop's Stortford Rotary Young Musician
Clubs & Activities
Drama SocietyAcademic Societies (student-run)Chamber Music groupOboe EnsembleString QuartetPiano TrioClarinet EnsembleHouse sports teams
Expeditions include: Verulamium Museum trip (Roman History), Annual visit to link school in Africa, Music tours
Academic Results
A-Level A*
21%
54% A*/A
GCSE Grade 9
29%
77% grade 7+
University Destinations 2025
University of CambridgeUniversity of OxfordImperial College LondonKing's College LondonUniversity College LondonDurham UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania
Admissions
| Entry point | Assessment | Assessment date | Registration deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3+ (Nursery) | Assessment week | January | 28 November 2025 |
| 4+ (Reception) | Assessment days | October-November | 26 September 2025 |
| 7+ (Year 3) | Assessment day | November | 3 November 2025 |
| 11+ (Year 7) | Entry tests (Maths, English, verbal/non-verbal reasoning, critical thinking); subject assessments for art, music, sport | November | 3 November 2025 |
| 13+ (Year 9) | Entry tests; subject assessments for art, music, sport | January | 14 November 2025 |
| 16+ (Year 12) | Entry test; predicted GCSE grades; subject assessments for art, music, drama, design, sport | November | 3 November 2025 |
How to apply
- Make enquiry through admissions portal
- Submit application via OpenApply
- Complete entry tests and subject assessments
- Receive offer of place
- Pay acceptance fee and deposit
- Accept by deadline
What you'll need to submit
- Online application form (OpenApply portal)
- For art: portfolio of 5-20 pieces
- For music: audition attendance and musicianship tests
- For sport: Sports CV and physical assessment
- For drama/design: portfolio and practical assessment
Open events
- Open days throughout year
- Individual visits available
- College-wide events
Scholarships: Scholarships at 11+, 13+, and 16+ across academic, music, art, sport, drama (16+ only), and 3D design (16+ only)
Admissions contact: [email protected]
All applications via OpenApply; academic scholarships awarded on entry test performance; subject scholarships via specific assessments; 13+ offers two routes (pre-tester from 11+ and direct entry).
Why Families Choose
- Sport
- Academic
Boarding Life
Boarding Type
Day and boarding
Student Life
Houses
10 (Senior) 1 (Prep boarding)
Student Demographics
School Type
co-ed
Age Range
3 – 18
Sports Programme
110
teams across 17 sports
Signature Sports
HockeyCricketRugby UnionFootballNetball
Teams by Sport
Hockey
60
teams
Cricket
57
teams
Football
35
teams
Rugby Union
31
teams
Netball
38
teams
Hockey Sevens
35
teams
Swimming
12
teams
Tennis
14
teams
Cross Country
8
teams
Water Polo
5
teams
Golf
3
teams
Rugby Sevens
3
teams
Badminton
3
teams
Hockey Indoor
3
teams
Basketball
2
teams
Rugby Tens
1
teams
Schools' Challenge
1
teams
Also Offered
Athletics
Recent Highlights
NationalU18 Girls' Hockey Tier 3 National Finals runners-up2025
NationalU13 Netball IAPS National Finals runners-up2024
NationalU11 Boys' Football IAPS National Finalists2025
National1st XI Football ISFA Semi-Finals progression2025
Notable Coaches
Nick Prowse
Assistant Director of Sport, Health, and Fitness
Coached U14 boys to Tier 2 Regional Champions (2024) and County Champions (2024); coached U11 boys to County Champions (2025)
Facilities
Hockey pitchesCricket groundsFootball pitchesRugby fieldsTennis courtsSwimming poolNetball courts
Director of Sport: Evan Stewart
Notable Alumni
Charli XCX
Pop musician
James Baxter
Animator known for Disney films including Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King
Dick Clement
Screenwriter and producer known for The Likely Lads and Porridge
Grantly Dick-Read
Obstetrician and pioneer of natural childbirth
Stephen Lander
Former Director-General of MI5
Alan Lyddiard
Legendary running coach
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact the admissions office at Bishop's Stortford College directly for current fee information.