Entry Introduction

Caterham School is a co-educational school with Christian values that provides an excellent all-round education so that every pupil can develop the academic, artistic, sporting and personal strengths needed for later life. To get a real sense of the school you really need to meet the teachers and the pupils. You are most welcome to visit.

For an appointment please contact the Registrar, Miss Rosemary Fisher:

Tel: 01883 335058
Email: admissions@caterhamschool.co.uk

Academic standards are high and the intake is selective at all ages. The main intake ages in the Preparatory School are 3 and 4. Vacancies may occasionally arise in other year groups. In the Senior School, the main intake ages for day pupil are 11, 13 and at Sixth Form level. Occasional vacancies may arise at other ages.

Entrance examinations

Preparatory School

For entry to the Nursery, Pre-Prep and Prep School, pupils are invited to visit the school to meet teachers, and to look around. For entry to the Pre-Prep (including entry to the Nursery), a brief, informal assessment is made during the visit. The entrance examinations for entry to the Prep School are held in the January prior to entering the school the following September. The examinations consist of written papers in English and Mathematics, as well as oral language and reading assessments. A report will be requested from the pupil's current school prior to an offer of a place being made.

Senior School

All candidates must register with the school prior to sitting the examinations. The closing date for registration is mid November of the year before entry. All applicants sit tests appropriate to their ages. A report will be requested from the pupil's current school prior to an offer of a place being made. All candidates are automatically considered for Academic Scholarships which are awarded on the basis of the examinations and interviews. About a third of our parents benefit from reduced fees, either through scholarships or bursaries.
Entry at 11+ All candidates are interviewed in November. The entrance examinations for age 11+ are held in January of the year of entry. There are papers in English, Mathematics and Verbal & Numerical Reasoning. All papers are designed to bring out the skills and potential of the candidates, whatever they may have covered in the past.
Entry at 13+ Registered candidates are invited to the school to take our examinations in English, Mathematics and Verbal & Numerical Reasoning in January of the year of entry. All candidates will also be interviewed. Common Entrance results from Preparatory Schools are used for setting purposes.
Offers of places and scholarships are despatched in late February with acceptances required in early March. Further documentation is released in May/June.

Sixth Form Entry

Caterham Students

The qualification for Sixth Form entry is six IGCSE/GCSE subjects passed at grade B or better.

External Candidates

The qualification for Sixth Form entry is six IGCSE/GCSE subjects (or equivalent) passed at grade A or better.

Additionally, there are specific entry requirements for each A-Level subject. A summary of the entry requirements for each A-Level subject is listed in the A-Level Options Booklet shown in Curriculum.

International / Overseas Candidates

All international applications must be made through one of our registered agents. We work with a limited number of selected agents. We do not recommend a specific agent, but a list of our appointed agents is available from the Admissions Department:  admissions@caterhamschool.co.uk

Caterham School is one of the leading co-educational independent day and boarding schools in the UK. Therefore academic standards are high and entrance is by selection based on academic merit and on an assessment of the pupil's likely positive contribution to the School.

International candidates join us at varying entry points – First Year, Second Year, Third Year, Fourth Year and Lower Sixth. All international candidates take our entrance exams. We require a good standard of English as pupils must be capable of understanding the lessons and answering questions. They must also be able to write complete answers. We do provide EAL (previously known as EFL) support.

Our agent will submit a provisional enquiry to the Assistant Registrar (International). This will be accompanied by:

i) The latest school reports so that we can make an initial assessment on whether the pupil can meet our academic standards. If we need certificates or other documentary support we will request them.

ii) A report from our appointed agent based on an interview with the candidate.

iii) The completed Application Form and the non-refundable GBP100 Application Fee.

iv) For a Sixth Form application we need an indication of four subject choices for A Levels.

If the Head of Boarding thinks that the application should be progressed, we will ask the candidate to sit our entrance examinations. Candidates wishing to apply for a place in our First Year, Second Year, Third Year or Fourth Year will be asked to take our exams in English and Maths. For Sixth Form entry, candidates will be required to sit our own examinations in English, Maths and three/four other subjects depending on the subjects to be studied.  The entrance exams can be taken, under strict invigilation, at the offices of the British Council or our appointed agents.