13 Plus Entry From Overseas: Routes for 2027, 2028 and 2029

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13+ entry from overseas is how a child living abroad joins a UK independent school in Year 9: the first stage can often be sat where the family lives, a later stage may need a visit to the UK, and a Child Student visa, which gov.uk limits to ages 4 to 17, needs a sponsoring school. The entry year, September 2027, 2028 or 2029, decides which dates are still open.

Leading Tuition provides specialist 13+ preparation across all stages: ISEB pre-test coaching, Common Entrance subject tuition, and support for school-specific assessments and interviews. Tuition is delivered online via a high-quality video platform, meaning our specialist tutors are accessible to families regardless of location.

Which entry year does your child's birth date give?

Every deadline on this page hangs on the entry year. King’s College School Wimbledon gives the mapping by date of birth and Haileybury by year group; side by side, with their positions as read on Sunday 4 October 2026:

The working follows both tables. A child born between 1 September 2013 and 31 August 2014 is in Year 8 in 2026-27 and starts Year 9 in September 2027; each later birth year is one year group lower in 2026-27 and one year further from entry. Haileybury’s table attaches the same year groups to the same entry years: “Applicants currently in Year 8” for 2027, “Applicants currently in Year 7” for 2028 and “Applicants currently in Year 6” for 2029. King’s tells families unsure of the year to “please check the entry dates below”. A child whose school abroad runs a different calendar can sit in a different year group from the one these bands give; our 11+ guide to which UK year group a child moving from abroad joins shows how classes abroad line up with the same September-to-August bands.

Entry in September 2027: children in Year 8 in 2026-27

• King’s College School Wimbledon has a Year 8 assessment for September 2027 entry, for pupils “whose date of birth falls between 1st September 2013 and 31st August 2014”. It is open to two groups: “Pupils who did not sit the pre-test in year 6 or who sat the test but did not receive an offer, who have the full support of their head as a strong candidate to join King’s in year 9.” and “All those who have been placed on the waiting list after the pre-test in year 6.” The school adds that, as a matter of policy, “any pupils who have taken the 11+ entrance test for King’s, but been unsuccessful, will not have an opportunity to take the 13+ assessment in year 8”. The written assessment at King’s was on “24th September 2026”, interviews for selected candidates are listed as “w/c 5th October 2026” and results go out “by 16th October 2026”. The school states “Registration for our year 8 assessment for 13+ entry in September 2027 has now closed.”
• Dulwich College’s overseas page says “The overseas registration deadline for Years 3 to 5, 7, 9, and 10 for September 2027 entry is Friday 2 October 2026 and for Year 12 is Friday 16 October 2026.” The Year 9 date has passed; the Year 12 date is ahead. For Year 9, the same page adds that candidates who are at school overseas “cannot be considered for the Deferred Entry exams when they are in Year 6”.
• Oundle sets a separate calendar for children abroad: “All overseas applicants sit the Oundle Entrance Examination in November of Year 8”. For a child in Year 8 in 2026-27 that is November 2026, serving September 2027 entry. The school also notes that “the closing date for all 13+ Scholarship applications for 2027 entry is Friday 16 October 2026” and says “The early offers stage is not applicable for those joining from schools overseas.”
• Cheltenham Ladies’ College writes that “the standard admissions deadlines for entry in September 2027 have now passed” and invites families to “enquire about our next entry round taking place during Autumn 2026”.
• Haileybury lists 2027 entry for applicants in Year 8 in 2026-27 as “subject to place availability”. Offers go out on Thursday 8 October 2026 and acceptance is due by Monday 19 October 2026, both ahead (Haileybury’s 2027 to 2029 table).

Entry in September 2028: children in Year 7 in 2026-27

• Wellington College says “children sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test in either Year 6 or 7 and on the basis of their results and the strength of their head teacher’s reference they are invited to spend a day at Wellington.” Its late-registration section says “entry for 2028 is now via Late Admissions route 2”, describing that route as “This is for children whose family contact us in Year 7.” It states “Registration for entry in 2028 entry will open in May 2027.”
• Cheltenham Ladies’ College writes “If you're hoping to join us in September 2028, we run entrance exams during Year 7.” Its 2028 key dates give “9th November 2026” for the registration form and the exam form and “2nd or 3rd December 2026” for the assessment.
• Felsted states “We offer 3 entry testing points for Year 9 - when pupils are in Year 6, Year 7 or Year 8.” The 2028 cohort is in Year 7 in 2026-27.

