Founded in 1611, Charterhouse is one of the great historic public schools of England. With four centuries of history behind it, the school is committed to being at the forefront of educational progress in the twenty-first century. Located in Godalming, Surrey, the school became fully co-educational in September 2021 and now welcomes pupils from 13 to 18. Charterhouse offers a broad education combining academic ambition with extensive opportunities in sport, music, drama, the arts and other co-curricular activities.
Charterhouse is academically selective, but its admissions process is not based solely on examination performance. The school describes its approach as a ‘complete child’ philosophy, considering each applicant’s academic ability alongside their character, interests, talents and personality.
Charterhouse has several entry points, including 11+, 13+, 14+ and 16+. There are two main entrance points, in Year 9 (13+) and Year 12 (16+), although Charterhouse also admit around 20 pupils in Year 10, at the start of the GCSE course. The application process and assessments vary depending on the age at which a pupil wishes to join. All admissions though are by assessment, which is competitive, and contingent on performance at interview, as well as a positive reference from the candidate’s current school.
How to get into Charterhouse School
Entering in Year 9 (13 Plus):
For applicants following the Year 6 or Year 7 pathway, the first stage is the ISEB Common Pre-Test. Read our guide to the ISEB pre-tests and how to prepare.
The ISEB Common Pre-Test is an age-standardised online assessment covering:
- English
- Mathematics
- Verbal Reasoning
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
The results are considered alongside a reference from the candidate’s current school. Charterhouse then selects candidates to progress to the next stage.
Successful candidates are invited to an Interview and Activities Assessment at Charterhouse during the Spring Term.
The assessment is designed to give the school an opportunity to get to know prospective pupils and includes:
- Group activities
- An interview
- A written assessment
The written assessment is a piece of creative writing.
The interview is intended to help Charterhouse understand each candidate as an individual. Pupils should be prepared to talk naturally about their interests, school life, academic subjects, reading, activities outside the classroom and why they would like to join Charterhouse. However, the school's current selection criteria make clear that it is looking for much more than a pupil who simply performs well academically. Independence, enthusiasm, curiosity, character and a willingness to make the most of the school's opportunities are also important.
Charterhouse accepts around 125 pupils each year into Year 9.
What questions do Charterhouse ask at interview?
As with many school interviews, the Charterhouse version seeks to explore the following:
- Family (e.g. What do you like to do on the weekend as a family?)
- School (e.g. What do you most enjoy about your current school?)
- Academic Learning (e.g. What is your favourite subject and why?)
- Reading (e.g. Do you enjoy reading?)
- Extracurricular (e.g. What activities do you get involved in at school outside of the classroom?)
- Hobbies (e.g. What do you do in your spare time at outside of school?)
- Charterhouse (e.g. Why would you like to come to Charterhouse?)
Entering in Year 12 (Sixth Form Entry):
Around 70 pupils join Charterhouse in Year 12, joining an existing year group of approximately 180 pupils. Sixth Form pupils, known as Specialists, can study either A levels or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and can join as day pupils or boarders. Competition for places is strong.
Charterhouse expects successful candidates to achieve a high proportion of grades 8 and 9 at (I)GCSE or equivalent. However, subject choices for A levels and higher-level IB subjects may depend on particular GCSE grades.
16+ Entrance Process
After registering, candidates complete a series of online tests. The tests are designed to assess academic potential through a range of skills including literacy, numeracy and reasoning.
Successful candidates are then invited to an Assessment Day at Charterhouse.
The Assessment Day includes:
- An observed seminar
- A short written exercise
- A one-to-one interview
The purpose is to assess candidates' potential contribution to the school and to get to know them as individuals.
Charterhouse Scholarships
Charterhouse offers scholarships at both 13+ and 16+. Scholarships are awarded through open competition and are based on merit, recognising pupils who demonstrate excellence and outstanding potential in their chosen field.
At 13+, scholarships are available across a broad range of areas. A list of scholarships currently available at Charterhouse can be found on their website.
What is Charterhouse looking for?
Charterhouse describes its admissions approach as the ‘complete child’. The school provides a holistic view of education that appeals to parents looking for a less exam-focused academic approach that nevertheless still provides for some of the best examination results in the sector.
This means that academic ability is important, but it is not the only consideration. The school is looking for pupils who are academically ambitious, independent, intellectually curious and enthusiastic about getting involved in school life.
At 13+, Charterhouse says it wants pupils who are prepared to challenge themselves academically, socially, artistically and athletically. It also considers qualities such as independence, moral courage and kindness.
At 16+, the school places particular emphasis on academic ability and ambition, intellectual curiosity and the ability to take ownership of learning. Successful candidates should be comfortable thinking critically, engaging in discussion and exploring ideas in depth.
This means that preparation for Charterhouse should go beyond practising entrance-test questions. Candidates should develop strong academic foundations while also reading widely, pursuing their interests and becoming confident discussing what they enjoy and why.
The school’s historic buildings and beautiful large campus are inspirational providing an excellent environment for its pupils’ development.
Music, sport and drama are fundamental to the school character, rather than add-ons, and this incorporation of the arts more broadly is reflected in the breadth of its curriculum. The offering of both A Levels and the IB along with its proximity to London have also proved to be extremely popular with families. It is considered as one of the best all round schools in the country.
Is Charterhouse hard to get into?
Charterhouse is a selective school and competition for places is strong, particularly at 13+ and 16+. The school therefore recommends that families begin the admissions process early.
For 13+ entry, the Year 6 and Year 7 application pathways provide the opportunity to secure an offer earlier, while the Year 8 route has a more limited number of places. Families who miss a deadline should contact the Admissions team rather than assuming that a place is unavailable, as Charterhouse also operates an occasional places process.
The key to a successful application is not simply achieving strong marks in the entrance tests. Candidates should demonstrate the academic potential, curiosity, independence and character that Charterhouse is seeking, while being able to show genuine enthusiasm for the opportunities available at the school.
How Keystone Tutors can help with Charterhouse admissions
Keystone Tutors has extensive experience helping families prepare for entry to leading UK independent schools, including Charterhouse.
Our tutors can support pupils preparing for the 13 plus common entrance, the ISEB pre-test and 16 plus entrance to Charterhouse. Preparation can be tailored to a child's individual strengths and areas for development, with the aim of building both the academic skills and confidence required for a competitive application including interview skills, admissions tests and creative writing.
For more information about how Keystone can help with preparation for Charterhouse, please contact our team or complete our request a tutor form.