Epsom College
Independent Co-educational Day & Boarding School · Est. 1855
Epsom College is a thriving, genuinely integrated day and boarding school set on a stunning 85-acre estate in Surrey. Originally founded in 1855 to support the orphans of medical professionals, the school has evolved into an incredibly well-rounded powerhouse. It explicitly seeks the 'joiners' — socially engaged, kind, and collaborative young people. Known for outstanding sports, a strong sense of community, and a heavily integrated boarding/day culture, Epsom provides a vibrant and modern educational experience that champions 'total curriculum' — the belief that great education develops heart, mind, spirit, and body — over pure academic hothousing. If your child thrives on collaboration, values kindness alongside achievement, and wants a genuine boarding experience that builds lifelong friendships, Epsom is world-class.
An 85-acre Surrey boarding and day school founded to support orphans of medical professionals, now a powerhouse of collaborative learning and genuine community integration.
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College Road, Epsom, Surrey KT17 4JQ
Day Fees
£9,727
per term Lower School
Boarding Fees
£18,864
per term full (Year 9+)
Exam Format
ISEB + Engagement
No written papers at 11+
Founded
1855
medical professionals' benefit
GCSE 9-7
87.1%
National Rank #58=
Boarding
Yes
Full, weekly & flexi
Best For
Families seeking a genuinely integrated boarding and day experience where collaboration, kindness, and 'total curriculum' development are prized as highly as academic grades.
Watch Out For
No published pass mark on ISEB. The Engagement Day is entirely observation-based and cannot be coached. Boarding culture is central — not peripheral. Day pupils who aren't involved in house life can feel isolated.
Entry Points
- 11+ (main)
- 13+ (secondary)
- 16+ (Sixth Form)
The Complete Admissions Timeline
Every key date, deadline and decision point — with insider intelligence you won't find on the school website. Click any item to reveal verified insider knowledge.
The critical window: The gap between ISEB Pre-Test (Nov/Dec) and EDGE Day (January) is 4–8 weeks — the most important preparation window for Caterham applicants.
Open Mornings & Tours
The 200-acre woodland campus is genuinely worth seeing in person. Open mornings and bespoke tours run throughout the autumn term. Book early.
Registration Deadline
Submission of the application form and £100 registration fee. Ensure your child is also registered with their current school to sit the ISEB Pre-Test.
Stage 1: ISEB Common Pre-Test
Candidates sit this adaptive online test either at their current prep school or at Caterham. It covers English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. The test adapts to your child's ability in real time.
Interviews
Candidates are invited for an informal one-to-one conversation with academic staff. Caterham treats this as a genuine get-to-know-you chat, not a formal assessment.
Stage 2: EDGE Experience Day
Shortlisted candidates attend Caterham's bespoke assessment day. This includes a written Maths paper (30 minutes, non-calculator), a writing task, critical thinking problems, and collaborative problem-solving exercises.
Offer Letters
Offers are emailed to successful families.
Acceptance Deadline
Families must formally confirm their acceptance by the deadline.
Key Dates At-a-Glance — 2026/2027 Entry
Registration closes
Late Oct/Early Nov
ISEB Pre-Test sits
Nov/Dec Year 6
EDGE Experience Day
January Year 6
Offer letters
February Year 6
Acceptance deadline
Early March Year 6
Inside the Caterham Assessment Process
Caterham's admissions uses two distinct stages. The ISEB Common Pre-Test filters applicants; the EDGE Experience Day is where offers are actually decided. Most families over-prepare for Stage 1 and under-prepare for Stage 2.
ISEB Pre-Test (Stage 1)
~2.5 hours total · Adaptive online test (ISEB Common Pre-Test)
The ISEB trips up prepared candidates in predictable ways. The adaptive difficulty is the biggest psychological challenge — children who are used to 'getting everything right' can be rattled when questions get harder as they answer correctly. That is the test working correctly.
Maths (Stage 2)
30 mins (Stage 2) · Non-calculator, written paper
The most common trap is running out of time. With 30 minutes and 7–8 substantial problems, there is no time to dwell. If stuck, move on and return.
