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.