Entry in September 2029: children in Year 6 in 2026-27

• Eton College’s page says “For 2029 entry a boy needs to be registered by 31 August 2026”, a date that has passed, and calls these “strict deadlines unless a boy is specifically applying for the King’s Scholarship or Music Awards”. Stage 1 is the ISEB Common Pre-Tests “during October or November, either at their current school or at an agreed centre”; the autumn term of Year 6 for this cohort is autumn 2026.
• Tonbridge School lists “Tue 1 Sep 2026 Application deadline for Year 9 2029”, a date that has passed, and adds “Those who apply after 1 September will be advised of the timeline upon receipt of their application.”
• Winchester College asks for registration “before the deadline of 1st October of Year 6”, which for this cohort is “by 1 October 2026” and has passed, and for a later family says “If you need to register after the main round deadline, please register for the Registrar’s Route.” Its 2026-27 guide lists “16 – 20 November 2026” for assessment and “by appointment in Winchester: 11 – 15 January 2027” for interviews, for Year 9 2029 entry. The school calls its General Ability Testing “an online test administered virtually by Winchester College staff”. A family abroad should ask Winchester in writing where the child should be, and at what local time, for the 16 – 20 November 2026 sitting.
• King’s College School Wimbledon’s deadline for this band is “Monday 2nd November 2026 at 12 noon”, which is ahead. In its section on the entry process for 13+ entry in 2029 it also says “Overseas candidates will be required to travel to King’s to sit our entry tests.”
• Benenden says “The test can be taken at the candidate’s current school or a recognised testing centre (such as a local British Council Office), between 1 October and 31 October.” That is the ISEB Common Pre-test, which Benenden asks 13+ candidates to sit in the autumn term of Year 6; its Preview Day for 2029 entry was held “on 19 September 2026”.

Before registering, ask each school in writing which stage it will accept for a child abroad and on which date.

Does the school sponsor a Child Student visa at all?

Before any test, the question is whether the school can take the child on a visa. gov.uk sets the edges: “You can apply for a Child Student visa if you’re between 4 and 17 years old and you want to study at an independent school in the UK.” Rule CS 7.1 of the Immigration Rules’ Appendix Child Student requires a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies “issued by a student sponsor which is an independent school whose sponsor licence is still valid on the date on which the application is decided”. The same Appendix requires one “issued to the applicant no more than 6 months before the date of application”. For an application from outside the UK, gov.uk says “The earliest you can apply for a visa is 6 months before you start your course.” It adds “You’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.”

The parent route has its own band. For the Parent of a Child Student visa, gov.uk says “Your child must be aged between 4 and 11 when you apply, and be attending an independent school in the UK.” A child entering Year 9 is 13, outside that band. For BN(O) visa holders, the gov.uk page for that visa lists, among what holders can do, “study (including at school, college or university)”. Our child student visa guide covers the application in detail.

What each school says about its own sponsorship

Schools state their position on their own pages, and the scope differs: some schools state that they do not sponsor, some sponsor boarders only, and some tie sponsorship to an entry year. Each row is that school’s statement about itself, linked to its page, not a rule for any other school.

For any other school, ask in writing whether it issues a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies for a child entering Year 9 from abroad as a boarder, as a day pupil, or both.

Which first stage can a child sit from abroad?

Three kinds of first stage appear on school pages. The first is the ISEB Common Pre-Test, which ISEB says “can be taken by pupils in the UK and overseas”, at approved invigilation centres that include “British Councils worldwide”. ISEB tells families “Parents and guardians should always confirm that their child can take the tests with the invigilation centre before selecting them during registration.” It also says “Unfortunately, a parent or guardian cannot add a venue as a new invigilation centre.” For example, Harrow tells a candidate at a school abroad to “ask his current school to supply a suitable testing room with a computer and internet access, along with an administrator to set up and supervise the CPT”. Our ISEB Pre-Test guide covers the format and scoring; sitting the ISEB Pre-Test abroad and which entrance test each school uses go further.

The second kind is the school’s own test, sat abroad under its own rules. For example, Haileybury writes “From the comfort of their own home, international pupils can be invigilated online by us via a Zoom meeting.” Felsted writes “Our tests can be taken remotely at the pupil’s current school, a lawyer’s office or British Council office.”

The third is UKiset. It “can be taken anywhere in the world through online invigilation”, and schools use it differently. Wellington College states “13+ candidates may also offer UKiset results as part of their application, but this is not a necessity as all 13+ candidates complete English and Verbal Reasoning assessments as part of the ISEB Common Pretest.” Our UKiset guide explains the scoring.

