St Bede's College
11+ Admissions Guide 2026

St Bede's College is an independent Roman Catholic co-educational day school for pupils aged 3 to 18, located in Whalley Range, three miles from the centre of Manchester. Founded in 1875 by Cardinal Vaughan, the Bishop of Salford, the school moved to its current site in 1877 and is overseen by St Bede's Educational Trust through a board of governors. The school includes an Early Years Foundation Stage setting for children aged 3 and 4, a preparatory school for pupils up to the age of 11, and a senior school for pupils aged 11 to 18. The school aims to develop the intellectual curiosity and creativity of every pupil through a range of curricular and co-curricular activities. It seeks to provide the right balance of support and encouragement to help each child reach their full potential, and hopes that every pupil will leave prepared for life beyond school, with the courage and ability to contribute positively to their communities and to society. Pupils come from a wide range of ethnic and social backgrounds. The school is committed to supporting all learners, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those for whom English is an additional language, whilst also making provision for more able pupils through a modified curriculum.