Finding the right school can be a challenging affair, particularly in England. That sounds rather odd, doesn't it? That is until you think about what school actually is. It's not so much about academic training as it is about life training cloaked in academia. When parents shop for the best schools to send their children to, they need to know about:

  • the type and level of education provided
  • the extracurricular programs afforded
  • the accommodations - full boarding, day school and the like
  • how to register
  • what the admissions procedures are
  • how much it costs per term

The schools' fees we feature in this article range from just over £7000 to just over £1,6000 per term, with registration fees between £100 to over £1000. Some schools further require a deposit of several hundred pounds for books and other essentials. That sounds like tremendous wads of money until you consider all that you get for it. Are you interested in Hurtwood House? We’ve collected all the information you need to make your decision, and we've outlined several comparable schools, too.

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About Hurtwood House

Hurtwood House is a public coeducational day and boarding school for Sixth Form students. It was founded in 1970 by the current Head, Richard Jackson. The 200-acre school site specializes in Performing and Creative Arts. The facilities are designed for Sixth Form students looking to experience the independence and rigours of university life before they begin their university studies.

In the words of Head Richard Jackson, “Hurtwood House was created to put life, vigour and enthusiasm back into education after GCSEs and the make the A-Level experience as exciting and rewarding as going away to University.”

Hurtwood House embraces modern approaches to Sixth Form education in the traditional countryside of Surrey, England. The school’s small class sizes mean that students have access to one-on-one care for all their pastoral and academic needs. To see all that Hurtwood has to offer, the staff encourages you and your child to book a visit.

You may tour the grounds, meet with staff and students, and learn more about Hurtwood’s academic and social vision before making your final decision. Your visit will include an interview that is part of Hurtwood’s selection process. Now, let's go over Hurtwood School's admissions processes.

A group of students looking at something displayed on a laptop screen which is perched on a glass tabletop
Hurtwood House is proud of its diverse student body and social activities. Photo by Mimi Thian on Unsplash

Admissions Policy

First, you should request a prospectus and download Hurtwood House’s admissions form. The next step is to request to interview with a member of Hurtwood's senior staff. From there, you will decide if you would like to proceed with the admissions process. If this is, indeed, the school for you, you will submit a written letter of interest, a completed application form, and the registration fee.

The selection of students is largely based on their interview and a written reference from their current school. Naturally, academic performance matters. But Hurtwood expects prospective students will do well at GCSEs. Thus, their offers are not dependent on students' exam results.

Hurtwood House Interviews and Examinations

Hurtwood House interviews ask students to articulate their academic and extracurricular interests. Also, why does the student wish to pursue those interests at Hurtwood House? Hurtwood staff will then provide students with a rundown of the school’s mission and culture. At the interview's end, the student has the opportunity to ask as many questions as they’d like.

Hurtwood House does not require additional examinations or outstanding GCSE results. Students should simply bring their best selves to their interviews. Students should avoid making their answers sound stale by over-rehearsing. However, it is helpful to note that Hurtwood is looking for students who exemplify “[c]haracter, personality, willingness, cheerfulness, liveliness, helpfulness, maturity, a sense of responsibility and a strong sense of purpose.”. So you might base your interview answers around those values. Best of luck!

Latymer Upper School

Latymer Upper School is an independent coeducational school that welcomes pupils from 11+ through Sixth Form. It was founded in 1624, when Edward Latymer gave up a part of his estate to educate eight boys. They were decidedly not living a privileged life; Mr Latymer wanted to give them a chance at a good, productive existence.

Latymer Upper School Admissions Policies

Every prospective student, regardless of which level they're registering for, must fill out and submit Latymer's online registration form. You should Submit yours at least one year ahead of your planned enrolment date. Latymer School prefers that candidates submit their forms by the first week in October.

Once the school's admissions office sorts through all of the registrations, they will start contacting 11+ students to schedule their entrance examinations, which take place in January. You may expect your notification starting in December. If you do well on your exam, you will be invited to an interview with a senior staff member. And then, all you have to do is wait for an offer of enrolment from the school.

The process is a bit different for 16+ students. Those learners will still have to register but they won't sit any exams. How can the school assess them? Read our full-length article to find out and also to learn more about Latymer Upper School, in general.

