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Year 9 (13+) Entry Process

Year 9 Entry – From September 2027

Many families may look to move their child in Year 9 (13+ Entry), recognising their current environment is not as suitable for their daughter as they would like. Moving in Year 9 also provides an opportunity to benefit from the outstanding educational provision at Surbiton High School, prior to the commencement of GCSEs, with pupils settling into the year, building friendships and developing confidence before beginning their GCSEs. It provides the ideal balance between a fresh start and a strong foundation for future academic success.

With smaller class sizes, specialist teaching and exceptional pastoral care, pupils quickly become part of a vibrant and ambitious community where they are known, challenged and supported.

Places for Year 9 entry are very limited. Book our next Open Day on Saturday, 19 September, 2026. This event provides a great opportunity for you to speak with all our subject teachers, Admissions Team, Senior Leadership Team and find out more about other core aspects of our provision.

WHY JOIN IN YEAR 9?

Year 9 is a natural transition point in a pupil’s educational journey. By joining before GCSE studies begin, your child will have the opportunity to:

Experience our broad and inspiring curriculum before selecting GCSE options

Benefit from smaller class sizes and individual attention

Develop confidence and independence within a supportive environment

Access an exceptional range of co-curricular opportunities

Build strong relationships with teachers and peers before entering Key Stage 4

Many families tell us that moving before GCSEs gives their child the time and space to settle, thrive and make the most of the opportunities available throughout the Senior School.

KEY DATES FOR SEPTEMBER 2027 ENTRY

Saturday Open Event: 19 September 2026 – BOOK NOW

Applications close: 2 November 2026

Entrance Exam: Saturday 21 November 2026

Interviews: Early January 2027

Offers: Beginning of February 2027

Offer Holder Day: February 2027 (date to TBD)

Acceptance Date: 2 March 2027

ENTRANCE ASSESSMENT

Candidates for Year 9 entry are invited to complete age-appropriate English and Mathematics assessments and attend an interview with a member of the Senior Leadership Team. The process is designed to help us understand each pupil’s academic potential, interests and aspirations. The assessment will be sat in the School, and pupils will be provided with a computer, where necessary.

ENTRANCE EXAMINATION

Mathematics: The mathematics paper is a 45-minute, handwritten paper which will demonstrate a candidate’s ability in core skills and their aptitude for the Maths curriculum at Surbiton High School. The paper covers three sections: non-calculator knowledge, awareness of patterns and calculator-based questions.

English: The English paper will be handwritten and will consist of a text review and comprehension-based tasks.

INTERVIEW

Candidates will be selected for the second stage of the process – a one-to-one interview with a senior member of staff, discussing the candidate’s motivations for joining Surbiton High School, their interests and hobbies, and exploring a piece of unseen academic material in depth.

This will allow us to meet applicants and gain a holistic understanding of every child. It is also an opportunity for candidates to find out more about Surbiton High School. There is no need for your daughter to prepare for the group interview. The interviews will take place at Surbiton High School in early January.

REGISTRATION PROCESS FOR 2027 ENTRY

The timeline for the Registration process for Year 9 2027 entry is as follows:

APPLICATIONS

Applications for Year 9 2027 entry close at 12.00 noon on Monday, 2 November 2026.
For all applications, a registration fee of £200 (including VAT), or £250 (including VAT) if applying from overseas, must be paid.
As part of the admissions process, we will contact each applicant’s current school ahead of the Entrance Examination to request a confidential report on their academic achievements and potential.

ENTRANCE ASSESSMENT – EXAM & INTERVIEW

The Entrance Examination will take place on Saturday, 21 November 2026. Candidates will be tested on their English and Mathematics ability.
All candidates will be invited to take part in the second part of the process, a one-to-one interview. These sessions will take place at Surbiton High School in early January 2027 and will be led by senior members of staff.

OUTCOME

We aim to inform all candidates of the outcome of their application as soon as possible, typically around the beginning of February.

OFFER HOLDER DAY

Successful candidates will be invited to our Offer Holder Day in February 2027. This day will not form part of the assessment process but will allow candidates to learn more about the Senior School by experiencing the teaching, ethos, and our approach to learning. This day will also offer the opportunity to meet the Year 9 team, subject departments, and peers.

