Oundle School
Independent Co-educational Boarding & Day School · Est. 1556
Oundle is a 1556-founded, ~1,130-pupil co-ed boarding-and-day school spread through a Northamptonshire market town (Grocers' Company foundation, ~75–80% full boarders). Its genuine differentiator is engineering and STEM — the Patrick Engineering Centre and SciTec put maths, sciences and Design Engineering & Technology under one roof, a tradition running back to Head F.W. Sanderson (1892–1922). Parent forum consensus is that it is the most academic of its East Midlands peer set, with a real 'it is cool to work hard' culture (Mumsnet, Nov 2017) and a non-fashion-conscious, all-rounder ethos. It is genuinely full boarding — no weekend departures between half-terms. Crucially, Oundle does NOT use the ISEB Common Pre-Test; it runs its own CAT4-based assessments and an early-offer model.
A 13+-first co-ed boarding school (main intake ~220 in Year 9) that makes early offers in the Spring Term of Year 6 on the strength of the prep-school head's reference, then confirms via Common Entrance (June, Year 8) or its own CAT4-based 'Oundle Entrance' — NO ISEB Pre-Test. Nationally distinctive for engineering/STEM, backed by a £4m+ means-tested bursary fund supporting 100+ pupils.
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Oundle, Northamptonshire
Total Pupils
~1,130
Ages 11–18 (~75–80% board)
Main Entry
13+
~220 places in Year 9
Boarding Fee 26/27
£20,385
Per term (Years 9–13)
Oxbridge 2024
~15–17
places (~10% of leavers)
Founded
1556
Grocers' Company foundation
Bursary Fund
£4m+
100+ pupils, avg ~70% remission
Best For
Robust, confident, hard-working all-rounders — especially those drawn to engineering, design and the sciences, and/or music — who will thrive in a structured, busy, 7-day full-boarding rhythm and a work-is-cool peer culture.
Watch Out For
Oundle does NOT pre-test. Most 13+ places are offered EARLY — Spring Term of Year 6 — on the prep-school head's reference and report, then confirmed by exam in Year 8. Leaving registration to Year 6 risks the place being gone. It is also genuinely full boarding (no weekend departures), and forums repeatedly flag that it rewards resilient all-rounders over fragile purely-academic children.
Entry Points
- 11+ (Year 7)
- 13+ (Year 9 — the main entry)
- 16+ (Sixth Form, A-Level only). A small number of 14+ boarding places also exist.
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: Oundle does NOT pre-test. The decisive 13+ gate for most UK families is the EARLY OFFER made in the Spring Term of Year 6 on the prep-school head's reference — so register and engage 3–4 years ahead. Offers are then either 'firm' (confirmed pending satisfactory Common Entrance in June of Year 8) or 'subject to continued progress' (requiring Oundle's Practice CE early in Year 8). Non-Common-Entrance and overseas candidates sit the school's own 'Oundle Entrance' in November (overseas) or January (UK) of Year 8. Bursary decisions are made roughly two years ahead of entry — apply early.
Visit Oundle and register early
Oundle is a town-integrated campus (boarding houses spread through Oundle, not a single walled site) with a strong full-boarding rhythm — best understood in person. Places fill 2–3 years ahead and waitlists are house-specific, so register and visit early. UK 13+ registration is recommended in Year 5–6.
Bursary preliminary enquiry
Means-tested bursaries are backed by the Sir William Laxton foundation legacy — £4m+ annually, supporting 100+ pupils, average remission ~70%, awards from 10% up to 100%+. Bursary decisions are made roughly two years ahead of entry, so engage early. Bursaries can reduce or waive the advance deposit.
EARLY OFFER on the prep-school head's reference
This is the decisive gate for most UK families. Oundle makes most 13+ offers early — in the Spring Term of Year 6 — on the basis of the prep-school head's reference and report, NOT a pre-test. Offers are 'firm' (place confirmed pending satisfactory Common Entrance) or 'subject to continued progress'.