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Rush
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5 (79 reviews)
Rush
£75
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1st lesson free!
Lucinda
5
5 (22 reviews)
Lucinda
£150
/h
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1st lesson free!
Hakim
5
5 (16 reviews)
Hakim
£50
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Maria-alexandra
5
5 (18 reviews)
Maria-alexandra
£40
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Rush
5
5 (79 reviews)
Rush
£75
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Lucinda
5
5 (22 reviews)
Lucinda
£150
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Hakim
5
5 (16 reviews)
Hakim
£50
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Maria-alexandra
5
5 (18 reviews)
Maria-alexandra
£40
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Let's go

Alleyn's School

This school is also independent and coeducational but it welcomes pupils as young as four and teaches them until they are 18. It was founded by Edward Alleyn, an Elizabethan actor. That should help you guess how old this school is; it was founded in 1619. Impressive as that is, it's about 800 years younger than England's oldest school. But that doesn't mean Alleyn's curriculum is dry and stodgy.

Many aspiring thespians are keen to enrol at Alleyn's because of its connection with the National Youth Theatre. As you might guess, Alleyn's School curriculum is engaging and dynamic. It challenges students to reach for their dreams while still maintaining a strong record of academic excellence. It's quite impressive that over 90% of Alleyn's students achieved A*-A marks on their GCSEs, isn't it?

An office setting where two girls stand in the background with a laptop computer held up for them to read and a woman interviewing a student in the foreground
Latymer school applicants will sit entrance exams and interview with a member of the staff. Photo by Mimi Thian on Unsplash

Alleyn's School Admissions Policies

Alleyn requires prospective students to submit their applications between September and November one year ahead of their desired entry date. And then, if your child is 11+ or 13+, they will sit exams in English, Maths and Reasoning. Depending on those exams' outcomes, your child may then be invited to their entrance interview.

Of course, that's by no means all there is to Alleyn School admissions. We've not said anything about Reception Year pupils, nor have we disclosed any information for the 16+ group. However, we cover those levels' procedures fully in our companion article.

Highgate School

If you thought Alleyn's School was impressive for welcoming four-year-old pupils, prepare to be amazed. Highgate School will start educating your child when they're just three years old! Granted, their school fees are a bit steep; just over £7000 per term for the Junior school alone. Still, you get so much value for money.

Highgate School has a stellar academic record. More than half of their students go on to enrol in Russell Group Universities. An additional 14% made their way into Cambridge and Oxford. But Highgate isn't all academics, all the time. Your child will enjoy plenty of this school's extracurricular activities. They can try their hand at anything from beekeeping to athletics.

Highgate School Admissions Policies

Highgate's admissions procedures are fairly standard. You or your student must register your interest at least one year ahead of the projected entry date. Atypically, even 7+ students will sit entrance exams, just as the other levels will. Fortunately, Highgate School makes assessment outlines available for students of every level. That way, prospective students can know exactly what's expected of them.

Every student, regardless of their level, should prepare for their interview. To make sure they're ready, you might ask your child what they think about school and what their favourite subject is. But don't stop at school-related questions, ask them about their hobbies, their favourite books and even what they think about climate change. Highgate School staff might ask those questions, too, so it will be good preparation for your child.

Bancroft's School

Bancroft's is an independent coeducational day school for pupils aged seven to 18. This school has nearly three centuries of history, too. Wealthy businessman Frances Bancroft started the school as a charitable venture, a part of his 'almshouses' project. Initially, he meant for only boys to receive education and, for the bulk of its history, that was the case. In 1973, the first girls were admitted to Sixth Form. Four years later, the school was fully coeducational.

Today, to uphold Frances Bancroft's vision of 'educating one hundred poor boys', the school runs the Bancroft Foundation. It raises funds to finance assisted places so that pupils who might otherwise be barred from quality education might enrol. The school now accommodates over 1000 pupils from all backgrounds.

A person holding a red pencil makes notes into a bound notebook white a glass of dark beverage sits in front of them.
Students preparing for school-entry interviews should take notes on their hobbies, passions and pursuits. Photo by lilartsy on Unsplash

Bancroft's School Admission Policies

All admissions into Bancroft's School are contingent upon pupils sitting an entrance examination of the school's devising. Every prospective pupil will also submit to an interview by a member of the school's staff. Principal entry points are Year 3 (seven+) and Year 7 (11+). The school also welcomes a smaller number of 16+ students each year.

The school notes that the exams are competitive. At every entry point, students will test in Maths, English and Reasoning. In all cases, the entrance exams are administered in January of the year of entry. A high exam score will lead to an interview and, if that goes well, your child will receive an offer of placement. Getting into Bancroft's School is a lot less complicated than other schools this article features!

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Emma

I am passionate about traveling and currently live and work in Paris. I like to spend my time reading, gardening, running, learning languages, and exploring new places.