13+ Entry

An enquiry record and a prospectus request can be made at any time up to the closing date relevant to a child’s year of entry.

Open Day – These take place in the Summer Term of Year 4 and invitations will be sent to families who have made an initial enquiry at the College. There is an opportunity to tour the College, visit a boarding house and meet with the Master, members of the Senior Management Team including the Director of Admissions, Heads of Departments, Housemasters and Housemistresses.

Individual Visit – For those who make an enquiry about the College after the Open Day has taken place, arrangements for an individual visit to view the College can be made at a time to suit.

House Visit Day – In Year 5, families are welcome to attend a House Visit Day during the Michaelmas or Summer Term of Year 5. This event is an opportunity for families to view two boarding houses and meet current pupils, Housemasters, Housemistresses and the Director of Admissions.

Registrations can be accepted at any point up until the deadline date for entry (9th October of Year 6 or Year 7) and require completion and return of a registration form along with a registration fee of £300. For more information, please contact the Admissions Department at admissions@marlboroughcollege.org.

Families will receive an invitation to the Admissions Day which takes place in the Michaelmas Term in Year 6. This event occurs shortly before the closing date of enrolment for assessment.

The Admissions Day includes an optional tour of the school, talks by the Master, senior pupils and the Director of Admissions, and a viewing of up to two boarding houses meeting with respective Housemasters or Housemistresses and current pupils. Members of the Senior Management Team, Heads of Departments and Housemasters and Housemistresses are available to meet.

For those wishing their child to be assessed in Year 7, these events will happen a year later.

For those enrolling for assessment and interview in Year 6, the closing date is in the Michaelmas Term, Year 6.

For those enrolling for assessment and interview in Year 7, the closing date is in the Michaelmas Term, Year 7.

The Admissions Department should be contacted directly by families who wish to enquire about late entry in Year 8.

The closing date for applications relating to bursarial support is 1st September of the academic year in which the child wishes to be assessed. Further information about bursaries can be found here. Bursary allocation will be made primarily for those who are assessed and interviewed in Year 6. A smaller fund will be available for those being assessed in Year 7.

Entry assessment:  Enrolled applicants will be invited to an assessment day which takes place during the Lent Term of Year 6 (or the Lent Term of Year 7 or Year 8 for later applications). The College aims to make the entry assessment day as pressure-free as possible. On the day there are two short writing tasks (no preparation is required), an interview with a Housemaster or Housemistress, an interview with a boarding house tutor and some informal group activities.

College place offers: As a result of the current Head’s reference, the ISEB Pre-Tests and the assessment day and interviews, confirmed list and waiting list College place offers are made towards the end of the Lent Term of Year 6 (or end of Lent Term of Year 7 or Year 8 for later applications).

House place offers: Families whose child has a confirmed list College place will be invited to a final House Visit Day which will take place in the Summer Term of Year 6. The focus of this event is for families to tour boarding houses and meet with Housemasters and Housemistresses in order to request their final preferred boarding house choices for their child. After the event and before the end of the Summer Term in Year 6, parents will be asked to submit their preferred first, second and third choice of boarding houses. House place offers will then be made early in the Michaelmas Term of Year 7.

For those assessed in Year 7 or Year 8, boarding house preferences will be taken into account during allocation, although availability will vary year on year.

Incoming pupils will be invited to an Experience Day to meet with each other and try out an activity of choice – Academic, Art, DT, Drama or Music. It is a chance to get to know the College environment a little better and a useful orientation day for those who may be contemplating a scholarship application.

Scholarships applications are invited for in the following subjects:  Academic, Art, Design Technology, Drama and Music.  Awards in Sport can also be applied for.  Those who hold a Sports Award during Year 9 at the College, will be assessed for a Sports scholarship starting Year 10.

Only children holding an A list place can apply. Scholarships at Marlborough are not related to bursarial support. Children who are successful in gaining a scholarship will be offered an enhanced programme of mentoring and enrichment once they join the College. Scholarship examinations and assessments take place at Marlborough College during the Michaelmas and Lent Terms of Year 8.

Further details about scholarships, eligibility and requirements can be found in the Scholarship Prospectus.

Children with a confirmed list place and their families are invited by their future Housemaster or Housemistress to a summer social event in Year 8. This is a chance for incoming pupils to meet with their fellow housemates and families.

New pupils to Marlborough College are welcomed in the Michaelmas Term of Year 9.