11+ assessment day (separate route into Year 7)
For 11+ (Year 7) entry, candidates sit papers in Maths, English and Science plus a CAT4 cognitive test, with an informal interview; prospective boarders stay overnight. ~60 places (roughly 20 boarding in The Berrystead + 40 day in Scott House). Offers towards the end of January.
Oundle Entrance (non-Common-Entrance route)
Candidates whose schools don't offer Common Entrance, and overseas applicants, sit the school's own 'Oundle Entrance': a CAT4 cognitive test plus papers in Maths, English, Science and normally a Modern Foreign Language, with an informal interview. Overseas sittings are in November (Year 8), UK in January (Year 8).
Common Entrance — confirmation for most UK pupils
Most UK prep-school pupils confirm their early offer by sitting ISEB Common Entrance (English, Maths, Science) at their own prep school in June of Year 8. Pupils whose offer was 'subject to continued progress' may first take Oundle's Practice CE early in Year 8 autumn.
Key Dates at a Glance — 2026 Entry
- 1
11+ registration closes (2026 entry)
Mon 3 November 2025
- 2
11+ assessment day
Fri 9 January 2026 (overnight stay for boarders)
- 3
13+ scholarship applications close
Fri 17 October 2025
- 4
13+ Oundle Entrance (non-CE / overseas)
Thu 13 Nov 2025 or Thu 15 Jan 2026
- 5
13+ Common Entrance (at own prep school)
Week commencing Mon 1 June 2026
- 6
16+ registration closes (2026 entry)
Tue 30 September 2025
- 7
16+ Entry Weekend (residential)
Fri 7 – Sat 8 November 2025
- 8
16+ offers
Early December 2025
Inside Oundle's Entry Routes
Oundle does NOT use the ISEB Common Pre-Test. For most UK 13+ families the decisive event is the EARLY OFFER in the Spring Term of Year 6, made on the prep-school head's reference and report, then confirmed by Common Entrance (English, Maths, Science) at the candidate's own prep school in June of Year 8. Non-CE and overseas candidates sit the school's own CAT4-based 'Oundle Entrance' (Maths, English, Science, normally an MFL) with an informal interview. 11+ uses subject papers + CAT4 + interview; 16+ uses a November residential Entry Weekend.
11+ (Year 7)
It is not an ISEB pre-test — there are subject papers (incl. Science) plus a CAT4.
13+ Common Entrance
CE confirms rather than selects for most UK pupils — the reference is the real gate.
13+ Oundle Entrance
Broader than CE — don't overlook the CAT4 or the MFL paper.
16+ (Sixth Form)
GCSE bar is high in practice; A-level only (no IB).
Topic Difficulty & Weight
Difficulty (%) and exam weight by topic area
Key takeaway: Maths, English, Science papers + CAT4 + informal interview; overnight stay for boarders. ~60 places.
Topic Breakdown
Known Exam Traps — 11+ (Year 7)
The pattern: It is not an ISEB pre-test — there are subject papers (incl. Science) plus a CAT4.
If you can only improve in one area, make it
Subject papers + CAT4
For example:
- →KS2 Maths (non-calculator) under time pressure
- →English comprehension + creative writing
- →CAT4 across all four reasoning batteries
All focus areas ranked by impact:
#1
Subject papers + CAT4
11+ (Year 7)
#2
CE core subjects + strong reference
13+ Common Entrance
#3
CAT4 + core subjects + MFL
13+ Oundle Entrance
#4
A-level subject readiness
16+ (Sixth Form)
Results & League Table Position
Oundle consistently ranks among the top co-educational schools in England. These figures are benchmarked against national averages so you can see the full picture.
A-Level A* Rate
21%
Public A-Level breakdown not published.
A-Level A*/A Rate
60%
Use the narrative summary below.
GCSE Grade 9-7
78%
Public GCSE breakdown not published.
