Public School Application
The application for top public schools needs to start 3-4 years in advance. Over the years, We have helped many students successfully get offers from Eton, Harrow, Westminster and also St Paul's, Winchester, Tonbridge, Rugby and many other top private schools.
What is public school?
A public school in England and Wales (but not Scotland) is a fee-charging endowed school originally for older boys that was "public" in the sense of being open to pupils irrespective of locality, denomination or paternal trade or profession. Although the term "public school" has been in use since at least the 18th century, its usage was formalised by the Public Schools Act 1868, which put into law most recommendations of the 1864 Clarendon Report. Nine prestigious schools were investigated by Clarendon, and seven subsequently reformed by the Act: Eton, Shrewsbury, Harrow, Winchester, Rugby, Westminster, and Charterhouse.
Public schools have had a strong association with the ruling classes. Historically, the sons of officers and senior administrators of the British Empire were educated in England while their fathers were on overseas postings. In 2019, two-thirds of Cabinet Ministers had been educated at such fee-charging schools, although a slim majority of cabinet ministers since 1964 were educated at state schools.
Public school admission process and requirements
Prospective students need to be registered for a place when in Year 5 of their current school. Taking Eaton College as an example, the current enrolment process and entry requirements are as follows:
A boy can be registered at any time up to 30 June in UK School Year 5 (the UK academic year in which he reaches the age of 10 years), for example:
For 2024 entry a boy needs to be registered by 30 June 2021
For 2025 entry a boy needs to be registered by 30 June 2022
Stage 1: ISEB Common Pre-Tests
All boys sit the ISEB Common Pre-Tests during October or November, either at their current school or at an agreed centre. Eton will also request a Head Teacher’s report covering a boy’s academic strengths, interests and character.
The online ISEB Common Pre-Tests are multiple choice, covering Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, English and Mathematics. Each boy’s score is standardised and age-adapted to give a measure of his ability and attainment irrespective of when his birthday falls in the academic year. The tests take about two and a half hours to complete and can be taken together or separately; more information is available on the ISEB website.
Eton will review the results of the Pre-Tests and the Head Teacher’s report and select boys to go forward to Stage 2, communicating outcomes of Stage 1 in December.
Stage 2: Eton Test
Boys who are successful at Stage 1 come to Eton for assessment in the following age groups:
Boys for whom significant financial aid is requested will be assessed in mid-January
Boys with birthdays between September and the first half of December will be assessed in late January/early February
Boys with birthdays between the second half of December and March will be assessed in late February/early March
Boys with birthdays between April and August will be assessed in late April/early May
The assessment will consist of an individual interview and an online predictive test of academic ability and potential on a computer (minimal IT skills required).
Eton will publish results for each of the above groups in March, May and July respectively, taking into account all aspects of each application.
Stage 3: Post-Assessment
Eton will offer boys who are successful at Stage 2 a Conditional Place, confirmed by passing King’s Scholarship, Common Entrance or Eton Entrance examinations at age 12/13 in UK School Year 8.
Parents and boys with a Conditional Place meet a selection of House Masters with a view to finding a suitable boarding house during the first and second terms of UK School Year 7.
Parents wishing to accept a Conditional Place offer will be required to pay the Acceptance Fee.
Eton will also offer some boys a Waiting List Place and, if they accept, invite them to come back to Eton in the Summer term of UK School Year 7 for a further assessment. Each year we accept a number of boys on the Waiting List into the school; the number varies from year to year.
How can we help you?
We are specialised in helping place students into the best suitable schools, and we have a far-leading success rate and experience among local educational institutions in the UK. After evaluating the students, we give professional advices and offer the most suitable public school application plan for the students based on the their requirement. In the past few years, we communicate closely with the public school admissions teams, coordinate examinations and related arrangements at all stages, also we guide students how to prepare for the assessments efficiently. We have successfully sent students to Eton , Harrow , Westminster, St. Paul's, Winchester, Tonbridge , Charterhouse, Shrewsbury, Radley and other well-known public schools.