EDGE Day (Stage 2)
As part of EDGE Day · Creative writing + Critical thinking tasks
The collaborative exercises are observed, not marked for content. Children who dominate the group or try to 'perform' for assessors consistently underperform children who listen, build on others' ideas, and draw quieter peers into the conversation.
Topic Difficulty & Weight
Difficulty (%) and exam weight by topic area
Key takeaway: Premium
Topic Breakdown
Known Exam Traps — ISEB Pre-Test (Stage 1)
The pattern: The ISEB trips up prepared candidates in predictable ways. The adaptive difficulty is the biggest psychological challenge — children who are used to 'getting everything right' can be rattled when questions get harder as they answer correctly. That is the test working correctly.
If you can only improve in one area, make it
Verbal Reasoning & Non-Verbal Reasoning
What this means in practice:
Dedicate 60%+ of prep time to this area
Practice under timed conditions regularly
Review mistakes immediately after each session
Track progress weekly to spot patterns
All focus areas ranked by impact:
#1
Verbal Reasoning & Non-Verbal Reasoning
ISEB Pre-Test (Stage 1)
#2
Problem-Solving & Reasoning
Maths (Stage 2)
#3
Creative Writing & Critical Thinking
EDGE Day (Stage 2)
Format
Adaptive online multiple-choice
Duration
~2.5 hours (4 sections)
Answer Method
On-screen selection (cannot go back)
Curriculum baseline: Age-standardised adaptive test. Questions adjust to the child's ability in real time. Scores reported as Standardised Age Scores (SAS) where 100 is the national average.
Academic Performance vs National Average
Epsom consistently outperforms national averages across both GCSE and A-Level examinations. These animated comparisons show where the school excels and how this translates to university placement opportunities.
A-Level Results Comparison
Camp Hill Girls vs. National Average — Higher percentages indicate stronger performance
What this means: Camp Hill Girls consistently exceeds national averages across all A-Level performance bands. With 65% A*/A compared to the national 38%, girls achieve top-tier results that support progression to leading universities, including Oxbridge, Russell Group institutions, and specialist programs in Medicine, Law, and STEM.
GCSE Grade Distribution Comparison
Cumulative percentage achieving each grade threshold — Camp Hill Girls vs. National Average
Grade Distribution Insight: Over 90% of Camp Hill Girls achieve grades 9-7 at GCSE, compared to 31% nationally. This exceptional spread demonstrates consistent high achievement across the cohort, with girls well-prepared for rigorous A-Level study.
Grade 9-8
52%
vs 18% national
Grade 9-7
90%
vs 31% national
Grade 9-6
98%
vs 64% national
Grade 9-5
99.5%
vs 82% national
University Placement Implications
- •
Oxbridge Eligibility
Strong A-Level performance (65% A*/A) makes girls competitive for Oxford and Cambridge, particularly in STEM and humanities.
- •
Russell Group Admission
90% GCSE 9-7 achievement provides strong foundation for Russell Group universities including Imperial, UCL, Durham, and Warwick.
- •
Competitive Edge
Results place girls in top 5% of UK cohort, giving advantage in Medicine, Law, and competitive STEM programs.
Supporting Strong Achievement
- •
No Pressure-Cooker Culture
Excellence achieved through supportive teaching, strong pastoral care, and girls' intrinsic motivation rather than relentless pressure.
- •
Well-Rounded Development
Balanced commitment to academics, co-curricular activities (sports, music, drama), and character formation.
- •
Resilience & Confidence
Girls develop confidence to tackle challenging subjects and university applications without anxiety-driven perfectionism.
GCSE Excellence
90%
Grade 9-7 achievement (vs 31% national)
A-Level Top Grades
65%
A*/A grades (vs 38% national)
Top Achievers
42%
A* grades at A-Level
University Ready
99.5%
Grade 5+ across GCSE
The Interview & Assessment Day
Caterham's interview runs alongside the ISEB Pre-Test period, not after it. It is a genuine conversation, not an academic test. If your child is natural, enthusiastic, and can talk about their interests, they will do well.