A-Level A*-B Rate
87%
No single authoritative independent-school league rank is published. Destination evidence: roughly 10% of leavers receive Oxbridge offers annually (2024: ~15–17 places — sources differ between 15 and 17), ~75% go to Russell Group / equivalent (Durham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Exeter, Manchester, plus UCL and Imperial), and ~10% to overseas universities, predominantly the United States.
A-Level Results vs National Average
Oundle vs England average (%)
A-Level 2025: 21% A*, around 60% A*/A and 87% A*/B, with 70 pupils achieving straight A*/A. The 2024 A* figure was higher (29%); the year-on-year movement tracks national post-pandemic grade renormalisation rather than school-specific decline. Oundle is A-Level only (29 A-level subjects) — it does NOT offer the IB Diploma.
A*
21%
A*/A
60%
A*-B
87%
What this means: A-Level 2025: 21% A*, around 60% A*/A and 87% A*/B, with 70 pupils achieving straight A*/A. The 2024 A* figure was higher (29%); the year-on-year movement tracks national post-pandemic grade renormalisation rather than school-specific decline. Oundle is A-Level only (29 A-level subjects) — it does NOT offer the IB Diploma.
GCSE Grade Distribution
Oundle vs National distribution (%)
GCSE/IGCSE 2025: 31% grade 9, 58% grades 9–8 and 78% grades 9–7 — a record year for the school. ISI's 2024 inspection found A-level attainment 'above those expected from pupils' assessed starting points' and GCSE grades 'generally in line with expectations', recommending the school further sharpen GCSE progress in a small number of subjects.
Grade 9-7
78%
Attainment 8
Not published
What this means: GCSE/IGCSE 2025: 31% grade 9, 58% grades 9–8 and 78% grades 9–7 — a record year for the school. ISI's 2024 inspection found A-level attainment 'above those expected from pupils' assessed starting points' and GCSE grades 'generally in line with expectations', recommending the school further sharpen GCSE progress in a small number of subjects.
University Destinations
Where Oundle leavers go — % of cohort
Notable Academic Achievements
~15–17 Oxbridge places in 2024 (~10% of leavers)
Roughly one in ten Oundelians receives an Oxbridge offer each year, reading a broad range of subjects across STEM, the arts and humanities; around 12 went on to read Medicine in 2024. (Sources differ between 15 and 17 Oxbridge places for 2024.)
A genuine engineering & STEM school
The Patrick Engineering Centre (opened 1997) and SciTec bring maths, sciences and Design Engineering & Technology under one roof — lasers, a wind tunnel, large 3D printers, laser cutters and metal/wood workshops, where pupils build furniture and self-built electric cars. The tradition dates to Head F.W. Sanderson (1892–1922), who pioneered engineering as a Sixth Form subject.
Founded 1556 by Sir William Laxton
Governed with historic links to the Worshipful Company of Grocers. The school sits within the market town of Oundle, with its own Stahl Theatre and a strong music tradition — an 'almost university-like' setting rather than an isolated campus.
£4m+ bursary fund supporting 100+ pupils
Means-tested bursaries backed by the Sir William Laxton legacy, averaging ~70% remission and reaching up to 100%+. Notable Old Oundelians include Richard Dawkins, Bruce Dickinson, England rugby internationals Tom & Ben Curry, and author/campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez.
League Table Position: No single authoritative independent-school league rank is published. Destination evidence: roughly 10% of leavers receive Oxbridge offers annually (2024: ~15–17 places — sources differ between 15 and 17), ~75% go to Russell Group / equivalent (Durham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Exeter, Manchester, plus UCL and Imperial), and ~10% to overseas universities, predominantly the United States.
The Oundle Interview & Assessment
Oundle's interview is consistently described as 'informal' across 11+, 13+ and 16+ entry. It is part of a holistic judgement (reference + report + test + interview), not a single eliminatory gate — and at 13+ a strong emphasis falls on boarding-readiness, with the Registrar reported to gauge whether a child will genuinely enjoy full boarding. Prospective boarders at 11+ stay overnight; 16+ candidates attend a November residential Entry Weekend.
