Chapters
Having attended (and graduated) from schools in other parts of the world, I'm perpetually amazed at their attempts at formality and tradition. In the US, graduates throw their mortarboards in the air after their graduation ceremonies. In Germany, our class had cake and coffee in the school library with the principal, who doubled as our maths teacher.
By contrast, English schools are so steeped in tradition that we have a hard time doing away with those rituals, even if they're too anachronistic to be credible or beneficial. For instance, Harrow School is one of three boys' schools that have kept the boys-only tradition of full boarding. For the record, the other two such schools are Radley College and, of course, Eton College.
We'll leave the debate over the benefits of coeducational schools for another time. Today, we need to tell you all about Harrow School:
- the campus is replete with Grade II-listed buildings
- students are assigned lodging in one of 12 Houses
- the uniforms, complete with top hat and cane (for ceremonial functions) are a throwback to the early 20th Century
- Harrow school has a long history of sports innovation; the game of squash (originally called rackets) was invented there
- Harrow and Eton face off yearly in their legendary (since 1805) cricket match
- Harrow has pioneered its own football game called Harrow football
Fortunately, fagging was banned outright by 1990. At one time, the school's headmaster asserted that one must learn how to serve before one can command (or lead). Hence, the practice was encouraged until the mid-70s. Harrow School might have done away with a particularly dastardly tradition but plenty more (good traditions) remain. Would you like your son to participate in them? Read on for useful tips on how to get into Harrow School.
About Harrow School
John Lyon founded Harrow School in North West London in 1572, under a Royal Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I. It is one of four schools in Britain that has 800 pupils who all board full-time. And it is one of only three schools in the UK that has maintained the boys-only boarding tradition. Interestingly, Eton College is another one. That school too has educated world leaders, including our future king, his grandfather and his brother.
Harrow believes "that success should be measured not by grades, but by one's influence on the world. The willingness and ability to learn, to lead and to serve are what enable a life to be both well-lived and worthwhile." Harrow School has been home to quite a few famous individuals. Those illustrious persons include poets, writers, Sir Winston Churchill and six other British Prime Ministers. At one time, Harrow was home to the first Prime Minister of India.
Harrow School fees seem quite steep. However, they include board, tuition, textbooks, a stationary allowance and laundry. If your son is offered a place, you will have to pay a £3,000 entry deposit, of which £1,500 is returned to you at the end of your son's first term. For more details, extra services or information on how and when to pay your fees, you should visit the school's website.
The Application Process for 13+ Entry
Each year Harrow accepts 160 boys into at 13+. If your son is attending a school in the UK, he must be registered with Harrow by the 1st of June of the year he is set to enter Year 5. At the end of his Year 5, the school will ask you to provide them with references from your son’s current school. Your son will then sit the Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB) pre-test in October, at the end of his Year 6 Autumn term. In many ways, Harrow School's admissions processes mirror many other boys' schools' requirements.
The pre-test is an online assessment, consisting of multiple-choice questions in verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English and Maths. It takes approximately two and a half hours to complete, and each test can be taken together or separately. Harrow School will assess the applicant's results and school reference within a week. A small number of boys will then be asked to meet one of the House Masters before the Harrow Test is taken in Year 7.
The Harrow Test takes place in the autumn term of Year 7. The test will assess spelling, grammar, and vocabulary. Along with the test, there will be two 15-minute interviews with a senior Harrow teacher and a House Master. After these steps, Harrow School will call for another reference from your son’s current school in Year 7.
You will find out your son’s standing in the first week of December that year. If he's on the A1 List, he's received an offer to place at Harrow for a specific house. Should he have landed on the A2 List, that means he's offered a place at Harrow with a House to be confirmed at a later date. The B List signals his offer of a place on Harrow's waiting list. His name on the C List means he's received no offer.
All offers are subject to a good performance in either Common Entrance or the Harrow Academic Scholarship examinations. Normally, students are required to achieve at least 60% on the Common Entrance exams before they will be considered for enrolment - just the same as with entry to Dulwich College. Please note that you should talk with the school administrations' office if your son has any special educational needs. They will play a role in Harrow School's decision about his enrolment eligibility.
The Application Process for Sixth-Form Entry
Every year Harrow accepts around 20 new boys into Sixth Form. Your son should apply in Year 11, in his final GCSE year. Your son will be required to write a Curriculum Vitae (CV) of no more than an A4 page in length. It should detail his academic achievements and extracurricular interests and achievements.
He will also be required to write a one-page handwritten letter. It should be addressed to the Headmaster and explain why he would like to study at Harrow school. The complete application package should include that cover letter and his CV, along with your son’s most recent school report and the requisite registration fee.
After these are presented, the strongest applicants will be invited to a test day. Then, your son can choose to be tested on 3 of his 4 chosen A-Level subjects. But before sitting any exams, you and your son need to be sure Harrow School is right for you. You never know; you might have your heart set on Harrow but, in the end, find that the London School for Boys is a better fit.
The best way to know if a school is right for you and your son is to experience the campus on an average day. Harrow School hosts several Open Mornings throughout the year allowing you to do just that. For a chance to have a look around, be sure to book your slot for an Open Morning. If you are unable to make one of the Open Mornings, we recommend looking at their prospectus instead. But looking through a brochure won't be as informative as touring the campus and facilities.
How to Do Well on Harrow School's Exams and Interviews
Harrow School doesn't offer specimen papers to prospective students. However, you can still prepare for your exams and interviews by revising the abundance of resources online. Harrow's article "Learning How to Study is Key" outlines top tips for how to revise efficiently. The Superprof Resource Centre offers a wide variety of study materials for specific subjects.
Not just for Harrow School, either. We have an extensive tutorial for admission to St Paul's School, too. We point out that, contrary to popular belief, you can "study" for interviews. For instance, you might start by researching the ethos and aims of Harrow School. Take the time to practise talking about your achievements and goals calmly and confidently. Best of luck!
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Thanks for this. We visited Eton and Harrow. Son chose Harrow – closer to London proper, stronger in theatre and sports, and almost half the number of students vs Eton which seemed overwhelming to us; plus a constant stream of jets flying overhead at Eton; why has no one mentioned this? But thank you.