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School profile Verified 17 July 2026

Shropshire Private schools

Adcote School for Girls

Little Ness, Shrewsbury, SY4 2JY

Adcote School for Girls is a private secondary-stage school in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, with a published age range of 4-18.

Private school Girls Ages 4-18 Sixth form Boarding school Individual
Application ?
Apply direct to school
Age range
4-18
ISI ?
Standards met
Boarding ?
Boarding school
Compare Official website Map

On this page

At a glance

Key facts

Sector
Private school
Gender
Girls only
Application ?
Individual
Age range
4-18
Boarding ?
Boarding school
Route check
Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
ISI ?
Standards met

Overview

Adcote's story begins with Amy Gough's school for girls, founded in 1907, and continues through Adcote House, the Tudor-style country house designed by Norman Shaw. The building and its 27 acres are part of everyday school life rather than a backdrop reserved for special occasions. Day pupils and boarders share the same small community, with the house providing a settled centre for the senior years.

The senior curriculum gives the school's CLEAR framework a practical role. Confidence, Leadership, Engagement, Achievement and Resilience appear in classroom expectations, termly Challenge Days and the way pupils are encouraged to take responsibility. Wayfarers outdoor activity, the Combined Cadet Force and Duke of Edinburgh work add challenge that is physical and social as well as academic.

Adcote is a girls-only school with both day and boarding places. Entry is arranged directly with the school and involves assessment for the intended year. The small scale makes the relationship between pupils, staff and the shared house especially important to the experience.

The result is a senior education shaped by three things working together: a historic Shropshire home, a clear language for personal development and a broad programme beyond examinations. Its character comes from the way academic study, outdoor activity and boarding life occupy the same close-knit setting.

Key points
Assessment route
Applications are made directly to the school. Check the school's own admissions pages for registration dates, entrance assessment stages, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
Places and demand
Published Year 7 place numbers and applicant-per-place data are not included in GIAS for this private-school seed profile.
Catchment
Private-school eligibility is not controlled by the local-authority grammar catchment model; check boarding, day-pupil, transport and any sibling or faith rules on the school site.
Results
66.7% grade 5+ in English and maths and 51.7 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 42.9% AAB or better.

GCSE benchmark

Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Shropshire and England.

School Local authority England
GCSE benchmark comparison Latest GCSE benchmark measures for Adcote School for Girls, Shropshire, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M EBacc APS EBacc %
Attainment 8
51.7
Grade 5+ English and maths
66.7%
EBacc APS
3.41
EBacc entry
4.8%

Attainment 8 trend

Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Shropshire and England.

School Local authority England
Attainment 8 trend line Attainment 8 over time for Adcote School for Girls, Shropshire, and England. 70 56.7 43.3 30 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25

School details
Sector
Private school
School type
Other independent school
Funding
Independent fee-paying
Application
Apply direct to school
Gender
Girls only
Age range
4-18
Headteacher
Mrs Nicola Tribe
Pupil roll
178 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
Boarding
Boarding school

Location and contact

Address

Address
Little Ness, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Postcode
SY4 2JY
Area
Shropshire

School leadership

Headteacher
Mrs Nicola Tribe

School contact

School phone
01939260202

Admissions contact

Admissions team
Admissions
Admissions contact
L Ansell
Admissions email
admissions@adcoteschool.co.uk
Admissions phone
01939 260202
Open in Map Open school website

Admissions
Application route
Apply direct to school
Age range
4-18
Gender
Girls only
Boarding
Boarding school
Day fees
UK day tuition for Years 7-13 including VAT, 2026/27.
Boarding fees
International full boarding for Years 7-13 including VAT, 2026/27.
Scholarships and bursaries
Scholarships and bursaries
Entrance details
General entry considers an interview, assessment and current-school report, but the assessment subjects are not stated. A further screening assessment may be used during a requested taster. The current 2026 scholarship form identifies an assessment day but does not publish its subjects or format.
Admissions note
Applications are handled directly and may be considered for any year group, including during the academic year by arrangement. Entry is non-selective, but reports, references and a screening assessment are used to confirm that the available provision can meet the applicant's needs. A level entry requires five GCSEs at grade 5 or above.

Applications are handled directly and may be considered for any year group, including during the academic year by arrangement. Entry is non-selective, but reports, references and a screening assessment are used to confirm that the available provision can meet the applicant's needs. A level entry requires five GCSEs at grade 5 or above.

Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.

Oversubscription and eligibility

  1. 1

    Girls aged 7 to 18

    The standard published age range is 7 to 18, with exceptional continuation beyond 18 considered at the Head's discretion.

