ADMISSIONS PROCESS
Registration is open for 2023. Our traditional entry points are detailed below, but please do contact us to check availability if you would like your child to join us at any other time. The Admissions Team can be contacted on 01473 326136 (UK Admissions) or +44 (0) 1473 326179 (International Admissions).
Entry Points
- Entry into Years 7 to 10 (age 11-14+ years)
- Entry into Year 9 (age 13+ years) - Common Entrance
- Entry to Sixth Form (age 16+ years)
- International Pupils
Entry into Years 7 to 10 (age 11-14+ years)
Candidates wishing to enter the School in Years 7 to 10 (if not following 13+ Common Entrance for Year 9 entry) should ideally register two years in advance of entry or by the November prior to September entry. Late applications are 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. Please note that a reference must be received prior to an offer of a place being made.
Your son or daughter will be asked to attend an Assessment Day at the school. 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 those 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 December. 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.
Entry into Year 9 (age 13+ years) - Common Entrance
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 the 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 November prior to the September of entry. On this basis, a firm offer of a place may be made in December, 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 Autumn 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 December. 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.
Entry to Sixth Form (age 16+ years)
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. Scholarships are awarded based on meeting this criteria, completion of a personal statement, and an interview.
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.
International Pupils
Applications from international pupils should be made to the International Admissions Office at eallinson@royalhospitalschool.org or +44 (0) 1473 326179 in the first instance. Whether you are applying direct or through an 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 their 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 their passport.
On the basis of this information we will advise you or your 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 eallinson@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 they are currently at an English-speaking school, we may recommend that they take 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:
Entry Years 7 and 8 (11/12 years) | CEF Level A1: basic ability to communication and exchange information |
Entry Year 9 (13+) | CEF Level A2 (or PTE Level 1 or KET (Cambridge English Key) |
Entry Year 10 (14+) | CEF Level B1 (or PTE Level 2 or PET (Cambridge English Preliminary) or IELTS 4-4.5) |
Entry Year 12 (16+) | CEF Level B2 (or PTE Level 3 or FCE (Cambridge English First) or IELTS 5.0-6.5) |
Entrance Process and Assessments 2023
Year 7 Entrance Process (11+)
Step 1 Book onto an Open Morning or arrange a private tour to get to know us better. Register for a place at one of these events HERE.
Step 2 Complete the Registration Form below and submit it with the £75 Registration Fee by 9 November 2022 (ideally before).
Step 3 The Admissions Team will be in touch to invite candidates for an interview with a senior member of staff during Autumn term 2022. This can be conducted via Microsoft Teams online or in person.
Step 4 Book on to one of our upcoming Taster Days HERE.
Step 5 Those applying for an award (Music, Art, Design, Drama, Sport or Sailing) should have completed the relevant forms by 9 November 2022. The Award Assessments for Art, Drama, Music will take place on 19 November 2022, for Academic Exhibitions on 24 November 2022 and for Sport Exhibitions on 18 November 2022. Unfortunately award applications after this date are not able to be considered.
Step 6 Sit entrance assessment comprising English, Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning papers. Our entrance assessment day will take place on 19 November 2022, but for late entries an individual testing day can be arranged with the Admissions Team (if places are still available.
Step 7 Offer letters to successful candidates are sent out in early December and within two weeks of assessment for any late entries. School references will need to have been received before an offer can be given.
Step 8 Deadline for the acceptance of offers is March 2023, or for late entries, one month after an offer has been made.
Step 9 Welcome day for pupils and parents in June 2023 (date tbc).
Step 10 New pupil induction September 2023.
For further information please contact a member of the Admissions Team | admissions@royalhospitalschool.org | 01473 326136
Year 9 Entrance Process (Common Entrance)
Step 1 Book onto an Open Morning or arrange a private tour to get to know us better. Register for a place at one of these events HERE.
Step 2 Complete the Registration Form below and submit it with the £75 Registration Fee by 9 November 2022 (ideally before).
Step 3 The Admissions Team will be in touch to invite candidates for an interview with a senior member of staff. This can be conducted via Microsoft Teams online or in person.
Step 4 Attend our Year 9 Taster Day in October or arrange an individual Taster Day on a mutually agreeable date.
Step 5 Sit entrance assessment comprising English, Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning papers. Our main entrance assessment day will take place on 19 November 2022, but for late entries a testing day can be arranged with the Admissions Team (if places are still available). Those applying for an award should have completed the application by 9 November 2022. Unfortunately award applications received after this date are not able to be considered.
Step 6 Offer letters to successful candidates are sent out in early December and within two weeks of assessment for any late entries. School references will need to have been received before an offer can be given.
Step 7 Deadline for the acceptance of offers is March 2023, or for late entries, one month after an offer has been made.
Step 8 Welcome day for pupils and parents June 2023 (date tbc).
Step 9 New pupil induction September 2023.
For further information please contact a member of the Admissions Team | admissions@royalhospitalschool.org | 01473 326136
Sixth Form Entrance Process
Step 1 Book onto an Open Morning or arrange a private tour to get to know us better. Register for a place at one of these events HERE.
Step 2 Complete the Registration Form below and submit it with the £75 Registration Fee by 9 November 2022 (ideally before).
Step 3 The Admissions Team will be in touch to invite candidates for an interview with a senior member of staff in the Autumn term. This can be conducted via Microsoft Teams online or in person.
Step 4 Arrange a Taster Day with us on a mutually agreeable date, to get to know us better.
Step 5 Those applying for an award should have completed the application by 9 November 2022. Unfortunately award applications received after this date are not able to be considered.
Step 6 Offer letters to successful candidates are sent out in early December and within two weeks of interview for any late entries. School references will need to have been received before an offer can be given.
Step 7 Deadline for the acceptance of offers is March 2023, or for late entries, one month after an offer has been made.
Step 8 Welcome day for pupils and parents June 2023 (date tbc).
Step 9 New pupil induction September 2023.
For further information please contact a member of the Admissions Team | admissions@royalhospitalschool.org | 01473 326136.
ENTRANCE ASSESSMENT (YEARS 7 & 8): PRACTICE PAPERS/SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Register Your Child For A Place At RHS
We hope that after you have learnt a little more about life at the Royal Hospital School that you will choose to register your child for a place. This will also enable us to keep you informed of key stages of the admission process.
REGISTRATION FORM