I hope you’ve found this blog in plenty of time ahead of your proposed boarding school start year. Whilst our team of expert education consultants helps many client families with making applications to British boarding schools at all times of year, and sometimes even at the last-minute, the more time we have, the more we can effectively advise, plan, support and mentor both parents and child with this often-complicated process.
For this reason, we work with many client families over several years, getting to know each child and putting in place the correct boarding school application support preparation pathway - mentoring, tutoring, interview skills practise, over time – giving your child the best possible opportunity for successful place offer outcomes.
The education consultancy advice process of choosing and preparing to make a successful application to a top British boarding school can deliver a whole additional source of education. Building your child’s confidence, communication skills, academic skills, critical thinking and problem-solving skills are valuable lessons for life.
Here is the ‘ideal world’ scenario if you are seeking to secure a place offer at a top British boarding school for age 13, entering UK year 9.
UK year 5 (age 9/10)
During this year it is all about assessing your child’s academic level compared with their UK private school peers and getting your school choices right for your child.
Depending on the resulting academic report, consider some gentle tutoring, if there are areas where improvement could be made. Contact us for help to put a tutor with the right knowledge and expertise of British boarding school entry tests in place.
Developing a strategy for all the factors which come together to make the best boarding school for your child. Their interests, talents, career ambitions, IB or A level, character, personality, learning needs.
Bringing the strategy together, a list of boarding schools can then be considered, and the research phase begins.
Attending school open days as well as reading school websites to really get to know each school and decide if its ethos and approach to education matches yours as parents.
Registrations are submitted for your chosen schools, so you are in the system and ready to go with the next steps.
A school may request you make boarding house choices or express your preferences.
Consider booking a summer school at a British boarding school to offer your child the opportunity to experience being away from home for the first time, as well as to make new friends and learn some new skills. Contact us for summer course recommendations for your child.
If your child attends an international school overseas, consider planning a move to a British boarding prep school if you feel you’d like the reassurance of more in-school support for your top boarding school applications.
UK year 6 (age 10/11)
For many top British boarding schools, this is the ISEB pre-test year, or similar pre-test.
Taken online, only once during a school year, this is the first assessment top boarding schools make of your child’s academic level and potential, when compared with peers in British schools. Parents must register their child for the test and share their ID with the schools. For our clients, we manage this process for you.
The results are shared automatically with your registered boarding schools who will then consider whether your child should be offered the opportunity to move to the next step in the application process – assessments and interviews.
Top boarding schools will contact your child’s current school for a reference.
Outcomes can be an offer to move to the assessment and interview stage, a waiting list place, or a no.
Managing these outcomes can be tricky as boarding schools vary greatly in the dates, deadlines and terms of offers. Managing boarding school applications is something our team handle for your client families.
By the end of this school year, your plan will be in place for next steps with the boarding schools who have invited your child for assessment and interviews. These are usually held in person at each school on a certain day by invitation.
Consider booking a summer school at a British boarding school to offer your child an opportunity to experience being away from home, as well as to make new friends and learn new skills. Contact us for boarding school summer course recommendations for your child.
If your child attends an international school overseas, consider planning a move to a British boarding prep school if you feel you’d like the reassurance of more in-school support for your top boarding school applications.
UK year 7 (age 11/12)
This is the year when many schools invite those children who have been successful at the online pre-test stage, to attend top boarding schools for assessments and interviews with both academic and boarding staff.
Assessment formats and dates in the academic year vary.
Interviews can be individual or involve some group tasks.
For some schools this is the start of their assessment and interview process, if they have no pre-test requirement in year 6.
If not already done in year 6, some schools will ask your current school for a reference.
Outcomes will be a place offer, a waiting list place or a no.
Acceptance dates, deposits and deadlines will differ from school to school. Juggling these can be complicated.
If your child attends an international school overseas, or perhaps a London primary or day prep school, consider planning a moving for two years to a British boarding prep school if you feel you’d like the reassurance of more in-school support for your top boarding school applications. Many families choose this pathway as a preparation for starting at a top boarding school at age 13.
Consider booking a summer school at a British boarding school to offer your child an opportunity more experience being away from home, as well as to make new friends and learn new skills. Contact us for boarding school summer course recommendations for your child.
UK year 8 (age 12/13)
If your child is talented in academics, sport, music, technology or creative subjects, they may have the opportunity to apply for scholarship.
Assessments for scholarship candidates take place throughout this year by invitation, usually on a set day for all applicants.
Assessments include individual interviews, group tasks, performances or bringing along a portfolio for discussion with senior teachers for each subject area. The format varies for each school.
Scholarships are more about accolade and access to programme which nurture talent and do not usually come with a large reduction in school fees.
This is also the year for getting your child ready for boarding school, if they are not in a British boarding prep school.
If you live overseas, you may need to put a guardianship service in place to support your child as an emergency UK-based contact. Contact us if you would like help with this.
UK year 9 (age 13/14)
Enjoy settling your child into the best British boarding school for them. Plan a treat for the first holiday so they have something to look forward to.
If this piece on UK Boarding Schools has made you think considering British boarding schools could be the right option for your child, we offer a complimentary call for all families so we can explore this discussion further on an individual family basis. During the call we will ask you about your child, and your ambitions for their education. Then, we discuss how we are best to help you navigate the often-confusing waters of choosing, applying and securing an offer of a place to join the best British boarding school for your child and family.
Get in touch with us to find out more.
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