Coming into the British school system from abroad

One important fact is lost in this obscurity: British schools, especially boarding schools, actually like to have children from abroad. In fact, they love them. They just can't salivate too hard for fear of scaring off the prey. Overseas pupils not only fill boarding places and can usually be counted on to pay the fees, but they are also generally diligent and hardworking, keep their dormitories tidy and stand a good chance of providing an extra violinist for the school orchestra. And no matter what you may hear about London day schools being horribly oversubscribed (all true), only a small percentage of British boarding schools can count on filling their beds with British boys and girls alone.

If your child has a pleasing academic record at home, there are only two further criteria that bear on his or her acceptance to a good British boarding school: English-speaking ability and timing. (For advice on timing, see our article on The UK School System.) The best ages to enter a British independent school from abroad are anything up to 11, and between the ages 13 and 16. But don't try to get a child into school mid-GCSE or mid-A level (during the year in which British pupils turn 15) as they are well into their GCSE preparation and it is hard on both the pupil and the school to take newcomers.

If your child has a pleasing academic record at home, there are only two further criteria that bear on his or her acceptance to a good British boarding school: English-speaking ability and timing.

However, once GCSEs are over, all bets are off, and schools can and do take new pupils to begin the two-year A level course. Some independent schools take in entire new classes at that age (NB: if your child has a good academic record in his or her home country but has not taken GCSEs, there is nothing to prevent him or her from starting A levels in the UK).

When should you decide?

Don't wait until the last minute. We are finding that parents often act only six or eight months (or less) before they wish their child to begin school, a trend that has been confirmed by ISCis. Parents then rely on agents to sort out places in a rush. The further in advance you make arrangements, the better your chances of getting your child into the school of your choice. Some selective schools award places, following entrance assessments several years in advance.

As for English, if your child is genuinely fluent, congratulations. But what if your son or daughter doesn't speak English or speaks it poorly? This is where the overseas schools agents and specialist international schools come into their own. Among your options are the following:

Improve their English

This needs to be done in your own country and quickly by buckling down to it at school, taking extra lessons, hiring a private tutor, enrolling in British Council classes, or whatever it takes. The earlier you remedy the lack of English, the better. Don't put it off thinking that sending him to the UK at 16 will miraculously solve the problem. You will save yourself a lot of time and money by helping your youngster achieve a good level of English before arriving. If your child is one of those poor souls who has serious trouble with languages and seems congenitally doomed to lousy-English-itis, do not assume (unless they happen to be age 4) that sending them to England will be an easy path to fluency. It is going to take work.

International study centres

Schools offering pre-boarding school programmes for non-English speakers have sprung up as independent wings of a number of long-established British public schools. These include Taunton International, King's Ely, Rossall School, Dover College, but the best known is Sherborne International. They specialise in boosting overseas pupils' English while also teaching a basic curriculum of maths, science etc. Children can attend one of these centres for as little as a term but frequently stay for one or two years being prepared for public exams such as Common Entrance, GCSEs or IGCSEs and even, in some cases, A levels or the IB diploma. Classes are small and lessons are normally taught six days a week. They can all be found through the AISC, which also lists over 60 highly regarded schools including famous names that have the machinery in place to help foreign students acquire the necessary skills.

The overseas students usually wear the same uniform as the pupils in the main school and are able to use all its facilities (swimming pools, tennis courts, games halls, theatres, music practice rooms etc). However, they are taught in separate premises and sleep in international student dorms. While most of the youngsters will enter mainstream British schools, only a few will enrol at the school to which their centre is attached. Exceptions are Dover College, where overseas pupils may gradually integrate into the school, and St Bees, where most of the international pupils move on to join the main school for A levels.

International study centres organise intensive summer English courses to prepare pupils who will enter mainstream British schools in the autumn, and some offer short GCSE revision courses for a week or two in the spring. The main advantage of these study centres is that they provide a 'soft landing' in the UK for young pupils with limited (or no) English. We generally prefer these centres – where the youngsters live in dormitories, are looked after by school staff, make friends with children from around the world and take part in organised outings and sports events – to non-residential or 'home stay' programmes offered by other academic institutions. Another advantage is that these centres are attached to schools with reputations to protect so you are going to get what you pay for.

One disadvantage is the high cost. Also consider the disruption your child will experience after first settling into the centre and making friends and then having to start over again at their actual school a year later. Most worrying of all to the parents to whom we have spoken is the idea that junior will be attending school with other non-native English speakers and may even revert to their own home language if there are others who speak it.

