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It’s Like Hogwarts – without the moving staircases
Boarding Schools
UK boarding schools are known all over the world for their excellence. Academic success rates are high, and nearly all pupils go on to study at university. There is a huge choice of boarding schools in the UK, and they take pupils from all countries, from ages five to eighteen. After going through the UK boarding school system, a child will not only have benefited from a first class educational experience, but will be a fluent speaker of English, which is the global language of business and commerce.
You can rest assured that all UK boarding schools will be up to snuff, as they all have to be registered with the UK government education department. The education departments lays down minimum standards of facilities and teaching and enforces them. Also, all boarding schools are regularly inspected by independent assessors. More expensive schools will not necessarily be better, as some boarding schools receive endowments, which effectively subsidize tuition fees. You can view academic results, and other indicators of a school’s performance by looking at their website.
Schools Have Outstanding Qualifications
Most of the courses in UK boarding schools work toward standard examinations, and this ensures that qualifications are consistent and recognized. General Certificates of Secondary Education (GCSEs) are acquired at the age of sixteen and A-levels at the age of eighteen. It is also possible to study for the International Baccalaureate at many boarding schools. Having earned any of these qualifications, the holders of them will have no problems going onto further education or gaining employment, whether it be in the UK or elsewhere.
The best time for a child to start at a boarding school is at the age of eleven, which is when pupils in the UK start their secondary education. Older pupils are accepted, but the process of transition is easier when they are starting from the same point as their peers. Competition for places can be intense, particularly at the highest achieving boarding schools, and academic entrance tests must normally be passed. The academic year begins in September in the UK, so taking the entrance test at least six months in advance of that month is advisable.
Before making a final decision on which boarding school to choose, you should…
- Request a prospectus from each school and read through it thoroughly.
- Visit two to five schools if it is possible to do so.
- Ask your child if they have any particular preferences.
- Check what is, and what is not, included in the institution fees.
- Ask whether your child qualifies for any grants or scholarships.
Find Out More – Boarding Schools London
