Admissions
We look for pupils who will embrace Harrow School's values of courage, honour, humility and fellowship, and who have the potential to develop well towards a life of learning, leadership, service and personal fulfilment.
Our admissions criteria reflect these qualities, and our admissions process is designed to identify young people anywhere in the world who embody them. We are seeking pupils around the globe join us for the academic year beginning in September 2023.
To get started, familiarise yourself with our admissions criteria, sign up for a Virtual Event, or book a video call directly with our Admissions Department.
Admissions Criteria
To be admitted to Harrow School Online, pupils must demonstrate:
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Academic potential: We expect pupils to demonstrate a strong academic track-record and the potential for success at A level. This can be measured in a number of ways, for example by the pupil’s reference from their current school, predicted and/or actual GCSE or International GCSE grades, and Harrow School Online subject specific entrance tests and interviews. We elect pupils who can show a good academic potential. Pupils are normally expected to have obtained a GCSE grade of 7-8-9 (or equivalent) in the subjects they wish to take at A level.
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English proficiency: B2 on the CEFR (see 'Further Guidance' for more detail).
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Suitability for online study: Online education requires a degree of self-motivation and self-management.
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A good behavioural record and the potential for leadership.
We recognise that Covid-19 has caused disruption to education, academic records and grade outcomes, and so we welcome applications from candidates who may not have met one of the entry criteria due to such circumstances.
You can speak to one of our enrolment advisors to discuss whether Harrow School Online is right for your child.
Harrow School Online Application Process
Stage 1
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Fill in the Application Form with a written personal statement.
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If English is not the candidate’s first language, proof of their English proficiency level is required.
Stage 2
Register for an assessment window. Assessment includes an entrance test in each subject applied for, and an academic interview with a Head of Department from the School. The dates of the next assessment window can be found here.
Stage 3
An interview with the Principal. Shortly after this, the Admissions Panel will confirm whether an offer will be made.
See here for more information about our full-time Sixth Form programme and here for more information about our Individual A Levels.
Admissions Criteria Further Guidance
- English language requirements
- Key admissions dates
- Transferring from a non-UK Curriculum
- Pupils with a home-schooling background
- Re-starting Year 12
- Accelerated learners
- Joining late in the school year
English language requirements
English is the language of instruction and engagement at Harrow School Online. We set this English level at B2 on the CEFR to reflect the level of proficiency required to engage effectively with our academic programme.
Pupils who are native speakers of English or have been educated in a primarily English-speaking country for an extended period may be exempt from providing evidence of English language ability. All other pupils are required to demonstrate their language level in one of the following ways:
1. Submitting evidence of attainment on one of our approved English language tests when completing the application form. Please see the scores required below:
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PTE Academic: Overall score 58
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IELTS: Band 6.5
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TOEFL (IBT): 86
We recommend applicants prepare before taking an English language test. Exam preparation resources for the PTE Academic are available here.
2. Sit our in-house English test.
Harrow School Online partners with PTE Versant to provide a secure 50 minute English language test that candidates may take during one of our assessment windows. Information for test-takers and practice resources can be found here.
Applicants who do not meet the required level of English but meet all other entrance criteria should contact the admissions team to discuss their options.
We can recommend English support lessons to help candidates reach the required level prior to admission, and Harrow School Online offers support classes in English as an Additional Language (EAL) for an additional fee for those who need it, in combination with their Sixth Form studies.
Key admissions dates
Applications are now open for September 2023 admissions.
Places at Harrow School Online are limited, so interested pupils are encouraged to initiate an online application today.
Transferring from a non-UK Curriculum
We welcome applications from pupils around the world: approximately one third of our pupils previously studied a national or international curriculum other than the GCSE or IGCSE prior to joining. Our entrance tests have been carefully designed to assess the ability of prospective Online Harrovians regardless of the curriculum they previously followed.
All of our pupils will be provided with work to complete in the summer before they enrol at the School. This ensures that each pupil is well-prepared for their A Level studies.
Pupils with a home-schooling background
We welcome applications from pupils with alternative educational backgrounds, such as those that have attended online schools previously or been fully or partially home-schooled. Applicants with complex educational histories can contact the admissions team for an initial discussion.
Re-starting Year 12
We welcome applications from pupils who have begun their A Level studies, or equivalent, at another school and wish to re-start their sixth-form studies with us.
These applicants may be fast-tracked to interview stage if they have a grade of 7 or above in the subjects they wish to take with us for A Level. We may also be able to offer access to the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) programme prior to the pupil joining us, if they apply before the start of the Spring Term.
Contact the admissions team to discuss.
Accelerated learners
Accelerated learners are welcome, and many of our applicants have previously been accelerated a school year. We encourage applicants with complex educational histories - such as those that have been accelerated multiple years, or who read certain subjects at a greatly accelerated level in relation to their peers - to contact the admissions team before applying.
Our ethos of individualised learning means that we can generally support the specific learning needs of those pupils who are working at a level more advanced than their academic year.
Joining late in the school year
We do not accept transfers mid-way through the programme (Upper Sixth or Year 13), and it is rare for pupils to transfer to the School part way through Year 12.
For those few pupils applying to transfer during Year 12, they must have attained all 8s and 9s in their GCSEs and must have been studying the same subjects they wish to take at A Level with Harrow School Online at their previous school.
For pupils applying to transfer to Harrow School Online later in the academic year, we may recommend that they re-start the first year of their A Levels with us from the following September.
We encourage applicants with complex educational histories to contact the admissions team for an initial discussion.