Harrow tutors

Harrow entrance guide

Harrow is one of the UK’s most famous boarding schools and currently provides an all-boarding education to just over 800 boys. Established, with a number of other independent schools, in the sixteenth century, it has developed a reputation for being an academically challenging and sports focused school. Situated just a 20 minute tube ride away from Central London, Harrow boasts a 324 acre estate complete with golf course and farm. Like its counterpart, Eton, Harrow has produced several notable ‘Old Harrovians’, including former Prime Ministers. 

As a senior school, the main point of entry is 13+ (Year 9), with a smaller intake at 16+ (year 12). Early registration is encouraged, and most families register at least four years prior to the expected entry date. Like many other independent schools, Harrow School offers a range of scholarships and bursaries which are assessed during the admissions process.

Open Mornings at Harrow School

Harrow runs several Open Mornings which are spaced throughout the year and are recommended for boys and their families in Years 4 or 5. Tours take place on these mornings and there is an opportunity to talk to staff and current students and see the extensive school site including the boarding houses. These are booked up well in advance through the school website.

13+ Entry to Harrow School

Following registration in Year 4 or 5, boys sit the ISEB common pre-test in the Autumn Term of Year 6. This is taken at their current school and consists of English, Maths and Reasoning questions, all standardised by age and delivered online. At this stage, boys who have performed particularly well are invited to the school to meet boarding staff. 

In the Autumn term of Year 7, boys who have been successful so far in the ISEB pre-test will sit the Harrow Test, which takes place at the school itself. This consists of interviews with senior staff, computer-based English and Maths assessments, an essay (hand-written) and group activities. There is also an opportunity on this day for boys who did not meet a member of the boarding team in Year 6 to do so. Following the Harrow Test, successful boys will be given either unconditional or waiting list offers. 

The final stage is Common Entrance in May, at which boys are expected to perform well; the results of these exams determine the sets into which the students are placed when they arrive at Harrow. Academic Scholarship applicants who are successful do not need to sit Common Entrance. Final offers for those on the waiting list are confirmed if, and as soon as, places become available.

16+ Entry to Harrow School

There are a limited number of places at Harrow for 16+ entry. Applications need to be submitted around a year in advance, by the very start of the Autumn term of Year 11. Boys who are applying need to write a letter to the Headmaster detailing their reasons for the application, send their CV, and also take assessments in two of their proposed A-Level subjects. The second stage is an invite to an overnight stay in one of the boarding houses at Harrow, with further interviews, assessments and group activities. Offers are then sent out by the end of the Autumn term. Scholarships at 16+ are offered on the basis of the entrance assessments, or by means of a specific sports assessment. 

Scholarships and Bursaries at Harrow School at 13+

All scholarship awards at Harrow offer a fee remission of 5%. The process for applying for an Academic Scholarship at Harrow involves multiple stages. For 13+, the first stage is English and Maths papers which are taken at the boy’s current school at the start of the Spring term of Year 8. The English paper comprises a persuasive written task and an essay-based analytical task whilst the Maths assessment is a calculator paper. Successful candidates who make it through to the next round sit specific papers at Harrow including a second Maths paper and Philosophy and Ethics. There are also three further papers of the candidate’s choice. The third stage is a day assessment visit to Harrow during which further assessments are taken. 

Music, Art, Drama and Sports scholarships are also available at Harrow. Assessments for these are taken in the Spring Term of Year 8, and involve face to face interviews and subject-specific tasks. Prospective candidates for a non-academic scholarship are still expected to do well in either Common Entrance or to apply additionally for the Academic Scholarship and be successful in the papers. 

Bursaries are offered at Harrow School and are potentially worth up to 100% of fees. There are specific bursaries for local children and sons of former pupils; a candidate for a bursary would usually also be expected to perform well in the scholarship assessments. Bursaries are means-tested and reserved for those who would otherwise be unable to access the education offered at Harrow.

We could not have asked for a better fit for our son. Emily made him comfortable from the start and he actually enjoyed the tutoring. He is now thriving and at his new school and this is part due to the dialogue between her and his teacher. Emily is really approachable and flexible. Our son was prepared and not anxious for his 11+ exams and that owes significant debt to Emily
Abigail is great with our daughter, making the lessons engaging and helping her to understand the methods behind the answer rather than rote learning. She is able to help explain things in different ways if our daughter isn't initially able to grasp the concept.
Helen is simply an amazing tutor. She is exceptional at explaining maths and english to our son, especially when he needs a bit of extra support in specific areas. She is also extremely organised, structuring his learning around his own needs, as well as highly communicative with us as parents so that we are all on the same page. The cherry on the cake is that she is also warm, friendly, and smiley. Our son always enjoys his sessions with her, as they're joyful but have also really helped him build his skills and confidence.
Alex was great at helping our daughter feel confident before and during the 11+ by working on her less strong areas. She was also excellent at supporting the interview prep making sure she had tools to deal with any questions that came up rather than scripting answers. She was notably more confident after speaking to Alex.
Jacqueline is a fabulous tutor! She is excellent at engaging my somewhat head strong daughter and has not only picked up on her strengths, but is encouraging her to build on them which is increasing her confidence. Jacqueline’s knowledge is second to none, but what makes her wonderful has been her ability to get to know my daughter, understand her way of thinking and adapt a teaching style that brings out her best work. I trust Jacqueline 100% and no longer sit in on my daughters sessions. I leave them to it as I know Jacqueline has the experience and level of expectation that is needed to help my daughter reach her full potential.