- Learn about the UK independent school system and decide which entry point would be the right age to send your child.
- Choose a group of target schools and register your child for entry before registrations close (this could be up to three years in advance of entry).
- If possible, visit the schools before the assessments so your child knows what the school is like and what to expect.
- Understand when the assessments will be and what your child will need to do, which could be different for each school.
- Help your child to get ready for their assessments and interviews.
- Take your child to attend the assessments and interviews at the school.
- Wait for the results!
There are always other options, whether this be changing to a later entry point or choosing a different group of UK target schools. If you are unsure, book a consultation (link) and we can help to give you the best advice.
Every child is different, and this will vary from child to child depending on the situation. It is important to make sure your child is fully prepared before you begin your UK school applications.
The best way to do this is to book a consultation (link) with an expert who can get to know your child and help you to understand the situation from an outside perspective. You might find that we learn things about your child that you were yet unaware of.
Generally, the earlier you do this the better as that will give them the most time possible to get ready before the school assessments.
If your child is considering boarding, then a good way to test their readiness would be to try sending them on a short boarding summer or winter course.
- There are many differences, with the most obvious being that your child will stay overnight at boarding school but will return home in the evenings at a day school.
- The atmosphere and environment at a boarding school will be different to that of a day school, and the student body will usually be more international.
- Boarding schools plan activities and classes during evenings and weekends, which can be very beneficial for some children.
- The tuition fees will also be different, with boarding school places generally being more expensive than day school places as they also need to pay for accommodation and other expenses associated with boarding.
- If you are an international family who would normally require visas to come to the UK, a boarding school will usually be able to sponsor your child’s Tier 4 Student Visa, whereas a day school is unlikely to be able to do this.
Every UK independent school is different, and it may be a mistake to simply separate them into single-sex or co-ed and go from there. A lot will depend on your individual child, their current situation, and what kind of environment would best suit them.