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Which stages need a visit to the UK, and which work on video?

A first stage abroad does not always end the travel. For example, in its entry process for 13+ entry in 2029, King’s College School Wimbledon states “Overseas candidates will be required to travel to King’s to sit our entry tests. In order to avoid unnecessary travel, overseas candidates will be interviewed at King's the day prior to the written tests.” Harrow’s Year 9 page says “Please register your son for a place at Harrow by 30 September of Year 6. Registrations received after this date will be considered Late Applicants.” Under its heading “The Harrow Test - Spring term of Year 6 (standard applicants)” it says “If an applicant passes the ISEB CPT, we will invite him to sit the Harrow Test at the School in the Spring term of Year 6.” What applies to late applicants is a question for Harrow, in writing. Rugby School’s page for Year 9 international applicants says “We expect all applicants to attend interviews at Rugby in Year 7.”

Other schools publish a video option. Whitgift states “All students who are being considered for an offer will be invited for an interview either at Whitgift or via Teams.” Shrewsbury writes “Whenever possible, we encourage families to visit Shrewsbury in person so that they can experience the School and meet our pupils and staff. If this is not possible, we are pleased to arrange an online interview.”

Ask in writing which format applies to the child’s entry year and in which time zone it will run. Our video interviews guide covers the format in detail, and our note on online tuition across time zones covers planning around the clock.

Common Entrance for a child whose school is abroad

ISEB’s centre form says “All pupils taking the CE examinations must do so at a registered and approved examination centre.” It adds that “if the candidate’s current school does not use CE or the candidate currently attends a state or international school, their guardian may need to register them with ISEB directly.” Harrow sets out its own arrangement for a child at an overseas school who registers “by 30 September of Year 6”, under its heading for standard applicants at a school that does not prepare for Common Entrance in any way: “An applicant at a school that does not prepare for CE at all, for example a state-maintained school or an overseas school, who has been offered a place at Harrow will be expected to sit CE examinations in three subjects in June of Year 8 as a minimum”. What applies to late applicants is a question for Harrow, in writing. Our Common Entrance guide covers the papers and marks, and Common Entrance from overseas goes further on sitting it from abroad.

What do the boarding standards and the schools say about guardians?

The Department for Education’s National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools frame the school’s duty. Standard 22.3 says that whether the guardian is appointed by the school or by a parent or carer, the school “takes appropriate steps to ensure that the guardianship arrangement is promoting the welfare, physical wellbeing, and emotional wellbeing of the boarder”. AEGIS, which accredits guardianship organisations, says “An educational guardian is NOT a legal guardian.” On the visa side, gov.uk lists a nominated guardian among the people a child may live with in the UK outside boarding, with the limit “you can only live with them for up to 27 days in a row”.

Schools add their own conditions. For example, Haileybury states “We insist that every pupil whose parents reside overseas must have a suitable Educational Guardian living in the UK. Your child’s guardian could be a relative or a close family friend and must be over the age of 25.” That is Haileybury’s condition, not a rule for every school. Our educational guardians guide goes further on guardians.

Where do families in Hong Kong, mainland China and the UAE start?

Harrow and Tonbridge list representatives on their pages. Harrow states “Applicants from outside the UK should follow our normal Admissions procedures. However, applicants from Hong Kong or China should first register with our representatives, listed below”. Tonbridge states “Applicants from Mainland China and Hong Kong: please contact our representatives who will guide you through the applications process”. Oundle tells mainland China applicants to “contact our official representative”. Under its heading for standard applicants at a school that does not prepare for Common Entrance in any way, Harrow also states “Please note that the Additional Mathematics paper is compulsory for applicants from Singapore, Mainland China and Hong Kong”.

Dulwich College’s overseas page gives a Hong Kong date inside its section headed “Years 7, 9 and 10 Overseas Boarding Applications”: “The Entrance Examinations for boarding applicants from Hong Kong will be held in Hong Kong on Sunday 25 October 2026 and in other countries at a similar date and by individual arrangement with applicants.” Each region has its own page: 13+ entry from Hong Kong, 13+ entry from mainland China and 13+ entry from the UAE.

What about day schools and 11+ entry?

Grammar schools and day schools at 11 are covered in our 11+ from overseas hub, and boarding at 11 in boarding schools at 11 for families abroad. The two entry points are not interchangeable at every school: King’s College School Wimbledon states “It is not possible to apply for both 11+ and 13+ entry.”

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Reviewed Sunday 4 October 2026 against each school’s own admissions pages, ISEB, UKiset, gov.uk and the DfE boarding standards.

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