Charterhouse is one of England's original nine Clarendon Schools — a co-educational, predominantly boarding school set on 250 acres in Godalming, Surrey. With a heritage dating to 1611 and alumni including Robert Baden-Powell, William Makepeace Thackeray and Max Beerbohm, Charterhouse combines historic prestige with a thoroughly modern educational culture. Entry is at 13+ via Common Entrance, with the ISEB Pre-Test typically in Year 6 or 7.
About Charterhouse
Charterhouse is located at Charterhouse, Godalming, Surrey, GU7. The school educates around 800 pupils from Year 9 to the Sixth Form, with the vast majority boarding — a small number are day pupils from the local area. Since going co-educational in 2021, Charterhouse now admits both boys and girls, and the transition has been widely regarded as a considerable success.
The school has exceptional facilities across a magnificent parkland campus: science and arts buildings of a professional standard, outstanding sports facilities, and a music school that has produced prominent professional musicians. Academic results are strong, and the school sends pupils each year to Oxbridge and other leading universities.
The entry process
- Registration in Year 5 or early Year 6 — families should register their child when they are around 10–11 years old. As with all top boarding schools, early registration is advisable.
- ISEB Common Pre-Test — candidates sit the ISEB online Pre-Test (English, Mathematics, VR, NVR) at their prep school. Charterhouse uses the results to assess academic potential and to decide who to invite for further assessment.
- Charterhouse's own assessment — shortlisted candidates visit the school for academic papers and interviews with housemasters. The visit gives both parties the opportunity to assess fit with Charterhouse's culture and community.
- Conditional offer — successful candidates receive a conditional place, subject to passing Common Entrance at the required standard.
- Common Entrance in Year 8 — CE papers across major subjects. Charterhouse's conditional pass mark is typically around 60–65%.
Common Entrance subjects
CE for Charterhouse covers: English (comprehension and creative writing), Mathematics, Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), French, History, Geography, Religious Studies and Latin (recommended). Boys and girls who have broad, secure preparation across these subjects will meet the CE standard without excessive difficulty once they have a conditional offer.
Scholarships at Charterhouse
Charterhouse awards scholarships in academics, music, art, drama and sport. Academic scholars sit harder versions of the CE papers plus additional papers. Music scholars audition before the school; drama and sport scholars are assessed through activity-based trials. The Foundation also has a bursary programme for families who qualify for means-tested support.
When to start preparation
- Year 4–5: build English and Mathematics foundations; establish Latin if the prep school requires it; develop broad reading habits and co-curricular interests.
- Year 6–7: structured ISEB preparation and preparation for Charterhouse's own assessment papers and housemaster interviews.
- Year 7–8: systematic CE preparation across all subjects, with tutors supporting the weaker CE subjects.
Why choose Charterhouse?
Charterhouse offers a combination of historic prestige, excellent facilities, a genuine co-educational boarding community and strong academic and co-curricular outcomes. For families who want a top-tier English boarding school experience in a beautiful Surrey setting — and who prefer co-education to single-sex boarding — Charterhouse is one of the most compelling options in the country.
Its proximity to London (40 minutes to Waterloo) makes it particularly accessible for London and South-East England families, and it is a very popular destination for London prep school leavers.
Finding a tutor for Charterhouse preparation
Charterhouse preparation requires the standard two-phase approach: ISEB Pre-Test work in Years 6–7, and CE subject preparation in Years 7–8. The most commonly needed tutors at CE stage are for Mathematics, Sciences (particularly Physics and Chemistry) and Latin.
Search for tutors with Common Entrance and boarding school preparation experience on the parent portal.