  2. 2

    Non-selective, needs-aware entry

    Entry is non-selective by academic ability, but a place may be declined where available resources cannot meet an applicant's needs.

  3. 3

    School report, reference and assessment

    The current school report and reference are reviewed, with interview, taster-day screening and further assessment used where required.

  4. 4

    Sixth Form academic requirement

    A level applicants require five GCSEs at grade 5 or above.

Admissions policy

Adcote School Admissions Policy

Exam and test format

Entrance route and assessment

General entry considers an interview, assessment and current-school report, but the assessment subjects are not stated. A further screening assessment may be used during a requested taster. The current 2026 scholarship form identifies an assessment day but does not publish its subjects or format.

Assessment route
Individual
Papers and stages
4 papers
Format
Mixed format

Papers and rounds

  1. Paper 1

    Interview

    General entry review and interview

    Entry considers an interview, an assessment and a current-school report; the general assessment subjects and format are not specified.

  2. Paper 2

    Conditional taster-day screening

    When further assessment is needed, a two-day taster may be requested and includes a screening assessment to establish the applicant's current age-level position; the subjects are not stated.

  3. Paper 3

    2026 scholarship route

    The current application form includes an academic scholarship and a scholarship assessment day, but it does not state the assessment subjects or format.

  4. Paper 4

    Sixth Form entry

    A Level applicants require five GCSEs at grade 5 or above and verified references; no separate current Sixth Form test format is stated.

Published assessment components

Interview is listed across the school's published assessment routes.

Published

  • Interview

    Entry considers an interview, an assessment and a current-school report; the general assessment subjects and format are not specified.

Application

Key dates

Get date reminders

  1. Applications considered

    Throughout the academic year by special arrangement

    Places may be considered in any year group.

  2. Scholarship application deadline

    2 May 2026

    Past

    For September 2026 entry.

  3. Scholarship day

    12 May 2026

    Past

    For September 2026 entry.

How to apply

  1. 1

    Contact Admissions and arrange a visit

    Discuss the required year group, request the prospectus and arrange a tour or taster visit with the Admissions team.

    Contact Admissions
  2. 2

    Submit the application form

    Complete the Senior School or Sixth Form application form and return it directly to Admissions.

    Download an application form
  3. 3

    Provide reports and complete the entry review

    The latest school report and reference are checked; interview, taster-day screening and assessment are arranged as required.

    Review entry requirements
  4. 4

    Accept the offer

    Read and return the parental contract and terms by the offer expiry date, then complete registration to confirm the place.

    Review the admissions process

Official admissions documents

Admissions policy

Adcote School Admissions Policy

Supplementary form

Adcote Senior School Application Form

Supplementary form

Adcote Sixth Form Application Form

Results

Attainment snapshot

Attainment 8 ?
51.7 Attainment 8
GCSE results
66.7% grade 4+ in English and maths
Grade 5+ English and maths ?
66.7% grade 5+ in English and maths
EBacc average point score ?
3.41 EBacc APS
A-level results
42.9% AAB or better
A-level average points
42.39 A-level points per entry

Inspection
View report
Standards met

Latest inspection: 10 October 2023

Leadership, management and governance
Standards met
Quality of education, training and recreation
Standards met
Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
Standards met
Social and economic education and contribution to society
Standards met
Safeguarding
Standards met

Quick summary

  • Latest ISI report: Routine Inspections 2023 records an inspection beginning 10 October 2023. The report says the relevant standards were met.

Similar schools and comparisons

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Shortlist comparisons

Compare Adcote School for Girls with The Abbey School Reading Compare Adcote School for Girls with Putney High School GDST Compare Adcote School for Girls with Al-Burhan Grammar School

Explore this school in context

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Related pages and guides

Guides and related reading

Related guides are still being added.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How does Adcote School for Girls handle admissions?

Adcote School for Girls handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.

How do I apply to Adcote School for Girls?

1. Contact Admissions and arrange a visit: Discuss the required year group, request the prospectus and arrange a tour or taster visit with the Admissions team. 2. Submit the application form: Complete the Senior School or Sixth Form application form and return it directly to Admissions. 3. Provide reports and complete the entry review: The latest school report and reference are checked; interview, taster-day screening and assessment are arranged as required. 4. Accept the offer: Read and return the parental contract and terms by the offer expiry date, then complete registration to confirm the place.

When are the key dates for Adcote School for Girls?

Applications considered: Throughout the academic year by special arrangement. Scholarship application deadline: 2 May 2026. Scholarship day: 12 May 2026

What does the latest inspection picture look like for Adcote School for Girls?

Adcote School for Girls is currently rated Standards met following the latest published inspection dated 10 October 2023.