Format
Informal 1:1 interview (+ overnight stay at 11+ / residential weekend at 16+)
Duration
Informal interview within the assessment day/weekend (exact duration not published)
Role in Admissions
Holistic and fit-focused — assesses suitability and boarding-readiness alongside the reference, report and test, rather than acting as a pass/fail academic gate.
The reference does the selecting — the interview tests fit
Unlike pre-test schools, Oundle makes most 13+ offers in Year 6 on the strength of the prep-school head's reference. By the time a child sits a paper or has an interview, the school already has a strong steer on academic ability. That reframes the interview: it is an informal, fit-and-readiness conversation, with a notable emphasis (reported by parents) on whether the child will genuinely thrive in full, 7-day boarding. The structural implication is that heavy interview-cramming adds little; authentic enthusiasm, genuine interests, and honest boarding-readiness matter more (ClassAce inference from the reference-led, full-boarding model).
What Makes a Strong Impression
Strong signals at an Oundle interview: (1) genuine, specific enthusiasm for what Oundle actually offers — its engineering/DET and STEM facilities, music, or the boarding house community — rather than a generic 'why this school' script; (2) two or three real interests the child can talk about with energy and depth; (3) evidence of reading and curiosity; (4) honest, positive readiness for full boarding (the school assesses fit for a no-weekends-out rhythm). Over-rehearsed answers read as inauthentic in an informal conversation; the school's own framing and forum reports both point to fit and authenticity over polish.
Likely interview themes (tutoring-guide reported — treat as indicative, not confirmed verbatim)
Compiled from parent reports (2023-2025)
- Why Oundle in particular? (lean into genuine reasons — engineering/DET, music, boarding community)
- Your current school and what you enjoy about it
- Favourite subjects and academic interests
- What you read, and a book that interested you
- Hobbies and extracurricular involvement
- Family life and how you'd find weekends as a full boarder
- How you'd contribute to the Oundle community
The pattern: Conversational and authenticity-focused. Because most 13+ offers are made early on the prep head's reference, the interview tests fit, motivation and boarding-readiness more than raw academic knowledge.
Never Asked — Don't Over-Prepare
- High-stakes timed mental-arithmetic drills (the interview is conversational, not a maths test)
- Memorised facts about Oundle's history (reads as rehearsed)
- Trick questions designed to destabilise a young candidate
What Actually Wins Offers
- 1Genuine, specific reasons for choosing Oundle (engineering/DET, STEM, music, boarding community)
- 2Two or three real interests the child can discuss with depth and energy
- 3Evidence of reading and intellectual curiosity
- 4Honest, positive readiness for full, 7-day boarding
- 5Authenticity over rehearsed answers in an informal conversation
“It's not a fashion conscious kind of school. Fancy clothes and make up are minimal — there is no standard type to 'fit in'.”
“At Oundle it is cool to work hard.”
“Strict full boarding — no weekend departures permitted between half-terms.”
“Fabulous school, really excellent pastoral care.”
“[Oundle is] the most academic … more cosmopolitan and slicker, with the most individual children.”
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 50+ sources including official documents, parent reports, and tutoring industry data.This is the intelligence that gives ClassAce families an edge.
Oundle does NOT use the ISEB Pre-Test — this is the #1 misconception
Aggregator sites sometimes claim an 'Eton List Test + ISEB pre-test' route for Oundle. This is wrong. The official admissions pages, plus independent tutoring analyses (Atom Learning, Keystone), confirm Oundle uses its own CAT4-based assessments and an early-offer model — no ISEB Common Pre-Test at any entry point. Prepare CAT4 reasoning + CE-standard core subjects, not a pre-test platform.
