Open Morning FAQs

Exact timings will be sent nearer the date, but we would usually expect families to arrive from 8.45am, ready for a 9-9.15am start.

The Open Morning itself runs from 9am-12.30pm and you are free to see as much or as little as you wish. However, you should allow at least two hours if you would like to go on a tour and hear from the Head.

Pupil-guided Tour

Every family is paired with a pupil who will take them on a tour of the College. This will take in all buildings and departments, as well as our sports facilities.

You can look around a Day or Boarding House, as you prefer, and visit the Lower School.

In total, your tour should take between 60-90 minutes. Our pupils will follow an advised route, but you are in charge – so if there’s something you would like to see, or indeed something you’re less interested in, please just say and they can tailor the tour to your requirements.

Hear from the Head

You will also have the opportunity to hear from our Head, Mark Lascelles. He will introduce the College and share the lectern with some of our pupils.

The Head’s talk takes place a couple of times throughout the morning, and will last around 40 minutes.

Sixth Form Presentation

For those families looking at a Sixth Form place, we also have a presentation from our Deputy Head: Academic, Mrs Rebecca Brown, and our Assistant Head: Senior School Form, Mr Nick Russell. This will take around 40 minutes, and give you a flavour of what life as a Sixth Form student entails.

Chat to Senior Staff

Throughout the morning, senior colleagues and Admissions staff will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. We also have a number of parents dotted around the College, who will give you an honest view of their experience at Epsom. 

Absolutely! Whichever school your child ultimately joins, it’s important that they feel they were involved in making the choice. 

We provide each family with their own pupil guide, who will be close in age to your child. We hope this means that your child will feel able to ask them questions, speak to them more easily, and gain valuable insights into life at Epsom. 

Yes. We offer a few different ways to visit the College.

Private Visits (duration approx. 80 minutes)

For families seeking a more tailored experience, we offer a limited number of private visits throughout the year. These visits include:

• A private tour with a senior member of staff
• A tour of one of our houses, conducted by a pupil
• A one-to-one meeting with the Head

This option is perfect for families who have specific questions or who would benefit from a personalised approach. Children are encouraged to attend.

College Tours (duration approx 1hr 40mins)

Our College tours are smaller than an Open Morning, limited to a maximum of 40 families. They allow you to see the College on a normal working day. These tours include:

• Informal welcome from key senior staff and the Head, Mark Lascelles
• Guided, personal tour for each family, with two current pupils
• Refreshments and the opportunity to chat with staff afterwards

Please bear in mind that this is a normal working day at the College. If you would like to see departmental showcases, you may wish to consider attending one of our termly Open Mornings.

Children are encouraged to attend.

Feeder School lunches (duration approx 2hrs)

These are arranged in collaboration with your current school’s Head. He or she invites a small group of parents who are considering joining Epsom for a lunch at Epsom. Over lunch, you will meet with our Head, Mark Lascelles, our Director of Admissions, Chris Bates, and other senior colleagues. The event is deliberately informal and designed to give you the chance to find out more and ask specific questions.

The visit will also include a group tour of the College, so that you can see us on a normal working day.

Dates are limited, so if you think this is something you and other parents from your school would be interested in, please speak to your Head or send an email to our Admissions Team.

We kindly ask that children do not attend these lunches, so that conversations over lunch can flow freely.

Open Mornings

Open Mornings are the ideal introduction and overview of the College. These flagship events feature departmental showcases and a talk from the Head. They take place on Saturday morning. 

You will get to see: buildings, classrooms, departmental showcases, sports facilities, our grounds, the Lower School and a day or boarding house. 

College Tours

College Tours are smaller and take place on weekday mornings throughout the academic year. You will see the school on a normal working morning – with lessons rather than showcases and no formal presentation from the Head.

Private Visits

Bespoke in nature, these tours are designed for families with specific questions who seek a more tailored experience. After a short tour and the chance to visit one of our boarding or day houses, you will have a one-to-one meeting with the Head.

Feeder School lunches

Similar to a private visit, but with the opportunity to hear the questions (and answers) from other families at your school that you may not have considered. These events can provide a useful overview of Epsom, and a deeper understanding of the route into senior schools, and the specific connection between your school and ours.

Year 7 & Year 9 applications

You’ll need to register by the October of your child’s Year 6. Therefore we recommend looking around when your child is in Year 5 (sometimes Year 4 if you’re really keen).

We would recommend arranging a visit with your child so that they also get a feel for the College and our pupils.

Year 7 admissions Year 9 admissions

Year 12 applications

The best time to see the College if you’re considering applying to our Sixth Form will be in Year 10, as the registration deadline is mid-October in Year 11.

Year 12 admissions

Absolutely! Whichever school your child ultimately joins, it’s important that they will be happy there. We believe that they also settle best when they feel they have been involved in making the choice. 

However, you are equally welcome to attend any of our events without your child. We know many parents appreciate the chance to get a feel for the College themselves before involving their child in the process.

All of our events are tailored to prospective pupils, so we hope they will get plenty from the visit.

We provide each family with their own pupil guide, who will be close in age to your child. We hope this means that your child will remain engaged during their visit and feel able to ask questions. 

Our Admissions team are available all year round to answer any questions you may have. Simply get in touch by phone or email, using the contact details below.

Mr Chris Bates, Director of Admissions

• admissions@epsomcollege.org.uk
• 01372 821234

Mrs Emma Green, Admissions Registrar

• emma.green@epsomcollege.org.uk
• 01372 821007

Mrs Sandy Denny, Admissions Assistant

• sandy.denny@epsomcollege.org.uk
• 01372 821008