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  • Independent school for boys

Harrow School: entry, tests, dates and fees

5 High Street, Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex HA1 3HP

Facts checked 19 October 2026By ExamKind Editorial TeamSchool website

Can we apply, and when?

For September 2029 entry

  • Registration closes, 13+ entry

    Wed 30 Sept

    Wednesday 30 September 2026, for September 2029 entry

    Checked, source: Harrow School, checked

  • Places at 13+

    160

    Each year at 13+

    Checked, source: Harrow School, checked

  • Fees at 13+, full boarding

    £21,990a term

    2026-27 school year, including VAT

    Checked, source: Harrow School, checked

Your next steps for 13+ entry

  1. Next: Scholarship applications close

    in about 109 weeks

    Only if you are applying for a scholarship

Harrow School sets its own tests and decides after them and the interviews. We have not found a published pass mark, so we do not show one.

How entry works

How entry works

Ways in, and how children are assessed

Harrow School takes new pupils at 13+ and 16+. Each way in has its own tests and dates.

  • 13+ entryjoins Year 9 (the Shell)

    160 places

    How children are assessed: an English paper, a maths paper, a reasoning paper, an interview, a group activity, a reference from the current school, the ISEB Common Pre-Test (an online test many independent schools share) and common entrance. Tests are taken in Year 6, with a place offered ahead of entry.

    Registration closes: Wednesday 30 September 2026 (for September 2029 entry)

Other ways in: 16+Places, tests and registration for each

  • 16+ entryjoins Year 12 (Sixth Form)

    20 places

    How children are assessed: an interview, a reference from the current school, GCSE grade requirements, other tasks set by the school and own subject papers.

    Registration closes: Monday 7 September 2026 (for September 2027 entry)

Source: Harrow School, checked

More about entry from our guide

Harrow's pupils are aged 13 to 18Harrow School: Age rangeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: A boarding school for boys aged 13 to 18View the official source, so the school has no 11+ entry of its own. Most boys join in Year 9, which Harrow calls the Shell, and a few more join the Sixth Form. What surprises many families is the timing of the 13+. A boy registers, takes his tests and learns whether he has an offer while he is still in Year 6. The place is then confirmed by exams he sits in Year 8, and he arrives the following September.

Boys who miss the main registration deadline can still apply as late applicants, up to the January of Year 7. They sit the tests as soon as they can after registering. Harrow's admissions policy, an older document, gives an earlier main deadline, in the summer of Year 5, so if your son is in Year 5 now, registering early avoids any doubt.

13+: Year 9 (the Shell)Harrow School: JoinsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: Year 9 (age 13; also known as Shells at Harrow) and Sixth Form / Year 12 (age 16).View the official source

Harrow admits about 160Harrow School: PlacesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: Each year, the School admits around 160 boys into Year 9, in the September following their 13th birthday, and up to 20 boys, normally aged 16, into Year 12 (Sixth Form).View the official source boys into Year 9 each year. The route has five steps.

Step one: register in Year 6. Standard registration for September 2029 entryHarrow School: Current cycleChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: 2029 ENTRYView the official source closed on 30 September 2026Harrow School: Registration deadline (2029)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: | Standard applicants | 30 September 2026 |View the official source. Registering costs £450, including VATHarrow School: Registration feeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: Registration will be complete on payment of the non-refundable Registration Fee of £450 (inclusive of VAT).View the official source, which is not refunded. At the very start of Year 6, Harrow asks for a confidential reference from the current schoolHarrow School: ReferenceChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: We request a confidential reference from an applicant’s current school at the very beginning of Year 6.View the official source.

Step two: the ISEB Common Pre-Test, in the autumn of Year 6. Every boy takes the ISEB Common Pre-TestHarrow School: Iseb pretestChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: We require all boys to sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test (CPT).View the official source, normally between October and the end of November of Year 6Harrow School: Pre test year groupChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: All standard applicants should sit the ISEB CPT between 1 October and the end of November in Year 6.View the official source. It is an online, multiple-choice test that covers English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. The questions adjust to how a child is doing as he goes. Many independent schools use this same test. Our ISEB Pre-Test guide explains the format in more detail.

