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Cheltenham Ladies’ College and Cheltenham College differ in entry age, pupil mix and sixth-form qualifications. Compare the exact year group and boarding arrangement, not just their names.
For a girl who wants the choice of A-levels or the International Baccalaureate Diploma at sixth form, start with Cheltenham Ladies’ College. For a family seeking co-education and an A-level senior school, Cheltenham College is the closer match.
Both offer day and boarding places. They are separate schools, and a visit to one does not explain the admissions process or fee structure of the other.
Cheltenham Ladies’ College takes girls from Year 7, normally age 11. Cheltenham College’s senior school begins in Year 9, normally age 13; younger children are served separately by Cheltenham Prep. An 11-year-old therefore needs a comparison between the correct sections, not two senior-school brochures.
At sixth form, A-levels allow greater concentration on a smaller selection of subjects. The IB Diploma retains a broader subject range alongside its core requirements. Compare actual subject combinations and entry grades before choosing between them. Only Ladies’ College offers both within this two-school shortlist.
A day place can suit a local family without committing to full boarding. Ask each school for the expected finish time, Saturday commitments and how a pupil joins evening activities.
Ladies’ College offers occasional boarding for day pupils, subject to its arrangements. Cheltenham College publishes a separate “day boarding” option with a termly allowance of overnight stays. Neither should be assumed to mean unlimited nights whenever a parent travels.
If full boarding is the requirement, ask about compulsory departure weekends, holidays and travel or guardian arrangements. Our boarding guide explains the questions that matter beyond the bedroom tour.
Ladies’ College’s 2026–27 table quotes £12,840 per term for Lower College day pupils and £20,400 for boarders, including VAT. Its Upper College and sixth-form bands are higher. New sixth-form entrants pay a different rate from pupils continuing internally.
Cheltenham College’s 2026–27 senior-school fees are £15,376 per term for Lower College day pupils and £20,558 for boarders, including VAT. Its Upper College charges more. The two schools’ “Lower College” labels do not cover identical year groups.
At Cheltenham College, the £3,455 termly day-boarding charge is a supplement to the day fee, not the total price. Check included nights, extra-night charges and any other compulsory costs.
Means-tested assistance needs its own application. Ask about bursary deadlines early rather than assuming a scholarship will cover the remaining bill.
For 2027 entry, request the timetable for the exact entry point, including registration, assessment and financial assistance. An open day is not an application deadline.
Ask to see the intended day-pupil base or boarding house, and discuss the child’s subject interests and support needs. The Cheltenham hub gathers both profiles; the UK guide gives the wider context.
Friendly orientation, not formal admissions advice. Always confirm dates with the school.
Cheltenham College is a selective co-educational senior school for ages 13–18. It combines day places, full boarding and limited day boarding with GCSE, A-level and vocational routes.
CheltenhamCheltenham Ladies’ College is a girls’ day and boarding school from Year 7 through Sixth Form. It offers A levels and the IB Diploma, with separate admissions routes at ages 11, 13, 14 and 16.
LondonAlleyn’s is a selective co-educational day school for ages 4–18. This guide explains the different junior-school routes, the 11+ and 16+ processes, and the costs that sit outside tuition.
BristolBristol Grammar School is a selective, co-educational independent day school from Reception through Sixth Form. Its subject range makes it worth considering for a child who wants academic choice while living at home. Senior and Sixth Form fees are £7,422 per term from autumn 2026. Admissions pages still describe the previous entry round, so families applying for 2027 need a new timetable.
Start with the qualification your child would actually receive. Then check its subjects, language demands, and recognition in the countries where they may study next.
7 minStart with your child and the family's likely plans. Define the non-negotiables, verify the school's claims, compare three realistic options and visit with specific questions.
7 minTuition is only one line of the budget. Separate charges from advance payments, record what each figure includes, and ask the school to confirm your calculation in writing.
7 minA useful visit should help you picture your child’s school day and resolve the questions that matter to your family. Ask for concrete examples, then separate what you observed from what you were told.