top of page
Our expert education advice
Browse our latest updates below or use the search bar above to discover more. We provide expert education advice tailored specifically to you and your family. So if you need further support contact our specialist team today.
The Insider's Playbook: UK Education for American Military Families living in Britain
If you’re reading this blog, most likely, you already have children settled in a DoDEA school, a UK state or international school, or a UK private day or boarding school. This guide is for families who might be considering a change, whether that is moving into a UK private day school while you are posted here, exploring your options for a UK boarding school so your child can stay in one school through a future military move. For example, applying for a sixth form UK boarding
5 days ago6 min read
Which Schools Use the ISEB Pre-Test and How Do Schools Use the Results?
An Insider's Guide to What the Result Actually Does Correct at time of publication. School admissions arrangements change without announcement. Please verify current requirements directly with each school. Many selective British independent schools use the ISEB Common Pre-Test, or a similar test created in-house. Rather confusingly for parents, they use the result in a variety of ways. At schools such as Radley and St Edward's, Oxford, a strong pre-test result, followed by a
Jul 2716 min read
How Do I Apply to Eton and Other Elite British Boarding Schools? An Insider’s Guide in Frequently Asked Questions
To apply to Eton College and other elite British boarding schools, you register your child with each school before its deadline, sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test in Year 6, complete each school’s own assessment and interview, and confirm the place through a Year 8 examination. The most important point to grasp is that registration deadlines fall years before entry and vary from school to school, so early planning is essential. Below we answer the questions high net worth and inte
Jul 154 min read
How Do Overseas Families Register for the ISEB Common Pre-Test? An Insider’s Guide
Overseas families register their child for the ISEB Common Pre-Test directly through the ISEB Guardian Portal, creating a single Applicant ID that is shared with every school they apply to. Children who are not studying in a British prep school, and whose own school overseas is not an ISEB registered test centre, must sit the test in person in the UK, or overseas, under approved invigilation, as remote invigilation is not permitted. The Independent Education Consultants manag
Jun 255 min read
The Insider's Guide to British Boarding Schools for Talented Footballers
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup brings football fever to every corner of the globe, parents of talented young footballers are asking a question that goes far beyond the tournament itself: where in the world offers the finest environment to develop an elite young player, while also securing a world-class academic education? The answer, consistently, is Britain. British independent boarding schools have long been at the forefront of sporting excellence, and football is no exception.
Jun 105 min read
The Insider's Guide to British Prep Schools: Why Attending One Is the Most Powerful Step You Can Take Towards Elite Boarding School Entry at 13
It is Common Entrance exam week in prep schools across Britain this week, and at Independent Education Consultants we are once again reminded of how profoundly a well-chosen prep school shapes a child's journey towards the most sought-after boarding school places in the world. Parents asking us whether their child should attend a British prep school before applying to Eton, Winchester, Harrow, Cheltenham Ladies' College or Wycombe Abbey at the age of 13 are really asking a mo
Jun 46 min read
The Insider's Guide to Securing a Last-Minute British Boarding School Place for September 2026
Can you still secure a place at a British boarding school for September 2026 at short notice? Yes. While the traditional admissions cycle favours early applicants, occasional places do become available throughout the year. Families who act decisively and choose to engage expert guidance from an education consultant will secure outstanding place offer outcomes. This guide explains how high net worth and expatriate families can find the right last minute British boarding school
May 284 min read
The Insider's Guide to Applying to British Elite Boarding Schools: Five Steps from Strategy to Starting Day
An insider's guide to applying to British elite boarding schools. The five step consultancy process that helps UK and international families secure top places.
May 125 min read
What Questions Should I Ask on a British Boarding School Visit and Tour? An Insider's Guide to Preparing for UK School Visits, from Prep School to Sixth Form
The questions that matter most at Prep, Senior and Sixth Form level, what to ask the Head, the Housemaster, the Admissions Registrar and current pupils, and how discerning international families compare British boarding schools with confidence. The Short Answer The most useful questions to ask on a British boarding school tour fall into five categories: academic provision, pastoral care, boarding life, co-curricular opportunity, and the practicalities of joining as an expat,
Apr 2914 min read
Remain up to date with our latest education advice
Via our regular email newsletters, our team of experts share tips and advice on all aspects of education, plus details of our webinar programme and other events. Sign up to avoid missing out on some great tips with our compliments.
bottom of page