Step three: the Harrow Test, in the spring of Year 6. Boys who do well in the Pre-Test are invited to Harrow. For September 2029 entryHarrow School: Current cycleChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: 2029 ENTRYView the official source, the Harrow Test runs from January 2027 to March 2027Harrow School: Assessment date (2029)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: | Harrow Test | January - March 2027 |View the official source. It has three parts:

  • an interviewHarrow School: InterviewChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: The Harrow Test consists of one 20-minute interview with a House Master, a computerised English and Maths assessment (one hour in total) and a classroom-based group activity (20 minutes).View the official source with a House Master
  • the school's own English paperHarrow School: Own englishChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: The Harrow Test consists of one 20-minute interview with a House Master, a computerised English and Maths assessment (one hour in total) and a classroom-based group activity (20 minutes).View the official source and the school's own maths paperHarrow School: Own mathsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: The Harrow Test consists of one 20-minute interview with a House Master, a computerised English and Maths assessment (one hour in total) and a classroom-based group activity (20 minutes).View the official source, both done on a computer
  • a group activityHarrow School: Group activityChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: The Harrow Test consists of one 20-minute interview with a House Master, a computerised English and Maths assessment (one hour in total) and a classroom-based group activity (20 minutes).View the official source in a classroom

A House Master is the teacher in charge of one of the boarding houses where boys live, so the interview is partly a chance to see how a boy might settle. Harrow's FAQ page also lists non-verbal reasoning in the computer part, while its Year 9 page and its policy mention English and maths only. If this matters to your preparation, ask the admissions team.

Step four: the result, in late spring of Year 6. In late April or early May of Year 6, each boy hears one of four outcomes. He may be offered a place in a named boarding house, or offered a place with the house to be settled later. Otherwise he goes on the waiting list, or he is not offered a place. These are deferred offers (a place at 13+ offered after assessment at 11)Harrow School: Deferred offerChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: In late April/early May of Year 6 having completed the Harrow Test, an applicant receives one of the following results:View the official source, so a boy keeps studying at his current school for two more years.

Step five: confirm the place in Year 8. Every offer is conditional. The boy must sit Common EntranceHarrow School: Common entranceChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: All offers are subject to sitting either the Common Entrance (CE) or our Academic Scholarship examinations in Year 8.View the official source, or Harrow's own academic scholarship exams, in Year 8. Common Entrance is a set of exams that many prep schools teach towards, sat in June of Year 8. A boy whose school does not follow that course sits a core set instead: English, maths and science, plus French or Latin if he studies them. Harrow says there is no pass mark as such, but it hopes boys will average at least 65%Harrow School: Ce pass markChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: There is no Common Entrance pass mark per se. However, we would hope that applicants would achieve an average of 65% across all subjects, as a minimum.View the official source across their papers. The results also help decide which sets a boy starts in.

16+: Year 12 (Sixth Form)Harrow School: JoinsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: Each year, the School admits around 160 boys into Year 9, in the September following their 13th birthday, and up to 20 boys, normally aged 16, into Year 12 (Sixth Form).View the official source

Harrow takes up to 20Harrow School: PlacesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: Each year, the School admits up to 20 boys into Year 12, who are normally aged 16.View the official source boys into Year 12 each year. Registration for September 2027 entryHarrow School: Current cycleChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: 2027 ENTRYView the official source closed on 7 September 2026Harrow School: Registration deadline (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: | Applications to be received by | 7 September 2026 |View the official source. The school also runs a later round for late applicants, and its key dates page gives the timings. The 16+ includes:

