Independent Schools

Applying to a selective private school

A place at an academically selective private senior school is the holy grail for many parents. These schools know how to get the most from pupils and open doors to leading universities but the admissions process are complex and must be successfully navigated before the offer of a place lands in your inbox.

Boarding prep schools: what you need to know

Nearly all boarding preps go up to age 13 (year 8) because they prepare pupils for senior boarding schools that start in year 9. The majority of pupils at these prep schools start ‘proper’ boarding at around age 11 although some may have tried it out previously via flexi boarding or doing the occasional ‘taster’ night. A few prep schools admit boarders under 10 and make special provision for them with bedrooms that look much closer to how things are at home and, because numbers are small, a regime that is flexible.

Boarding school for the sixth form

It’s quite common for young people to want a change of scene after GCSEs and some may choose to move to a school where they can board for their last two years. We visit many schools where there are more boarders in the sixth form than lower down the school – largely because 16- to 18-year-olds are keen to concentrate on their studies, socialise with their friends in their spare time and get a taste of living away from home prior to university.

Choir schools explained

A choir school is a school attached to a Christian cathedral, major church or college chapel and educates the girl and boy choristers who sing at services. Nearly all choir schools (Westminster Abbey is the exception) also take children who are not interested in becoming choristers, in fact, the choristers are usually in the minority but the presence of a professional choir and the close relationship with ancient religious foundations means that these schools are unique and provide an unusual educational experience. 

Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI)

The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) is an independent inspectorate appointed by the Department for Education (DfE) to inspect schools that are members of the associations that make up the Independent Schools Council (ISC).

Prep and pre-prep schools: what do I need to know?

As their name suggests, the main aim of ‘preparatory schools’, or prep schools, is to prepare children for entry to fee-paying senior schools at 11 or 13. Traditionally, pre-preps take children from 3 or 4 and prepare them for moving on to preps at 7 or 8. There are fewer stand-alone pre-preps than there used to be as their main market, the boarding prep, has declined in numbers.

Preparing your child for private school interviews

While state schools are prohibited from interviewing any but potential sixth form students, the interview is an integral part of nearly every private school admissions process, and tends to send the applicant’s parents, rather than the actual applicant, into a spin. Parents feel considerably more responsible for their child’s social presentation than for his or her ability to do long division or conjugate French verbs.

Private school fees explained: what are you paying for?

Rewind a few decades and the general position on private school fees was, 'if you have to ask how much, you probably can’t afford it.' Even The Good Schools Guide didn’t publish them in early editions.

Private school scholarships and bursaries

Private schools offer scholarships and bursaries in order to attract talented pupils and to make a place affordable for those families unable to pay fees.

Private schools in the UK

Left scratching your head about the difference between public school, private school and independent school? And where on earth prep schools and boarding schools fit into the picture? Fear not – our at a glance guide will set you straight:

Independent Schools further reading

Registration fees and deposits explained

Every private school sets its own admissions procedure. But while there is no fixed model, most schools ask parents to part with considerable sums of money – some refundable, some not - at certain points of the admissions journey.

You may find you’re asked to pay more than you expected and that the sums quickly add up especially if you’re applying to more than one school.

What type of boarding - full, weekly or flexi?

If you’re reading this you’ve probably already decided that boarding might suit your son or daughter. If so the next step is to consider the arrangement that best suits your family. Unlike the old days, when youngsters were packed off to school at the age of 7 or 8 and didn’t see home again until the end of term, today’s boarding schools offer parents a choice of full boarding, weekly boarding, flexi boarding or even a combination of these. For instance, flexi boarders may wish to weekly board during exam times or become full boarders in the sixth form.