Register Your Interest
There's many ways to get to know us as you make that important decision of where to send your child to school. Whether you've just started thinking about it or have narrowed it down to a few options, the pages below give a few of the best ways to meet us, talk to us and find out what it is like to be part of the RHS family for both you and your child.
Please find below our admissions process for the most popular entry points, though we do take admissions in other year groups, if places are available.
For entry beyond September , please use the below process as a broad guideline, but note that it may be subject to small changes each year.
For immediate entry, please contact the Admissions Team for availability.
The Admissions Team can be contacted on 01473 326136 (UK Admissions) or +44 (0) 1473 326179 (International Admissions).
Entry Into Years 7 to 10 (age 11-14+ Years)
Candidates wishing to enter the School in Years 7 to 10 (if not following 13+ Common Entrance for Year 9 entry) should ideally register two years in advance of entry or by the November prior to September entry. Late applications are considered, subject to availability.
On registration candidates will be invited to come to the School for an interview with a senior member of staff and we will also contact your child's current school to ask for a reference, unless you have specifically requested us not to. Please note that a reference must be received prior to an offer of a place being made.
Your son or daughter will be asked to attend an Assessment Day at the school. This consists of three elements:
A guide to help prepare for the Assessment Day is sent out to registered pupils in advance. Alternative arrangements may be made for candidates who are unable to attend the School for an interview or the Assessment Day. Late entrants may be considered, provided places are still available, and special arrangements can be made for candidates living overseas or those unable to travel to the School.
Academic Exhibitions and Scholarships may be awarded to outstanding candidates on the basis of performance in the above tests and interview, together with a reference from the pupil's current school.
Places are normally offered to successful candidates during the first week of December. We endeavour to inform candidates sitting our assessment tests at any other time within two weeks. Places should be accepted within four weeks of receipt of an offer. After that time, the School reserves the right to offer places to candidates on the waiting list. On acceptance of a place, parents are required to sign a contract which sets out clearly the basis on which an offer is being made and accepted, and return it together with the Acceptance Deposit.
Entry Into Year 9 (age 13+ Years)
Candidates wishing to enter the School in Years 9 or 10 should register no later than the November prior to September entry. Late applications can be considered, subject to availability.
On registration candidates will be invited to come to the School for an interview with a senior member of staff and we will also contact your child's current school to ask for a reference, unless you have specifically requested us not to. Please note that a reference must be received prior to an offer of a place being made.
Your son or daughter will be asked to attend an Assessment Day at the school in the November prior to entry. This consists of three elements:
Special arrangements can be made for candidates living overseas or those unable to travel to the School.
Children are also welcome to join us for a Taster Day, where they can buddy up with one of our pupils for the day. This gives them a great insight into what a day at RHS is really like! These can be arranged at your convenience.
Common Entrance
We welcome registrations from Common Entrance candidates, who are invited to join us for an Experience Day when they are in Year 6. In consultation with their prep school, candidates have the option to sit our Entrance Assessment in Year 6, followed by the Common Entrance when they are in Year 8, or to sit our Entrance Assessment in Year 8. If a candidate sits our Entrance Assessment in Year 6, they may be offered an assured place into Year 9, subject to Common Entrance results and satisfactory progress in their school reports in Years 7 and 8.
On registration, candidates will be invited to visit the School to meet a senior member of staff and we will also contact your child's current prep school to discuss his or her progress to date and how we might be able to help with the transition to senior school.
Our Entrance Assessments take place in November each year and offers of a place are made in December, conditional upon an interview and satisfactory reference.
For late entries, we endeavour to inform candidates sitting our own assessment tests within two weeks, with a required timeframe to accept an offer. After that time expires, the School reserves the right to offer places to candidates on the waiting list. On acceptance of a place, parents are required to sign a contract which sets out clearly the basis on which an offer is being made and accepted, and return it together with the Acceptance Deposit.
Entry to Sixth Form (age 16+ Years)
As part of the admissions process, candidates will discuss A Level and BTEC subject choices with the Head of Sixth Form, which will be dependent upon their predicted average point score and specific subject criteria. A provisional place is offered following an interview with the Head of Sixth Form. A satisfactory reference from the candidate’s present school is also required and all offers are conditional upon the candidate gaining the necessary grades at GCSE or equivalent level.
Pupils are expected to achieve at least 33 points (average of 5.5) across their six best GCSE subjects and at least a 4 in English Language and Mathematics. In addition, they would normally be required to gain at least a 6 in any GCSE subject chosen for A Level, or a 7 in mathematics or the sciences if a pupil wishes to study those subjects for A Level.
Those wishing to apply for a Sixth Form Academic Scholarship should do so by contacting the Admissions Office. Academic Scholarship candidates would be expected to achieve at least 62 points across their eight best subjects at GCSE including English and mathematics. Scholarships are awarded based on meeting this criteria, completion of a personal statement, and an interview.
Places for entry into the Sixth Form are made (subject to GCSE results) during the second week of December prior to the September of entry. Places should be accepted within four weeks of receipt of an offer. After that time, the School reserves the right to offer places to candidates on the waiting list. On acceptance of a place, parents are required to sign a contract which sets out clearly the basis on which an offer is being made and accepted, and return it together with the Acceptance Deposit.
International Pupils
Applications from international pupils should be made to the International Admissions Office at eallinson@royalhospitalschool.org or +44 (0) 1473 326179 in the first instance. Whether you are applying direct or through an agent, we will guide you carefully through the process.
When making an initial enquiry please provide as much information as possible about your child's academic achievements, interests and aspirations as well as their date of birth, first language and current school. We will need to see copies of your child's two most recent reports together with a scan of their passport.
On the basis of this information we will advise you or your agent on whether we would be able to consider your child and if you should proceed with the completion of a Registration Form. The Registration Form should be sent to eallinson@royalhospitalschool.org together with a copy of the passport and payment of the Registration Fee.
All pupils for whom English is not their first language are required to take our English as an Additional Language (EAL) test and an age-specific mathematics test, which may be taken in their home country, subject to prior arrangement. If your child's first language is English or if they are currently at an English-speaking school, we may recommend that they take the same assessment tests as our domestic applicants.
All candidates are required to have an interview with a senior member of staff either during your visit to the School or, if this is not possible, by Skype.
Places are normally offered to successful candidates within two weeks of sitting our assessment tests and having the interview. Places should be accepted within four weeks of receipt of an offer. After that time, the School reserves the right to offer places to candidates on the waiting list. On acceptance of a place, parents are required to sign a contract which sets out clearly the basis on which an offer is being made and accepted, and return it together with the Acceptance Deposit.
As a guide the following Common European Framework (CEF Levels) of English are required for entry:
| Entry Years 7 and 8 (11/12 years) | CEF Level A1: basic ability to communication and exchange information |
| Entry Year 9 (13+) | CEF Level A2 (or PTE Level 1 or KET (Cambridge English Key) |
| Entry Year 10 (14+) | CEF Level B1 (or PTE Level 2 or PET (Cambridge English Preliminary) or IELTS 4-4.5) |
| Entry Year 12 (16+) | CEF Level B2 (or PTE Level 3 or FCE (Cambridge English First) or IELTS 5.0-6.5) |
Entrance Process and Assessments for Sep Entry
Year 7 Entrance Process (11+)
For further information please contact a member of the Admissions Team | admissions@royalhospitalschool.org | 01473 326136
Year 9 Entrance Process
For further information please contact a member of the Admissions Team | admissions@royalhospitalschool.org | 01473 326136
sixth Form Entrance Process
For further information please contact a member of the Admissions Team | admissions@royalhospitalschool.org | 01473 326136.
The Royal Hospital School is an independent co-educational boarding and day school for 11-18 year olds, providing an outstanding, full and broad education set in 200 acres of Suffolk countryside overlooking the River Stour. We currently have pupils from 28 different countries at the school and we welcome our International pupils for a fully immersive experience of English education. We are renowned for our excellent pastoral care, broad range of subjects available and a rich array of opportunities outside of the classroom.
Admissions Process
Applications from international pupils should be made to the International Admissions Office in the first instance. Whether you are applying direct or through an education agent, we will guide you carefully through the process.
When making an initial enquiry please provide as much information as possible about your child's academic achievements, interests and aspirations as well as his or her date of birth, first language and current school. We will need to see copies of your child's two most recent reports together with a scan of his or her passport.
On the basis of this information we will advise you or your educational agent on whether we would be able to consider your child and if you should proceed with the completion of a Registration Form.
All pupils for whom English is not their first language are required to take our English as an Additional Language (EAL) test and an age-specific mathematics test, which may be taken in their home country, subject to prior arrangement. If your child's first language is English or if they are currently at an English-speaking school, we may recommend that they take the same assessment tests as our domestic applicants.
All candidates are required to have an interview with a senior member of staff either during your visit to the School or, if this is not possible, by Skype.
Places are normally offered to successful candidates within two weeks of sitting our assessment tests and having the interview. Places should be accepted within four weeks of receipt of an offer. After that time, the School reserves the right to offer places to candidates on the waiting list. On acceptance of a place, parents are required to sign a contract which sets out clearly the basis on which an offer is being made and accepted, and return it together with the Acceptance Deposit.
As a guide the following Common European Framework (CEF Levels) of English are required for entry:
| Entry Years 7 and 8 (11/12 years) | CEF Level A1: basic ability to communication and exchange information |
| Entry Year 9 (13+) | CEF Level A2 (or PTE Level 1 or KET (Cambridge English Key) |
| Entry Year 10 (14+) | CEF Level B1 (or PTE Level 2 or PET (Cambridge English Preliminary) or IELTS 4-4.5) |
| Entry Year 12 (16+) | CEF Level B2 (or PTE Level 3 or FCE (Cambridge English First) or IELTS 5.0-6.5) |
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