  • subject papers set by the schoolHarrow School: Own subject papersChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: An applicant sits tests in two of his four chosen subjects, either at his school or at a dedicated test session at Harrow, during the Autumn term of Year 11.View the official source
  • an interviewHarrow School: InterviewChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: At this point, an applicant sits the third and fourth tests and has interviews with the Head Master and the Registrars.View the official source
  • other assessmentHarrow School: OtherChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: Shortlisted applicants are invited to an assessment day at Harrow, where they sit further tests, have interviews with members of the Senior Management Team , and attend a seminar with the Head of Subject of one of the School’s academic departments.View the official source: a seminar with a head of department
  • a reference from the current schoolHarrow School: ReferenceChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: We request a reference from his current head teacher, which should arrive by early November at the latest.View the official source
  • GCSE grade requirementsHarrow School: Gcse requirementsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: are likely to be predicted at least seven or eight passes at GCSE (or equivalent) at grade 7/8/9 (A/A*);View the official source

When he registers, a boy sends a CV and a short handwritten letter to the Head Master. He then chooses four subjects he hopes to study. He sits tests in two of them in the autumn term of Year 11, either at his own school or at Harrow. Boys on the shortlist come to Harrow for an assessment day, on one of two dates (7 November 2026 and 14 November 2026Harrow School: Assessment date (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: | Assessment for shortlisted candidates at Harrow | 7 or 14 November 2026 |View the official source). There they sit the other two subject tests, have interviews with the Head Master and senior staff, and join a seminar run by the head of one academic department.

His current head teacher's reference should reach Harrow by early November. Results come out in December 2026Harrow School: Offer date (2027)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: | Results | Mid December 2026 |View the official source. Successful boys are usually predicted a strong set of top GCSE grades, especially in the subjects they plan to take.

Key dates

13+ dates for September 2029 entry

Harrow School

  1. Done: Registration closes for 13+ entry

  2. Next: Scholarship applications close

    in about 109 weeks

    Only if you are applying for a scholarship

  3. Not published yet: Scholarship assessments

    Not yet published, checked 9 Oct 2026

    Only if you are applying for a scholarship

Dates for the other ways in16+

16+ entry, September 2027

  1. Done: Registration closes for 16+ entry

  2. Next: Entrance tests

  3. Coming up: Offers sent

    Expected

At a glance

Harrow School in brief

tap a value for its source

Ages
13 to 18AgesChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: A boarding school for boys aged 13 to 18View the official source
The ages the school teaches, from youngest to oldest.
Ways in
13+, 16+
The ages at which the school takes new pupils (4+, 11+ and so on).
Scholarships
6 kinds
Awards for a talent, such as academic work, music or sport.
Day or boarding
boarding school
Whether pupils go home each day or can live at the school.
Help with fees
Yes, up to 100%
Bursaries reduce fees for families on lower incomes, after a check of income and savings.
Registration fee
£450including VAT
Paid to the school when you register your child for its tests.

Fees

From £21,990 a term, including VAT
13+ entry, full boarding
£21,990 a term, including VAT
16+ entry, full boarding
£21,990 a term, including VAT

Fees for the 2026-27 school year, as the school publishes them. We never add or remove VAT.

fees shown include VAT

Registration fee: £450 (including VAT).

Source: Harrow School, checked

Joining atBoarding fee for 2026-27Harrow School: Academic yearChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: Fees for 2026/27View the official source
13+£21,990 per term, including VATHarrow School: BoardingChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: Termly fees are £21,990 (inclusive of VAT) and include board, tuition, textbooks, a stationery allowance and laundry, and are paid in advance by the first day of term.View the official source
16+£21,990 per term, including VATHarrow School: BoardingChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: Termly fees are £21,990 (inclusive of VAT) and include board, tuition, textbooks, a stationery allowance and laundry, and are paid in advance by the first day of term.View the official source

Every boy at Harrow is a full boarder, so the school has no day fee. One fee applies to every year group, and fees shown include VATHarrow School: Vat treatmentChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: Termly fees are £21,990 (inclusive of VAT) and include board, tuition, textbooks, a stationery allowance and laundry, and are paid in advance by the first day of term.View the official source. It covers boarding, teaching, textbooks, a stationery allowance and laundry. These are the fees Harrow publishes for 2026-27Harrow School: Academic yearChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: Fees for 2026/27View the official source. They change each year, so check the current figures before you plan.

