Caterham School

11+ ADMISSIONS

At Caterham School, pupils embark on an exciting educational journey, brimming with opportunities for personal growth, achievement, and fun. Our nurturing, positive, and motivating environment ensures success for all pupils. Our results are testament to the uniquely supportive environment that is Caterham’s hallmark.

Visiting the school. We are always pleased to welcome families who are considering the School. For details of open days and visitor mornings For families based overseas who are considering the School, please contact Admissions so that we can guide you through the process.

Application. Pupils wishing to join Caterham School at 11+ (or 13+ via deferred entry) submit their application by early November of Year 6 (see below for admissions dates for September ). Applications for financial support and/or co-curricular scholarships are submitted by the same deadline. For more information about these, please click on the links above. Please note that all applicants are considered for Academic Scholarships and therefore no separate application is needed.

In response to family demand, we are excited to be offering a new boarding experience for younger pupils at Caterham: Half Weekly Boarding where pupils would spend two or three nights a week in the boarding community, enjoying the benefits of the boarding experience whilst retaining family time across the week. Please indicate your interest on the Application Form.

After the closing date, we contact families to outline the dates and aspects of the admissions process. We do not operate a short-listing or screening process: we believe it’s right that all applicants experience the same opportunities to showcase their talents and abilities.

As a highly successful School, entrance to Caterham is by selection, based on academic merit and on an assessment of each child’s likely positive wider contribution to the School. A vital part of the admissions process is getting to know each child as an individual.

Informal Interview. Informal interviews take place here at the School in November on selected dates (see below). These conversations enable applicants to become familiar with the school and convey their interests and passions, and us to get to know each child as an individual.

ISEB Common Pre-Test. In the latter part of the same term, applicants will sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test which comprises of adaptive online assessments in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. These are taken either at the child’s current school, if that can be facilitated, or here at Caterham on Saturday 25 November . Please note that parents now register their child for this assessment, and we guide you through the process. Pupils who are applying to more than one Senior school which uses the Common Pre-Test will only need to sit the test once. More information about the ISEB can be found

EDGE Experience Day. In January, applicants attend our EDGE Experience Day which is inspired by our unique EDGE curriculum. For  entry, this will take place on Saturday 13 January . This morning or afternoon session includes two Caterham entrance assessments, but also gives applicants an experience of the dynamic approach we take to education at Caterham through some (unassessed) fun and collaborative problem-solving activities. The assessments are in Maths and an EDGE paper. The latter is formed of a writing task, critical thinking problems, and an exercise giving applicants the opportunity to showcase their innovative thinking and problem-solving skills. All Caterham assessments are designed to bring out the skills and potential of applicants, whatever they may have studied in the past. Applicants take assessments in small groups at Caterham School in a normal classroom environment.

At Caterham, we welcome applications from candidates with disabilities or special educational needs; applicants who meet the criteria set out in the school’s Access Arrangements in Entrance Examinations Policy here will be eligible for suitable adjustments in both the ISEB Common Pre-test and in the assessments on the EDGE Experience Day. Documentary evidence, such as a current Specialist Assessor’s report, must be submitted to the school before the closing date for applications.

Confidential School Reference. After the closing date, a reference or school report will be sought from the prospective pupil’s current school.

Offers. We take a holistic view of each and every applicant based on all the information we receive during the admissions process. Families looking at entry will be notified of the outcome by email on Friday 9 February .

11+ Dates for September

13+ Deferred Entry Admissions

Each year approximately 40 to 50 pupils join us at 13+, usually from preparatory schools. There are two routes for admission at 13+: Deferred Entry (for pupils in Year 6 for either day or boarding places) and Year 8 application for boarding places.

If a candidate is applying in Year 8 from overseas they should follow the Boarding: International Admissions procedure

13+ Deferred Entry Procedure (for Candidates in Year 6)
Parents sometimes wish to have the security of knowing in advance where their son or daughter will proceed to senior school. They can then enjoy the important last few years at their Preparatory School with a known path to their next school. This is the principal reason why Caterham offers the option of applying for Deferred Entry at 13+.

Applicants wishing to secure a 13+ Deferred Entry place should apply by early November in Year 6 (dates for entry are below).

Visiting the school. We are always pleased to welcome families who are considering the School. For details of open days and visitor mornings . For families based overseas who are considering the School, please contact Admissions so that we can guide you through the process.

Application. Pupils wishing to join Caterham School at 13+ via deferred entry (or 11+ entry) submit their application by early November of Year 6 (see below for admissions dates for September ). Applications for co-curricular scholarships are submitted by the same deadline. For more information about these, please click on the link above. Please note that all applicants are considered for Academic Scholarships and therefore no separate application is needed.

After the closing date, we contact families to outline the dates and aspects of the admissions process. We do not operate a short-listing or screening process: we believe it’s right that all applicants experience the same opportunities to showcase their talents and abilities.

As a highly successful School, entrance to Caterham is by selection, based on academic merit and on an assessment of each child’s likely positive wider contribution to the School. A vital part of the admissions process is getting to know each child as an individual.

Informal Interview. Informal interviews take place here at the School in November on selected dates (see below). These conversations enable applicants to become familiar with the school and convey their interests and passions, and us to get to know each child as an individual.

ISEB Common Pre-Test. In the latter part of the same term, applicants will sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test which comprises of adaptive online assessments in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. These are taken either at the child’s current school, if that can be facilitated, or here at Caterham on Saturday 25 November . Please note that parents now register their child for this assessment, and we guide you through the process. Pupils who are applying to more than one Senior school which uses the Common Pre-Test will only need to sit the test once. More information about the ISEB can be found

Edge Experience Day. In January, applicants attend our EDGE Experience Day which is inspired by our unique EDGE curriculum. For entry, this will take place on Saturday 13 January . This morning or afternoon session includes two Caterham entrance assessments, but also gives applicants an experience of the dynamic approach we take to education at Caterham through some (unassessed) fun and collaborative problem-solving activities. The assessments are in Maths and an EDGE paper. The latter is formed of a writing task, critical thinking problems, and an exercise giving applicants the opportunity to showcase their innovative thinking and problem-solving skills. All Caterham assessments are designed to bring out the skills and potential of applicants, whatever they may have studied in the past. Applicants take assessments in small groups at Caterham School in a normal classroom environment.

At Caterham, we welcome applications from candidates with disabilities or special educational needs; applicants who meet the criteria set out in the school’s Access Arrangements in Entrance Examinations will be eligible for suitable adjustments in both the ISEB Common Pre-test and in the assessments on the EDGE Experience Day. Documentary evidence, such as a current Specialist Assessor’s report, must be submitted to the school before the closing date for applications.

Confidential School Reference. After the closing date, a reference or school report will be sought from the prospective pupil’s current school.

Offers. We take a holistic view of each and every applicant based on all the information we receive during the admissions process. Families looking entry will be notified of the outcome by email on Friday 9 February .

For those pupils who have accepted a Deferred Entry place for Year 9, in the November of Year 8, they will be asked to sit a further 13+ entry test at Caterham School. This allows the School to assess their eligibility for an academic scholarship and does not affect their secured place at Caterham School.

16+ Admissions

Reach your potential in our Sixth Form. Tailored subjects, dedicated teachers, and a friendly environment fuel pupils’ academic growth within a vibrant and well-rounded education. We welcome Day and Boarding 16+ applications from external applicants wishing to join our dynamic and friendly Sixth Form.

Boarding Admissions Procedure
If a candidate is applying for a Boarding place they should follow Boarding Admissions.

Day Admissions Procedure

Application. The closing date for 16+ Day applications is Monday 16 October . Applications for financial support and/or co-curricular scholarships are submitted by the same deadline. For more information about financial support,

Open Events. Prospective 16+ applicants are encouraged to attend our dedicated 16+ events. We will be holding our 16+ Options Evening on Monday 9 October

16+ Visitor Morning on 11 October. The morning starts with a presentation by the Headmaster and senior staff, which is followed by a guided tour around the school by current pupils. Families end their stay by chatting to staff from many departments over refreshments.

Assessment and Interview. On receipt of an application, applicants are invited to our assessment day on Saturday 11 November where candidates will sit up to 2 papers based on the A Levels they wish to study, and a Critical Thinking Paper. Interviews are either conducted on the same Saturday, or close to that time via Teams.

At Caterham, we welcome applications from candidates with disabilities or special educational needs; applicants who meet the criteria set out in the school’s Access Arrangements in Entrance Examinations Policy here will be eligible for suitable adjustments in the entrance assessments. Documentary evidence, such as a current Specialist Assessor’s report, must be submitted to the school before the closing date for applications.

Scholarships. We encourage applicants to consider applying for our specific Academic Scholarships and Co-curricular Scholarships. The processes for these vary, with short-listed applicants being seen for assessments in November.

Confidential School Reference. After the closing date, a reference or school report will be sought from the prospective pupil’s current school. We ask schools to provide GSCE predictions.

Offers. Offers are made on the basis of applicants’ performance during their assessments and interview, in addition to predicted GCSE grades and current school reports. Offers for Day places are conditional upon the applicant satisfying our entry requirements: 44 points (or equivalent) from the best six IGCSE/GCSE subjects. Additionally, there are specific entry requirements for each A Level subject.

16+ Dates for September Entry

Make a Day Application

Please note that the closing date for September (and September Deferred Entry) has now passed. If you would like to make an application for a Day place for entry, please use the form below. You will need to upload a passport photo and latest school report to complete the form.

If your child will be overseas during the Day application process

If you wish to make an application for boarding, please contact boardingadmissions@caterhamschool.co.uk.

Need help?
Should you have any questions or queries about your application or your admissions account, don’t hesitate to contact the Admissions team on: Email: admissions@caterhamschool.co.uk Tel: 01883 335058

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.

Boarding at Caterham remains popular with a range of options available to you: we offer Full, Weekly and Half-Weekly boarding options to suit all families.

We highly encourage families to get to know us before applying. Please see here for our Open Days and Events, including our Sixth Form Options Evening and many virtual events, or book a private tour of the School and Boarding House here. We also attend Boarding Schools Fairs internationally and would be pleased to meet you at one. In addition, our registered agents will advise you about the School and guide you through the boarding admissions process. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch should you have any questions.

Types of Boarding & Entry Points

• Full and Weekly Boarding: our entry points are 13+, 14+ and 16+. Candidates apply in the Autumn prior to the year of entry. We are pleased to sponsor student visas for Weekly and Full Boarding pupils.
• Half Weekly Boarding is available at 11+ and 13+ deferred entry. Please note that we do not sponsor child student visas for these places.
• Families based in the UK can also apply for boarding places via 13+ Deferred Entry

Half Weekly Boarding. In response to family demand, we are excited to be offering Half Weekly Boarding for 11+ and 13+ deferred entry applicants. Pupils spend the same two or three nights a week in the boarding community, either staying on Monday & Tuesday nights (with the option of Sunday) or Wednesday & Thursday nights (with the option of Friday). Half Weekly Boarders spend less time commuting and more time being fully immersed in the fun and activities of boarding life, having the same room each week and same room mates. To make an application for Half Weekly Boarding, please contact boardingadmissions@caterhamschool.co.uk.

Making a 13+, 14+ or 16+ Application
Families living in the UK. Please contact Alison Hill, Assistant Registrar (Boarding) at boardingadmissions@caterhamschool.co.uk for a link to our Application Form. We highly recommend visiting the school for a tour, and Mr Wood, Deputy Head (Admissions) will be pleased to meet with you.

Families living overseas. Families usually apply through one of our registered agents. Please get in touch for a list of our agents in your region. For further guidance on how to apply and a link to our boarding application form, please contact Alison Hill via boardingadmissions@caterhamschool.co.uk.

The Application Process
Assessment. Academic standards are high at Caterham School, with selection based on academic merit and on an assessment of each child’s likely positive wider contribution to the School. Though we are happy to receive other assessment results (e.g. UKiset), applicants will take our own paper assessments.

Our assessments are taken here, or arranged by our registered agents either at the agents’ office or at the British Council. The below table summarises how we assess applicants at each entry point:

Please see below for dates of our Entrance Exams.

Interviews and References. Usually, all applicants are interviewed either before or after assessments are taken. The interview is designed to assess a student’s suitability and their likely positive wider contribution to the School. Overseas applicants are most often interviewed via a virtual platform. Interviews are complemented by school reports or references for those schooled in the UK.

Offer and Welcome. For Weekly and Boarding Admissions, pupils are usually offered unconditional places at the School on the basis of their performance in the Entrance Assessments and interview. After acceptance, we organise a range of opportunities for families and pupils to meet with key staff and attend Pre-Induction events.

13+, 14+ & 16+ Admissions Dates for Applications

Other Information
International students who have EUSS status, a Dependent Visa, Right of Abode, Leave to Remain or other visa, which allows the student to live and study in the UK, should upload a copy of the visa when completing the application.

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/Student visa, but please note that we cannot provide immigration advice. There is a £300 charge for the CAS process that is added to the first term’s bill. The Admissions team will guide you through the visa application procedure and are happy to assist you with any queries you may have. For further details

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.

Information for Agents
We are happy to receive applications from non-registered agents, though we only pay commission to those with whom we have a formal agreement. We do not currently expect to enter into any further formal agreements with agents. For more information, please contact boardingadmissions@caterhamschool.co.uk. Applicants applying through non-registered agents can only sit our Entrance Exams at British Council offices or approved exam centres.