The decisive 13+ gate is the Year 6 EARLY OFFER on the head's reference
Most UK 13+ places are offered in the Spring Term of Year 6 on the basis of the prep-school head's reference and report — before any Oundle exam. Common Entrance in June of Year 8 confirms the offer. This means a strong, well-evidenced prep-school reference matters more than exam cramming. Engage your prep-school head early about Oundle.
Know which 13+ route applies — Common Entrance vs Oundle Entrance
UK prep-school pupils confirm via ISEB Common Entrance (English, Maths, Science) in June of Year 8. Pupils whose schools don't offer CE, and overseas applicants, sit Oundle's own 'Oundle Entrance' — a CAT4 + Maths/English/Science and normally a Modern Foreign Language, with an interview, in January (UK) or November (overseas). Confirm your child's route with admissions early so you prepare the right papers (the Oundle Entrance is broader and includes an MFL).
Register 3–4 years out and choose/visit the house early
Places fill 2–3 years ahead and the waitlist is house-specific (Mumsnet, Feb 2021). Popular houses (e.g. Bramston) book up. Visit houses and meet the specific housemaster/housemistress before committing — forums are unanimous that HM fit 'sets the tone' for a child's experience, and HMs serve long (~10-year) tenures.
Be honest about full-boarding suitability
Oundle is genuinely full boarding — it explicitly rejects flexi/weekly boarding for seniors, with no weekend departures between half-terms ('either all here or we are all not here'). The Registrar reportedly assesses boarding-readiness at interview. Selling a child who really wants to come home at weekends will backfire; lean into genuine readiness for a 7-day community.
Lean into the engineering/STEM identity — if it's genuine
Oundle's national differentiator is engineering and Design Engineering & Technology (DET): the Patrick Engineering Centre and SciTec, where pupils build furniture and self-built electric cars (~80% of the Third Form take the subject). A child with a genuine maker/STEM interest has a natural, authentic 'why Oundle' — and there's a dedicated DET scholarship. Don't fake it, but if it's real, foreground it.
Scholarships are largely honorific — the money is in the bursary
Entry scholarships (Academic, Music, Art, Drama, DET, Sport, all-rounder) are merit badges with largely nominal cash value. The substantive financial support is the means-tested bursary — £4m+ annually, 100+ pupils, ~70% average remission, up to 100%+ — and it can be stacked on top of a scholarship. Run the maths on the bursary, not the scholarship percentage.
Apply for the bursary early — decisions are made ~2 years ahead
Means-tested bursary decisions are made roughly two years before entry, so a Year 5 preliminary enquiry is sensible for 13+. A bursary can also reduce or waive the £3,000 UK advance deposit. The fund is foundation-backed (Sir William Laxton legacy).
Prepare CAT4 across all four batteries, not just verbal reasoning
Both the 11+ and the Oundle Entrance include a CAT4, which spans verbal, non-verbal, quantitative and spatial reasoning. Families who drill only verbal-reasoning vocabulary under-prepare the spatial and quantitative sections. Practise all four on screen, under time pressure.
Judge the current pastoral culture, not the legacy 'tough' reputation
Older forum threads (2014–2021) describe Oundle as 'rigid' or 'survival of the fittest', and there is a real perception that it can part with under-performing pupils post-GCSE. More recent feedback is materially warmer ('fabulous … really excellent pastoral care'), and a new Head (Dominic Oliver) started September 2025. Visit and judge the current HM/leadership rather than the dated reputation — but be realistic that it suits robust all-rounders.
The 16+ handwritten 'why Oundle' passage is part of the assessment
Sixth Form applicants submit a handwritten passage on why they want to come to Oundle, alongside a recent report, before the November residential Entry Weekend. Treat it as a genuine piece of work — specific, considered and personal — not a box-ticking form. The GCSE bar is high in practice (most successful candidates hold 8/9s across most subjects).
Common Mistakes Parents Make
The errors we see most often from families preparing for Oundle School. Avoid these and you're already ahead of the majority of applicants.