Registration costs £450, including VATHarrow School: Registration feeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: Registration will be complete on payment of the non-refundable Registration Fee of £450 (inclusive of VAT).View the official source, and there is a lower fee for boys who apply for a scholarship only. When a family accepts a Year 9 place, it pays an entry deposit of £2,400Harrow School: Deposit boardingChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: An applicant who is offered and accepts a place at Harrow for Year 9 entry is asked to pay an Entry Deposit of £2,400 (inclusive of VAT).View the official source. A second, confirming deposit is due by the end of January in the year the boy starts, along with an acceptance fee that is not refunded. Families who live overseas pay an extra deposit too.

Bursaries and scholarships

Bursaries up to 100% of fees
Bursaries (help with fees)
Available, up to 100% of the fees. They depend on a check of household income and savings.
Scholarships
For academic, art, design and technology, drama, music and sport, at 13+ and 16+ entry, worth up to 5% of the fees.

Source: Harrow School, checked

  • Bursaries: means-tested bursaries availableHarrow School: AvailableChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: Financial support is available to boys via a means-tested bursary and is not necessarily dependent on being awarded a scholarship.View the official source
  • Largest bursary: 100%Harrow School: Max percentChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: Year 9 candidates can apply for a means-tested bursary, which can cover up to 100% of the School fees.View the official source of fees

A bursary at Harrow depends on a family's income and assets, and a boy does not need a scholarship to get one. Bursaries are open at both Year 9 and Year 12, but not to families who live overseas. Because the 13+ tests happen in Year 6, it makes sense to ask about a bursary when you register. Our bursaries guide explains how means-testing usually works.

Harrow offers academic scholarshipsHarrow School: AcademicChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: Yes, we offer up to 40-45 Academic, Music, Art, Sport, Drama and DTE (Design Technology and Engineering) scholarships each year, usually to a value of 5% of the School fees.View the official source, art scholarshipsHarrow School: ArtChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: Yes, we offer up to 40-45 Academic, Music, Art, Sport, Drama and DTE (Design Technology and Engineering) scholarships each year, usually to a value of 5% of the School fees.View the official source, design technology scholarshipsHarrow School: Design technologyChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: Yes, we offer up to 40-45 Academic, Music, Art, Sport, Drama and DTE (Design Technology and Engineering) scholarships each year, usually to a value of 5% of the School fees.View the official source, drama scholarshipsHarrow School: DramaChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: Yes, we offer up to 40-45 Academic, Music, Art, Sport, Drama and DTE (Design Technology and Engineering) scholarships each year, usually to a value of 5% of the School fees.View the official source, music scholarshipsHarrow School: MusicChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: Yes, we offer up to 40-45 Academic, Music, Art, Sport, Drama and DTE (Design Technology and Engineering) scholarships each year, usually to a value of 5% of the School fees.View the official source and sport scholarshipsHarrow School: SportChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: Yes, we offer up to 40-45 Academic, Music, Art, Sport, Drama and DTE (Design Technology and Engineering) scholarships each year, usually to a value of 5% of the School fees.View the official source. There are scholarships at 13+Harrow School: 13 plusChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: Boys can be invited to compete for one or more of the following awards: Academic, Sport, Drama, Music, Art and Design and Technology, for entry into either Year 9 or Year 12.View the official source and scholarships at 16+Harrow School: 16 plusChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: Year 12 Scholarships normally carry an award of 5% of the School fees and are awarded for academic, sporting, artistic or musical ability.View the official source. There is no all-rounder award. Each scholarship is worth 5%Harrow School: Max percentChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Harrow School.The source says: They are highly competitive and carry a value of 5% of the School fees.View the official source of the fees, so it is mainly a mark of a boy's talent. For real help with the cost, apply for a bursary as well.

Open days

Not published yet

Harrow lists its open mornings on its website, where families can book a place. We could not confirm the upcoming dates, so check the school's own pages for the next one.

Official documents and sources

12 sources, each kept as an archived copy

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