Candidates wishing to enter the School in Years 7 to 10 (if not following 13+ Common Entrance for Year 9 entry) should register two years in advance of entry and ideally by the end of the first week of December prior to the September of entry, although late applications would be considered, subject to availability. 

On registration candidates will be invited to come to the School for an interview with a senior member of staff and we will also contact your child's current school to ask for a reference unless you have specifically requested us not to. A reference must be received prior to an offer of a place being made.

Your son or daughter will then be asked to attend an Assessment Day at the School in the January of the year of entry. This consists of three elements:

• A Mathematics test based on the relevant level of the National Curriculum
• A Verbal Reasoning test
• An English test which includes a reading and comprehension paper and a creative writing paper

A guide to help prepare for the Assessment Day is sent out to registered pupils in advance.

Alternative arrangements may be made for candidates who are unable to attend the School for an interview or the Assessment Day. Late entrants may be considered, provided places are still available, and special arrangements can be made for candidates living overseas or unable to travel to the School.

Academic Exhibitions and Scholarships may be awarded to outstanding candidates on the basis of performance in the above tests and interview, together with a reference from the pupil's current school.

Places are normally offered to successful candidates during the first week of February. We endeavour to inform candidates sitting our assessment tests at any other time within two weeks. Places should be accepted within four weeks of receipt of an offer. After that time, the School reserves the right to offer places to candidates on the waiting list. On acceptance of a place, parents are required to sign a contract which sets out clearly the basis on which an offer is being made and accepted, and return it together with the Acceptance Deposit.

We welcome registrations from Common Entrance candidates at least three years in advance of entry (Year 5 or 6) and ideally by the end of the first week of December prior to the September of entry, although late applications will be considered, subject to availability.

On registration candidates will be invited to visit the School to meet a senior member of staff and we will also contact your child's current prep school to discuss his or her progress to date and how we might be able to help with the transition to senior school.

In consultation with your prep school, there is the option to sit a pre-test in either Year 6 or 7 to assess whether your child should be working towards a scholarship place or if he or she would be better suited to entry via our own Entrance Assessment.

If the recommendation is for your child to sit our own Entrance Assessment, this will be in the January prior to the September of entry. On the basis of this, a firm offer of a place may be made in February conditional upon an interview and satisfactory reference. Candidates would still be expected to perform well in their Common Entrance for the purpose of setting.

The majority of those following Common Entrance are invited to visit the School for a taster day and interview during the Michaelmas Term prior to the September of entry, after which an offer of a place may be made subject to Common Entrance results and satisfactory reference.

Places are normally offered to successful candidates during the first week of February. We endeavour to inform candidates sitting our own assessment tests at any other time within two weeks. Places should be accepted within four weeks of receipt of an offer. After that time, the School reserves the right to offer places to candidates on the waiting list. On acceptance of a place, parents are required to sign a contract which sets out clearly the basis on which an offer is being made and accepted, and return it together with the Acceptance Deposit.

GCSEs in England have been through a process of reform and the majority are now graded with a new scale from 9 to 1, with 9 being the highest grade. The examining boards have advised that the new grades have been brought in to better differentiate between students of different abilities.

As a result of these changes, the Royal Hospital School has revised its entry requirements for Sixth Form:

Pupils are expected to achieve at least 33 points (average of 5.5) across their six best GCSE subjects and at least a 4 in English Language and Mathematics. In addition, they would normally be required to gain at least a 6 in any GCSE subject chosen for A Level, or a 7 in mathematics or the sciences if a pupil wishes to study those subjects for A Level.

As part of the admissions process, candidates will discuss A Level subject choices with the Head of Sixth Form, which will be dependent upon their predicted average point score and specific subject criteria. A provisional place is offered following an interview with the Head of Sixth Form. A satisfactory reference from the candidate’s present school is also required and all offers are conditional upon the candidate gaining the necessary grades at GCSE or equivalent level.

Those wishing to apply for a Sixth Form Academic Scholarship should do so by contacting the Admissions Office. Academic Scholarship candidates would be expected to achieve at least 62 points across their eight best subjects at GCSE including English and mathematics.

Places for entry into the Sixth Form are made subject to GCSE results during the second week of December prior to the September of entry. We endeavour to inform candidates sitting our own assessment tests at any other time within two weeks. Places should be accepted within four weeks of receipt of an offer. After that time, the School reserves the right to offer places to candidates on the waiting list. On acceptance of a place, parents are required to sign a contract which sets out clearly the basis on which an offer is being made and accepted, and return it together with the Acceptance Deposit.

Applications from international pupils should be made to the International Admissions Office at admissions@royalhospitalschool.org or +44 (0) 1473 326179 in the first instance. Whether you are applying direct or through an education agent, we will guide you carefully through the process.

When making an initial enquiry please provide as much information as possible about your child's academic achievements, interests and aspirations as well as his or her date of birth, first language and current school. We will need to see copies of your child's two most recent reports together with a scan of his or her passport.

On the basis of this information we will advise you or your educational agent on whether we would be able to consider your child and if you should proceed with the completion of a Registration Form.

The Registration Form should be sent to admissions@royalhospitalschool.org together with a copy of the passport and payment of the Registration Fee. International payments can be made via www.royalhospitalschool.peertransfer.com

All pupils for whom English is not their first language are required to take our English as an Additional Language (EAL) test and an age-specific mathematics test, which may be taken in their home country, subject to prior arrangement. If your child's first language is English or if he or she is currently at an English-speaking school, we may recommend that he or she takes the same assessment tests as our domestic applicants.

All candidates are required to have an interview with a senior member of staff either during your visit to the School or, if this is not possible, by Skype.

Places are normally offered to successful candidates within two weeks of sitting our assessment tests and having the interview. Places should be accepted within four weeks of receipt of an offer. After that time, the School reserves the right to offer places to candidates on the waiting list. On acceptance of a place, parents are required to sign a contract which sets out clearly the basis on which an offer is being made and accepted, and return it together with the Acceptance Deposit.

As a guide the following Common European Framework (CEF Levels) of English are required for entry: