Sixth Form Admissions
A small number of boys (usually about 10) and about 50 girls are admitted each year into the 6th Form. Admission is by competitive examination and interview. Candidates are assessed at Charterhouse in early November, and offers of places are made on 1st December. Candidates from Hong Kong are interviewed in September and examined in November, by arrangement with Academic Asia.
Candidates need to be academically able, as competition for places is strong. As a guide, we would expect successful applicants to gain a high proportion of A*s and As in GCSE (although the offers we make are unconditional). It is also important that new Specialists, as they are called, have the personality and confidence to flourish in a large and predominantly male boarding school. We welcome those with particular interests and talents, in music, art, drama, sport and many other fields.
Application forms can be obtained from the Admission Office from the beginning of the Summer Term before the year of entry, and should be returned by mid October. We ask for reports from candidates’ schools, so it is essential to inform them of the application.
The selection day is a Saturday in the early part of November. All candidates sit standard tests (vocabulary, arithmetic and non-verbal reasoning), and two 45 minute papers in subjects of their own choice. They are also interviewed in one of the Houses by a panel of the Housemaster and one or two other teachers. During the day, candidates will spend a good deal of time with current pupils.
Offers of places are received on 1st December, and those who accept are asked to pay a deposit. House places are determined later, and we try to satisfy candidates’ preferences, although this is not always possible.
In some years, places remain unfilled after the initial selection is completed, and we admit late applicants after a similar testing procedure. However, it is advisable to apply at the right time to maximise the chance of success.