Contact Admissions
Epsom College Admissions Team
Insider Intel: What Other Parents Don't Know
These are the verified insights you will not find on the school website, in Good Schools Guide, or from any single tutoring agency. Each insight is compiled and cross-referenced from 95+ sources including official documents, parent reports, and tutoring industry data.This is the intelligence that gives ClassAce families an edge.
7 verified insider tips locked
Including 4 high-severity warnings other parents miss. Subscribe to read every tip in full.
- Timing windows other applicants don't know about
- Exam-day patterns and trap questions verified across 95+ sources
- Interview cues that decide marginal offers
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Common Mistakes Parents Make
The errors we see most often from families preparing for Epsom College. Avoid these and you're already ahead of the majority of applicants.
5 costly mistakes — and the fix for each
Most parents make at least three of these without realising. Subscribe to read every mistake and the corrective action.
- What to stop doing in the final 6 weeks
- The myth about practice papers that hurts most candidates
- Interview-day briefings that backfire
Premium unlocks 2 schools, Elite unlocks 5.
Epsom vs Competitor Schools
How does Epsom College compare to the schools your child is most likely also applying to? This analysis covers the key factors that actually matter to families.
Important context: Your child is not competing against other Caterham applicants in isolation. Many candidates are simultaneously applying to 3–5 schools on this list. Understanding the overlap helps you plan preparation that covers multiple targets efficiently.
| Factor | FeaturedCaterham | Reigate Grammar | Whitgift | Royal Grammar Guildford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Type | Independent | Independent | Independent | Independent |
| Co-educational | Boys (co-ed 6th) | |||
| VR in Exam | ||||
| Annual Fee | ~£27,630 | ~£25,000 | ~£28,000+ | ~£25,000 |
| 11+ Difficulty | Competitive | Similar | Hard | Very Hard |
| Interview Style | Informal + EDGE Day | Interview | Formal | Formal |
Why Parents Choose Epsom
- Co-educational with boardingRare combination of strong results, co-ed, day and boarding on one campus
- 200-acre woodland campusExtraordinary setting for a Surrey school — high ropes, pitches, and green space
- Apple Distinguished SchoolDigital innovation is embedded into the curriculum, not bolted on
- Modern, forward-thinking ethosLess traditional than Whitgift or RGS — suits adaptable, sociable children
- Holistic admissions (EDGE Day)School actively seeks creative thinkers, not just high exam scorers
Points to Consider
- Wide catchment areaStudents travel from Sevenoaks, Reigate, and Sutton — social life requires effort outside school
- Annual fee ~£27,630Day fees plus mandatory lunch (£340/term) add up. Compare carefully with state grammar options
- Two-stage admissionsThe ISEB Pre-Test and EDGE Day require different types of preparation — double the complexity
- No guaranteed prep-to-senior entryCaterham Prep pupils still sit the full admissions process for the Senior School
- ISEB score is cohort-relativeThere is no fixed pass mark — the bar moves each year depending on the cohort strength
Scholarships & Financial Support
Caterham offers scholarships across five disciplines. Critically, all scholarships can be combined with a means-tested bursary — a fact most families are unaware of. A music scholar from a lower-income family could receive substantial fee reduction.
| Scholarship Type | Value | Available Places | Selection Method | Stackable? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Scholarship | Fee remission (varies) | Multiple | Premium | Yes |
| Music Scholarship | Fee remission + free tuition | Limited | Premium | Yes |
| Sport Scholarship | Fee remission | Limited | Premium | Yes |
| Art Scholarship | Fee remission | Limited | Premium | Yes |
| Drama Scholarship | Fee remission | Limited | Premium | Yes |
| Means-Tested Bursary | Up to 100% of fees | Varies | Premium | Yes |
* Music, Sport, Art, and Drama scholarship assessments take place in January of Year 6 — register your interest with the admissions team before December. Contact the bursar directly for current fee remission figures.
The Preparation Roadmap
Everything here is built around Epsom College's specific exam format, interview style, and selection criteria. This is not generic 11+ advice. Every recommendation is calibrated to this school.
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Intelligence Score
Updated April 2026 · 95 sources