If you are considering sending your child to an international study centre, check which subjects are offered beyond English. In many cases, only maths, sciences and a few other limited options are available, which may not suit your child's interests. Ask about guardianship arrangements. Like any British school, the study centres close for half-terms, between terms and sometimes for ‘exeat’ weekends. You will need to arrange a guardian to look after your child during these periods. The schools can usually arrange this at additional cost or you can consult the guardian's association Aegis. Ask about sleeping arrangements – some schools wisely make a point of ensuring that students share a bedroom with a student who does not speak the same mother tongue. Also ask for clear evidence of the centre's placement record. Sure, one child in 1998 may have got into Eton, but which schools or universities do most pupils go on to? Insist on seeing the school's exam results (they should be proud to show you).

Tutorial colleges

These are private academic institutions that offer schooling on the fringes of mainstream British education. You tend to see a lot of them at British Council 'Study in the UK' exhibitions. Not all of them take boarders but many do. Examples include St Clares College (Oxford) and Cambridge Tutors Sixth Form College (Croydon, south of London). These schools generally provide a more adult environment, small classes, good EFL support and special programmes for entering mainstream British education, especially universities. They are a cheaper option than the international study centres for mature pupils whose ultimate aim is to attend a British university.

Most tutorial colleges have some pupils from among the local population, but this is not a typical British school education. Accommodation tends to be with local families rather than in boarding houses, and students need to be self-motivated and responsible. Ask to see exam results and university placement records before considering any of these establishments.

Independent boarding schools with ESL/EFL support

This is not an option for pupils with no English – and it's not worth faking your 13-year-old's way in, hoping that he or she will pick up enough English to get by. If you are very lucky, they may, but it can be a miserable experience. When it comes to choosing a school, here's what you should be looking for:

• Solid boarding numbers (ideally, though not necessarily, a majority of boarders over day pupils) to ensure companionship and fun on the weekends and in the evenings. Schools where pupils are primarily weekly boarders can leave the dormitories hauntingly empty on weekends. Also check who the boarding students are. If one of your goals is to improve your child's English, you will want to know there's a good proportion of native English speakers.

• Good, strong EFL support. Help on this front is getting better and better and schools are becoming more honest about their facilities. However, if you are seriously interested in a school, do ask for the contact details of another overseas family. Then grill them mercilessly to get the inside scoop on EFL provision (among other things!).

• Schools that are popular with British expat families. British parents who work overseas and send their children to school back home are probably the biggest group of educational critics you will find. Scores of them at one school is a good endorsement of the school and its ability to cope well with children whose families are a plane journey away.

• Schools with a good record of taking international pupils. All British schools take overseas applicants. The trick is to get the balance right between schools that depend on foreigners to fill vacant boarding wings – thereby appearing desperate and scaring off local parents – and ones where your son or daughter might be the only child from outside the UK. Most high-achieving schools won't want to threaten their A level league table standing by taking too many EFL pupils. Make a point of asking the percentage of overseas pupils at any school you are considering. If it is higher than you like (above, say, 15 per cent), scrutinise the school with care.

British state schools

For families with the right to live in the UK or Republic of Ireland, British state schools provide a popular and cost-effective means of educating your children in the UK. Particularly useful are the 30 state boarding schools in the UK which provide free tuition and charge only for room and board (roughly £15,000+ per year at present, far less than half the price of boarding schools in the private sector). Some are comprehensive (no selection on the basis of academic ability) while others are extremely choosy. One, the Hockerill Anglo-European School in Bishop's Stortford, north of London, specialises in languages and is a popular choice with youngsters from the continent. It was the first school in England to offer the International Baccalaureate and, while still taking mainly British pupils, attracts many overseas boarders. Do apply well in advance, however: Hockerill currently receives five applications for every available place in the school.

The Department for Education website explains in detail the rules regarding admission of overseas pupils to schools.

• Beware of agents who promote schools from whom they earn commissions. There may be nothing wrong with the schools they tout, and they often provide a useful service – sorting out visas, summer English courses etc – but keep in mind that the agents may not give you unbiased advice. And the best schools may actually turn your child down because they know the agent will expect a payment, and the school can quickly fill that slot with another student.

• Beware of 'education fairs' populated by a seedy academic fringe of English-language schools, boarding school preparation courses, struggling boarding schools, and tutorial colleges. Some of the institutions on offer will be excellent, but do scrutinise what they are offering.

• Always try to visit a school before you commit to sending your child there.

• Keep in mind that for your child to qualify for a visa to study in the UK, you will need to provide evidence that you can financially support them throughout their stay.

• Remember that schools will always try and find places for brilliant pupils. If your child is genuinely towering above the scholars in his current school, and you have evidence for his or her impressive intellect, do make schools aware of it and don't settle for less than a top academic school.

Many British schools really are among the best in the world and offer a breadth of education that is unobtainable elsewhere. Make sure to take your time, talk to as many people as you can and get your decision right.