Assuming Oundle pre-tests with ISEB
It does not. Oundle uses its own CAT4-based assessments plus subject papers, and an early-offer-on-reference model at 13+. Preparing on a pre-test platform is the wrong target — prepare CAT4 reasoning and CE-standard core subjects.
Treating Oundle as an academic hothouse for a fragile child
Forums repeatedly say it suits robust, confident all-rounders, and flag a reputation for parting with under-performers post-GCSE. Pushing a purely-academic-but-fragile child in beyond realistic capability is a recurring mistake.
Underestimating that it is genuinely full boarding
Oundle is a true 7-day boarding school with no weekend departures between half-terms. Families expecting flexi/weekly boarding or relaxed weekends are mismatched — and the Registrar assesses boarding-readiness at interview.
Leaving registration and house choice late
Places fill 2–3 years ahead and the waitlist is house-specific. Register early and visit houses to meet the specific housemaster/housemistress before committing.
Banking on a scholarship to fund the place
Scholarships are largely honorific in cash terms. The real financial support is the means-tested bursary (stackable on a scholarship). Apply for the bursary — and apply early, as decisions are made ~2 years ahead.
Not confirming which 13+ route applies
Common Entrance (June Year 8) and the Oundle Entrance (Jan/Nov Year 8, with a CAT4 and an MFL) are different. Preparing for the wrong one — particularly missing the MFL or CAT4 on the Oundle Entrance — wastes preparation.
Neglecting the CAT4 reasoning component
CAT4 features in both the 11+ and the Oundle Entrance and spans four reasoning types. Drilling only verbal reasoning leaves the spatial and quantitative batteries under-prepared.
Assuming the dated 'stiff upper lip' reputation still holds
Negative pastoral anecdotes are mostly older (2014–2021) and predate leadership changes; recent feedback is warmer. Judge the current Head and house staff in person rather than relying on legacy reputation.
Oundle vs Competitor Schools
How does Oundle School 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: Oundle is widely regarded as the most academic and hardest-to-enter of its regional peer set (above Oakham and Stowe; on a par with Uppingham), but is 'Hard' rather than 'Very Hard' — a clear tier below the hyper-selective London/Thames-valley schools. The standout structural difference from Uppingham and Stowe is that Oundle does NOT pre-test: it makes early offers on the prep-school reference and confirms by exam. Peer fees marked '~' are approximate and should be re-verified against each school's official schedule.
| Factor | FeaturedOundle School | Uppingham School | Oakham School | Stowe School | Rugby School | Repton School | Stamford School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Type | Independent | Independent | Independent | Independent | Independent | Independent | Independent |
| Co-educational | Co-ed | Co-ed | Co-ed | Co-ed | Co-ed | Co-ed | Co-ed (diamond) |
| VR in Exam | |||||||
| Annual Fee | ~£61,200 boarding / £39,900 day | ~£60,500 boarding | ~£55,700 boarding | ~£46,700 boarding | ~£58,900 boarding | ~£48,000 boarding | ~£37,000 boarding |
| 11+ Difficulty | Hard | Hard | Moderate | Moderate | Hard | Hard | Moderate |
| Interview Style | Early offer + CAT4 + interview (no pre-test) | ISEB Pre-Test + interview + CE | Pre-test / own assessment + interview | ISEB Pre-Test + interview | Quest VR/NVR + Assessment Day | CE / own entrance + CAT4 + interview | Own assessment + interview |
Why Parents Choose Oundle
- Engineering & STEM like nowhere elsePatrick Engineering Centre + SciTec; pupils build furniture and electric cars; a dedicated DET scholarship
- Most academic of its East Midlands peersForum consensus: 'the most academic … with the most individual children' (Mumsnet, Mar 2023)
- Genuine full boardingA true 7-day community with no weekend departures — not weekly/flexi boarding in disguise
- No pre-test — early offers on the referenceA strong prep-school report carries more weight than exam cramming
- Substantial means-tested bursary£4m+ a year, 100+ pupils, ~70% average remission, up to 100%+ (Sir William Laxton legacy)
Points to Consider
- Register 3–4 years aheadPlaces fill 2–3 years out and the waitlist is house-specific — late registration risks missing the window
- Genuinely full boardingNo weekend departures between half-terms; the Registrar assesses boarding-readiness
- Suits robust all-roundersForums flag a reputation for parting with under-performers post-GCSE; less suited to a fragile, purely-academic child
- Annual fee ~£61,155/year boarding (26/27)~£39,900/year day; plus £300 registration, £1,200 acceptance and a £3,000 UK deposit
- A-level onlyNo IB Diploma pathway — A-levels across 29 subjects
Scholarships & Financial Support
Entry scholarships (11+ Entrance Exhibition; 13+/16+ Academic, Music, Art, Drama, Design Engineering & Technology, Sport, plus an all-rounder 'Oundle Scholarship') are merit-based but largely honorific in cash terms. The substantive financial support is the means-tested bursary, which can be stacked on top of a scholarship — £4m+ a year, 100+ pupils, ~70% average remission, awards up to 100%+.
