I can't believe this thread is still going, but I'm going to add my experience of CH to it for all it's worth.
We have a DD in Year 6. We looked at the school in Yr5 with a view to seeing what boarding was all about and then writing it off as an option as we were anti boarding - we love our children and want to see them and (selfishly for us live with them. We therefore went to see it and were quite literally overwhelmed (we'd seen loads of the North London private schools) and felt it offered something quite unique which was a feeling of equality and non-elitism. The children were lovely, polite, funny, happy and all had a vitality (presumably from the bracing winds and exercise). Most importantly they were normal, and individual. They didn't look pressured and we saw everywhere a love of learning and care being taken to nurture the best you could achieve. They seemed to reflect a balance of life experience being as important as academic achievement (that just didn't seem apparent in any of the other schools we are looking at who seemed more focused on grades).
The facilities in the school are excellent, the traditions took a little getting used to, but they also clearly defined the sense of community spirit and pride in the school.
We went home and applied and whilst still weren't sure of boarding, figured time would help us make a decision.
We went to visit again a few months later. Saw other new amazing aspects of the school, asked questions about boarding and pastoral care.
Daughter then sat the Initial test, there were 450 candidates in the morning and 450 in the afternoon (I believe) (Half boys, half girls). The test was straightforward. Our daughter passed it (our friends DD didn't). We just went to the Residential Assessment. There were 11 boarding houses of about 24 prospective pupils. I think there was one boarding house for 13+ entry and then 5 x 24 boys and 5 x 24 girls. They did so many tests and activities (Verbal, Non Verbal and Numerical Reasoning Tests on computer x 3, Maths Paper, English Paper, Boarding House Group Q&A session (mostly questions relating t a moral dilemma), Interview with House Parent, Performance Piece (optional), sports activity, singing activity (all applicants), plus they no doubt were being assessed continually to see how they interacted and bonded.
Results for the places come out in Feb and so we think we may have a statistical 1 in 2 chance of an offer at this stage. DD thought it went well and met some lovely girls. Not sure if we qualify in any area of need other than ability to afford fees and a not so great choice of local secondaries.
DD stated she loved it....she is ready to board and now ranks it up equal with SPGS, NLCS, CLGS and Habs.
We will have to see what offers we might be lucky enough to get (hopefully all with bursaries and/or scholarships) before we can really decide if we can even afford it.
I spoke to as many parents I could travelling to and from the exam days. Lots of 'normal' people / families. Single parents, widowers, children with disabled siblings, overcrowded homes, people with health issues, but also completely unaffected families who just simply could not afford this sort of education without financial assistance....all the people we met were lovely!!!
I do not know how they assess 'need'. The Head stated it was an academically selective school, they will presumably not offer to those who they think will not cope with boarding and take a balanced view of the potential to gain from an education there, for everyone else who did well enough in the tests.
If you sat the test this week good luck in February. If you are thinking of applying, please go and visit because I think you will be pleasantly surprised. We felt that non of our local state schools came anywhere close to it in terms of the opportunities it offered.
I also now feel if my daughter really wants to board she will be right for boarding school - she has matured over the last year and we would move her if it was not right. If your child is against boarding they probably will not suit CH