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Harrow School

Harrow School is a prestigious boys' boarding school for ages 13 to 18, offering a broad education with strong university progression.

HarrowSeniorBoysAges 13–18Boarding831 pupils
Boarding fees
Fees TBC
How competitive entry is
Iseb Pretest + Common EntranceCompetitive entry
Pupils
831
Founded
1572
Next deadline
Open day: Thu, 1 Oct 2026
Verified 1 month agosource
Houseroom Index 2026
80.4/100· ranked #28 of UK independents
78% data confidence·v2026.4.0
How is this calculated? →
Pillar breakdown
Academic outcomes80
Destinations & outcomes94
Future-readiness55
Pastoral & wellbeing82
Pupil flourishing65
Value-add72
Access & breadth90
Parent sentiment70
External consensus85

Get your personalised Fit Score — tell us about your child to see how well this school matches your priorities.

Our take

Independent boys senior school in Harrow for ages 13–18. Selective entry, Church of England ethos.

Best for
Who thrives here
  • Families seeking a senior school for ages 13–18, with thinking already on 11+ or 13+ entry.
  • Parents who want a single-sex environment for their son.
  • Families who value a Church of England ethos in school life.
  • Children who can demonstrate strong academics at entry assessment — this is a selective school.
Watch-outs
Know before applying
  • Fees aren't published. Treat published external fee comparisons with caution and ask admissions directly before shortlisting.
  • Selective entry — assume some form of assessment at the relevant entry point. Plan tutoring or familiarisation early if needed.
  • The Church of England ethos shapes assemblies, holidays and pastoral life. Comfortable for committed families; worth thinking about for those of other or no faith.
  • SEND provision isn't documented in our profile. If your child has an EHCP or specific learning needs, ask admissions about case-by-case capacity before applying.
AI-generated guidance

About the head

Stet Fortuna Domus

Courage, Honour, Humility, Fellowship help us to make decisions from day-to-day that mean we behave and perform better, inspiring us to try harder as individuals, so that we collectively thrive.
Courage, Honour, Humility and Fellowship

Facilities

boarding

Houses (12)

academic

Rendalls Library

wellbeing

Chaplaincy24/7 Medical CentreClinical PsychologistCounselling ServicesPastoral Support CommitteeFull-time Clinical PsychologistPastoral Care TeamFull-time Counsellors (2)

Latest exam results

70%
A-level A*–A
75%
GCSE 9–7
7%
Oxbridge offer rate
100%
Russell Group rate

Data from 2024 results

Where leavers go

7%
to Oxbridge (2026)
2026202520242023
Cohort182129110129
Oxbridge1310142
Russell Group129613
US Ivy6161615
Top universities (2026)
US universities34
Global top 10 universities68
Global top 100 universities318

Recent coverage

In 2025, Harrow School's Upper Sixth achieved outstanding A-Level results, with nearly one-third of grades awarded at A*, over 65% at A* or A, and almost 90% at A*–B. Notably, five pupils secured five or more A* grades, 12 obtained four or more A* grades, 25 earned three or more A* grades, and 83 achieved three or more A*–A grades. The school's GCSE results were also impressive, with over 40% of entries graded at 9, approximately 66% at grades 9–8, and 16 students achieving 10 or more grade 9s, while 24 students secured 9 or more grade 9s. In February 2024, an Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) inspection confirmed that Harrow School met all standards across leadership, education quality, well-being, and safeguarding. (findmyschool.uk) Regarding leadership, there were no specific reports of changes between 2024 and 2026. Similarly, there were no notable building projects or other significant developments reported during this period.

Notable alumni

Winston Churchill (Prime Minister)Lord Byron (poet)Benedict Cumberbatch (actor)James Blunt (musician)Robert Clive (British officer)Jawaharlal Nehru (Prime Minister of India)Anthony Trollope (novelist)Simon Sebag Montefiore (historian)Tom Hiddleston (actor)
Recommended next step

Open day available

Harrow School has confirmed events. Book a visit, then save the school so you don't miss the registration window.

Fit for your child

How well does Harrow School match?

Tell us your child's age, location, needs and entry point. We'll score commute, academics, support, budget and culture against schools in Harrow.

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Application timeline

1 of 6 admissions stages have confirmed dates. Save this school to be notified when dates are published.

Open dayTBC
12 Open Mornings per academic year, 9am-1pmExpected window — exact date not yet publishedOpen Morning
Registration opensNot published
Not published
Registration closesPassed
1 Jul 2025
Bursary deadlineNot published
Not published
AssessmentConfirmed
1 Jan 2027
InterviewNot published
Not published
OffersPassed
1 May 2026
Acceptance deadlineNot published
Not published
Registration windows
YearOpensClosesReply byStatus
TBCTBC1 Jul 2025TBCClosed
2026-27TBC7 Sept 2026TBCClosed
2027-28TBC1 Jan 2027TBCTbc
2028-29TBC1 Jan 2027TBCOpen
2029-30TBC1 Jul 2026TBCOpen