| Scholarship Type | Value | Available Places | Selection Method | Stackable? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Scholarship (13+/16+) | Honorific + means-tested bursary stacking | Multiple | Academic scholarship assessment (13+: late February, residential) | Yes |
| Music Scholarship | Honorific + music tuition support | Limited | Audition / assessment (13+: w/c late January) | Yes |
| Art Scholarship | Honorific + bursary stacking | Limited | Portfolio + assessment (13+: mid-March) | Yes |
| Drama Scholarship | Honorific + bursary stacking | Limited | Audition (13+: mid-March, Stahl Theatre) | Yes |
| Design Engineering & Technology (DET) Scholarship | Honorific + bursary stacking | Limited | Assessment at the Patrick Engineering Centre / SciTec (13+: mid-March) | Yes |
| Sport Scholarship | Honorific + bursary stacking | Limited | Trials / assessment (13+: mid-November) | Yes |
| Oundle (all-rounder) Scholarship | Honorific + bursary stacking | Limited | Assessment across two+ disciplines (13+: mid-March, residential) | Yes |
| Means-tested Bursary | 10% up to 100%+ (avg ~70%) | 100+ pupils, £4m+/year | Means assessment, decided ~2 years ahead; reduces/waives deposit | Yes |
* 2026-entry scholarship applications closed 17 October 2025, with assessments across Nov 2025–March 2026 (Sport Nov, Music Jan, Academic Feb, Art/Drama/DET/all-rounder March). Percentage values circulating on tutoring sites are indicative — the school does not publish fixed scholarship percentages.
The Preparation Roadmap
Everything here is built around Oundle School's specific exam format, interview style, and selection criteria. This is not generic 11+ advice. Every recommendation is calibrated to this school.
Year 4 → Year 5
- Visit Oundle and several boarding houses; meet the housemaster/housemistress
- Compare against Uppingham, Oakham, Stowe, Rugby, Repton, Stamford
- Bursary preliminary enquiry if relevant (decisions ~2 years ahead)
- Build genuine overnight/boarding independence
Year 5 → Year 6
- Engage the prep-school head early — the reference is the heaviest lever
- Register with Oundle (waitlist is house-specific — register early)
- Begin CAT4 reasoning practice across all four batteries
- Develop two or three genuine, discussable interests
Year 6 (Spring Term)
- Most UK 13+ offers are made now, on the head's reference
- Confirm whether the offer is 'firm' or 'subject to continued progress'
- For 11+ entry: prepare Maths/English/Science papers + CAT4 for the January assessment
Year 7 → Year 8
- Sustain prep-school performance through to confirmation
- CE route: ISEB 13+ English/Maths/Science for June of Year 8
- Oundle Entrance route: CAT4 + Maths/English/Science + MFL (Nov/Jan)
- Prepare for an informal, fit-focused interview and (16+) the handwritten 'why Oundle' passage
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Updated May 2026 · 50 sources
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