ACCEPTANCE

Acceptance paperwork should be returned to the School by 12.00 noon on Tuesday, 2 March 2027, along with a non-refundable deposit paid via BACS.
Once you have accepted the place, we look forward to welcoming your daughter to the Surbiton High School Community. Further information on induction days and forthcoming events to aid your daughter’s transition into Year 9 at Surbiton High School will be sent to you.

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

Places for Year 9 entry are limited, and availability varies each year. We encourage families considering a move before GCSEs to visit us during our open day on Saturday 19 September 2026.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is Year 9 a good time to move schools?

Year 9 is an excellent and natural point to move schools. It is typically the final opportunity for pupils to make a transition before beginning their GCSEs – this allows time for your child to settle academically and socially before the full GCSE courses start. The early preparation for some GCSEs also takes place in Year 9, including Biology, Chemistry, French, Geography, German, Physics and Spanish.

Joining Surbiton High School in Year 9 will enable your child to integrate fully into the School community, build confidence, and establish strong relationships with teachers and peers. This period provides valuable continuity into GCSE years, ensuring pupils are well supported and able to make the most of the breadth of academic and co-curricular opportunities available.

Can I apply for a bursary or scholarship?

Unfortunately, bursaries and scholarships are not available for Year 9 entry into the School. However, all pupils will be given the opportunity to apply for bursaries and scholarships on entry into Year 12.

How will my child settle into Year 9?

Surbiton High School provides an induction day for all Year 9 pupils in the summer term of Year 8. This gives pupils an early opportunity to become familiar with expectations and meet key staff.

We also ensure that Year 9 form groups are mixed to help pupils build new friendships and broaden their social connections. In addition, a residential is planned, supporting pupils in getting to know their peers and settling into the new year group in a structured and positive way.

How many children will you take in?

Owing to increased demand for places, we have opened a seventh form for the Year 9 cohort joining in 2027. This will enable an additional 24 pupils to join Surbiton High School. As places are limited, we encourage families to apply early.

What happens if I withdraw - will I lose my deposit?

All deposits paid are non-refundable. Please refer to Section 6 of the Terms and Conditions for further information regarding deposits and withdrawal notice requirements

How are GCSE options chosen?

GCSE options are chosen in the Spring Term of Year 9, allowing new pupils to have a term’s worth of subject teaching before choosing their GCSE subjects. Pupils will usually take 10 GCSEs, including English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Combined Science (worth two GCSEs) or Triple Science (worth three GCSEs), and usually a language (French, German, Latin and Spanish).

Can we still apply if my daughter sat for Year 7 entry?

Yes, we understand motivations behind school selection and circumstances can change, alongside children’s academic development occurring at different speeds.

What if my child is currently at a state school?

We regularly have applicants and offer places to pupils in state schools, and so do not be discouraged if your daughter does not have experience of the independent sector. We have a very balanced mix of pupils in the school from both the independent and state system. All assessments will be age-appropriate.

Will you contact my current school? What info do I need to provide?

Yes, we will contact your current school for a school report and reference for your child.

Will my daughter get extra time in the examination if she has additional learning needs?

We consider each individual’s learning needs and offer appropriate support for the Entrance Examination, where the candidate has been assessed by an Educational or Occupational Psychologist.

If a special arrangement (such as extra time, a laptop, a scribe or reader) exists in order for her to sit examinations, please let us know when you apply and provide copies of any assessment or report that is available at application. Our Head of Learning Enrichment will then assess her requirements and confirm the support available prior to the Entrance Examination.

Do you offer sibling discount?

If you have more than one child attending any of the three Surbiton High Schools at the same time, they will be eligible for a sibling discount. The discount for the second sibling is 5%, rising to 10% for the third and any subsequent siblings.

For avoidance of doubt, the first child is always the eldest, the second child is always the second eldest etc., irrespective of the order in which they enrol at the School.

How competitive is entry?

Surbiton High School is a selective school, and with only 24 places available for Year 9 entry each academic year, admission is highly competitive.

WHEN DO WE GET THE OUTCOME OF THE ENTRANCE EXAMINATION?

We aim to inform all candidates of the outcome of the Entrance Examination typically around the beginning of February.

It has been a privilege to see how much my daughter has grown in confidence and ability, both personally and academically at Surbiton High School. The focus on the child as a whole and where they need to be in the future set the school apart from others we considered.

Senior School Parent