Open events

Scholarship Exam
Wed, 30 Sept 2026
Sport Scholarship Application Deadline
Open Day
Thu, 1 Oct 2026
Druries House Dinner October 2026
Open Day
Thu, 1 Oct 2026
Rendalls House Dinner October 2026
Visit
Thu, 15 Oct 2026
8:00 pm – 12:00 am
Forty Years On Songs and Dinner
Visit
Thu, 15 Oct 2026
8:00 pm – 12:00 am
Druries House Dinner October 2026
Visit
Thu, 15 Oct 2026
8:00 pm – 12:00 am
Rendalls House Dinner October 2026
Scholarship Exam
Fri, 13 Nov 2026
Sport Scholarship Assessment Day
Deadline
Sun, 22 Nov 2026
Academic/Art/Drama/DTE/Music Scholarship Application Deadline
Dates to be confirmed
Assessment day at Harrow in November (early November) with interviews and subject testsearly November
Dates TBC
Open MorningOpen Mornings run from 9am until 1pm — 12 per academic year. Recommended for families visiting when boys are in Years 4 or 5.
Dates TBC
Open Morning12 Open Mornings per academic year, 9am-1pm
Dates TBC
Assessment day at Harrow in early March for Late Applicantsearly March
Dates TBC

Private tours and additional visits available by arrangement — contact admissions to arrange.

Fees

£63,735per year · Full Boarding · 2025-26
VAT-inclusive estimate £63,735Published as VAT-inclusiveYear 7-13 projection £503,398
vs London avg (£24,000)166% above

Bursaries & Scholarships

Max award
100%
Recipients
147
Means-tested
Yes
Scholarships
13
high confidence data
Scholarships by category & award sizeView full bursary & scholarship guide

Excerpts

Harrow did until recently seem to have the mantle of grater focus on sport than academics, but the rugby teams are all getting trounced this year at every age group and from A to D teams.

Academic reputation — parent discussion
Academic reputation — parent discussion

The primary reason Harrow falls behind in popularity is because it isn't as academically demanding. That isn't necessarily a damning thing. School is a lot more than just academics and if the fit feels as though they have the balance right for what you are looking for, I...

Pastoral care — parent discussion

Connect with fellow parents of boarding school students on our supportive forum. Share experiences, tips, and insights. We have no prior connections to the school and yes the local area (outside the immediate “Hill”) is very far from being genteel, but that isn’t a deal breaker...

House system

Pupils are organised into houses for pastoral and competitive life.

Wellbeing

SAFEGUARDING POLICY SEPTEMBER 2025 CONTENTS SAFEGUARDING POLICY 1 KEY CONTACTS 1 POLICY STATEMENT AND PRINCIPLES 2 KEY POINTS 2 INTRODUCTION 2 THE SCHOOL’S CORE SAFEGUARDING PRINCIPLES 3 TERMINOLOGY 3 CONTEXTUAL SAFEGUARDING 3 ADULTIFICATION AND PARENTIFICATION 3 SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT 4 SAFEGUARDING IN HARROW SCHOOL 4 GUIDING PRINCIPLES 4 POLICY AIMS 4 THE SCHOOL’S COMMITMENT 5 CONFIDENTIALITY 5 SAFEGUARDING LEGISLATION AND GUIDANCE 5 CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURES 6 RECOGNISING ABUSE 7 PHYSICAL ABUSE 7 EMOTIONAL ABUSE 7 SEXUAL

Inspection

Isi 6 Feb 2024

One inspection report on file. Worth reading before booking a visit — covers safeguarding, leadership and overall standard.

Standards met
Read full ISI report →

Term dates 2025-26

autumn2 Sept 20256 Dec 2025Half-term 17 Oct 2025–29 Oct 2025
spring5 Jan 202628 Mar 2026Half-term 13 Feb 2026–22 Feb 2026
summer20 Apr 202627 Jun 2026Half-term 23 May 2026–31 May 2026

Feeder schools

Policies & documents

Schools like Harrow School

Ranked by semantic similarity across curriculum, ethos, intake and admissions style. Most parents shortlist 4–6 schools before applying.

70%

The Harrodian School

Richmond upon Thames · All Through · Ages 4–18
£20,085 – £30,870
69%

St John's School

Hillingdon · All Through · Ages 3–13
£11,760 – £22,365
68%

Holland House School

Barnet · Pre Prep · Ages 3–11
£11,850
68%

The John Lyon School

Harrow · All Through · Ages 2–18
£28,248
65%

Alpha Preparatory School

Harrow · Prep · Ages 3–11
£5,052 – £18,654
65%

Highgate School

Haringey · All Through · Ages 4–18
£28,929 – £31,575

Questions parents ask

Common questions about Harrow School, answered from this school’s structured profile data. Always confirm specifics with admissions before applying.

What kind of child is Harrow School best for?+

Independent boys senior school in Harrow for ages 13–18. Selective entry, Church of England ethos.

How does admissions work?+

Admissions are selective — expect an entrance assessment at the relevant entry point. Plan tutoring or familiarisation early. See the admissions timeline above for confirmed dates.

Are fees published?+

Yes — see the Fees table further down the page. Add extras (uniform, trips, lunches, music tuition, registration fees) on top of the base figure before budgeting.

Does the school support SEND?+

SEND provision isn't documented in our profile. If your child has identified needs, contact admissions early to discuss capacity.

Are there open days?+

4 upcoming open days or tours — see the admissions timeline. Booking is usually required.

How do I contact admissions?+

email at admissions@harrowschool.org.uk or phone on +44 (0)20 8872 8000. Reference your child's age and intended entry year in the first message.

What similar schools should I compare?+

We've ranked 6 schools by semantic similarity to Harrow School — see the "Schools like Harrow School" grid below. Most parents shortlist 4–6 schools before applying.

Enrichment last updated 11 May 2026. Sources include the school’s official site, Wikipedia, Good Schools Guide, Tatler, and Sunday Times Parent Power.

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