Boarding Admissions

Caterham School has a thriving boarding community. An experienced and dedicated team of boarding staff ensures a warm and caring atmosphere across all of our boarding houses.

Family-friendly weekly boarding secures time at home each weekend with an action packed week at School. Full boarding also remains a popular option.

Please note our boarding application form is not available on our website.  For guidance on how to apply and a link to our boarding application form, please contact [email protected].

UK Based Candidates

Prospective pupils who currently attend a prep or junior school in the UK and who wish to apply for a boarding place at Caterham School should contact [email protected] for guidance on how to apply. The School occasionally considers applications for 14+ candidates, should spaces be available.  

International Candidates

International candidates (i.e. a prospective pupil who currently attends a school overseas or an international student that is schooled in the UK) may join the School at 13+, and 16+. The School occasionally considers applications for 14+ candidates, should spaces be available.  

There is a five-stage admissions procedure for international applicants:

1. Enquiring

Our Admissions team is happy to answer any of your questions, please email  [email protected] who will advise you on how to make an application and provide a list of our registered agents.  If you would like to arrange a visit to the School, please contact Karen Griffiths at [email protected] and she will be delighted to arrange this for you.    

2. Application

To make an application, we ask that you apply through one of our registered agents who know our School well and can guide you through the boarding admissions process.   This will involve completing an application form and paying the boarding application fee (£200). In addition to this, the agent will supply us with other information about your child, including a school report and passport copy.  This information must be sent to [email protected] by the closing date.

Please note that if you are applying for a Year 12 place (Lower Sixth) and your child is currently attending a school in the UK, we are happy to consider a private application, and again, please email [email protected] for further details.

3. Entrance Exams

Academic standards are high at Caterham School and so entrance is by selection based on academic merit and an assessment of each pupil’s likely positive contribution to the School.

Caterham’s Entrance Exams are arranged by our registered agents and take place in either the Agents’ office or at the British Council. The below table summarises how we assess candidates at each entry point:

13+	All candidates take papers in English and Mathematics (non-calculator)
16+ (candidates schooled overseas)	All candidates schooled overseas will need to take papers in English and four subjects to be studied at A-Level (five subjects if Further Maths and Maths are selected)
16+ (UK schooled candidates)	For those pupils schooled in the UK, they will be interviewed and we will request a reference with predicted grades, from their current school

Please see Dates for Assessments below.

4. Interviews

Candidates who perform to the required standard in the Entrance Exams will be invited for interview. Interviews with International Applicants are normally conducted via a virtual platform.  

5. Admission

Pupils are offered unconditional places at the School on the basis of their performance in the Entrance Exams and interview. 

13+, 14+ & 16+ Admissions Dates for International Applications (2022 ENTRY)

Closing date for 13+ & 14+ Overseas applications	Monday 18 October 2021
13+ & 14+ Entrance papers	To be taken between September and no later than Thursday 11 November 2021
13+ & 14+ Decision letters to be emailed	Week commencing 6 December 2021
13+ & 14+ Closing date for acceptance	Two weeks after the offer date
Closing date for 16+ Overseas applications	Friday 29 October 2021
16+ Entrance papers	To be taken between September and no later than Friday 5 November 2021
16+ decision letters to be emailed	Week commencing 6 December 2021
16+ Closing date for acceptance	Two weeks after the offer date

Other information

If your child does not have British or Irish nationality, Settled/Pre-Settled Status or the right to reside in the UK they will need a Child Student Visa to attend Caterham School.  We are a UKVI Sponsored School and can sponsor a pupil’s application for a Child Student visa (CAS – Confirmation of Acceptance to Study), with the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI).  For further details, please click here.

All applicants to the School for whom English is not a native language will be required to attend lessons at our specialist EAL Department until the Head of EAL is satisfied that the pupil has reached the standard of English necessary to study at a UK university.