Admissions overview

We have 8 senior boys’ boarding Houses, 5 senior girls’ boarding Houses and 1 mixed junior boarding House, alongside our 2 senior day Houses and 1 junior day House. While some families have a clear preference for a particular House (perhaps due to a family connection), many look to us for guidance. We take each child’s individual needs and interests into account to ensure that Houses have a broad and balanced mix of pupils. Meeting a Housemaster or Housemistress and having a tour of a boarding House are essential parts of visiting Oundle, whether on an Open Day or during an individual visit. You can express a House preference when you register your child, but it is by no means essential. Regardless of which House they join, we always find children come to believe that their House is the best!

Past papers are available on the website for 11+/12+ and 13+ entry and can be found here. These papers are designed to challenge pupils in an enjoyable, stimulating and productive way. We do not expect, or even wish for, pupils to have been specifically tutored or prepared; we are looking for bright, open minded young people who have a real love of learning, who are intellectually curious and who want to make the most of the opportunities offered to them. All candidates will also be interviewed which is their opportunity to bring their interests to life.

The knowledge expected in the 16+ entry papers is generic to GCSE courses. The papers contain some open-ended questions that allow candidates to demonstrate deeper understanding of GCSE ideas. Past papers are not available for 16+ entry.

The earlier you register, the more opportunity to have to really get to know Oundle and to feel confident that we are the right fit for your child.

We recommend the following timescales:

• 11+ entry into First Form (Year 7), ideally Year 5, by September of Year 6
• 13+ entry into Third Form (Year 9), ideally Year 5/6, with late applicants during Year 7
• 16+ entry into Sixth Form (Year 12) before the September of Year 11

Please contact the Admissions Office for a registration form.

We have a robust and long-standing approach to mobile phones. Our focus is on fostering face-to-face interactions and reducing phone dependency while also recognising its benefits. Our approach consists of three key pillars: facilitating effective communication between pupils and parents, ensuring online safety to prevent abuse and bullying, and encouraging positive online behaviour. From First Form to Fourth Form, smartphones are not allowed; boarders hand in their “brick” phones during certain times. Fifth Form pupils can use smartphones but must leave them in the House during lesson time and boarders hand them in overnight. Sixth Formers can use smartphones but not during class or in public spaces. We always make sure that parents and children can communicate and support video calls for those without smartphones. While there will also be mixed views on this subject, in our experience the benefits of such an approach include increased face-to-face interactions, reduced time on social media, fewer opportunities for gaming, less phone dependency, better sleep, and reduced risk of online bullying.

We believe that pastorally, a School is only as big as its smallest unit of care. Boarding houses have around 60 pupils, with 12 pupils in each year group, including Sixth Form. Every House has a resident Hsm (Housemaster/Housemistress) and Matron, as well as a Deputy Hsm (also often resident) and numerous Tutors. Each child has a House-based Tutor with whom they meet regularly both formally and informally, including lunch at least twice a week. This gives plenty of opportunities for the Tutor to understand what really makes your child tick and how best to support them. Each Tutor group consists of around eight to ten tutees, giving it a family feel and providing an opportunity for the older pupils to become mentors to the younger ones. For the most part, Tutors are also the first point of contact for parents.

One of the real joys of our boarding model is that our boarding community is either all in or all out at weekends. For Third Formers (our Year 9), upwards, all pupils have lessons on a Saturday morning, followed by competitive sports fixtures in the afternoon. For our First and Second Formers, Omnia replaces Saturday lessons and pupils can be found discovering a whole range of activities to whet their appetite, from Robotics to Trashion and from Climbing to Upcycling. For boarders (and many day pupils!), Saturday evenings at Oundle are a time for pupils from all Houses to come together and have fun socially, either in year groups or across Houses. Organised events and ‘House swaps’, often planned by older pupils, ensure everyone can get involved. Sundays are often a day to relax and unwind as well as a chance for House trips and activities out. We’re always mindful of ensuring balance and our pupils love to hang out with friends, playing games, enjoying the outdoor spaces at their Houses, catching up on work or chilling out in the Common Room. We don’t underestimate the importance of being part of such a lovely market town either – for many Oundelians, no weekend is complete without a chocolate donut from Trendells or a milkshake with friends at one of the many cafes… Our regular exeats are well-timed to allow pupils to re-charge their batteries and catch up with friends and family beyond Oundle, before returning to make the most of the opportunities that School life offers.

Many day pupils feel ready to move to boarding at 13+ when they move to a senior House, seeking out a more shared experience of living alongside their peers. Others wish to gain valuable experience of independence later in their School career in preparation for moving to university. We will always facilitate a move where places and circumstances permit this; the Admissions Office will be happy to guide you.