The UK School System

There are two types of school in the UK: state-funded schools and independent schools which are fee-paying. Many of the latter also offer boarding facilities for both British and international students.

Preparatory and Senior School

Independent Preparatory Schools generally take children from the age of seven or eight years, where they stay until the age of thirteen, at which point they would begin Senior School in Year 9. Boarding accommodation is available at Prep and Senior level at many private schools, and the schools are careful to ensure a warm, comfortable and secure environment for all their boarders, whatever their age.

The Curriculum

British schools generally offer three main types of curriculum in their final four years (Years 10 to 13): the GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) followed by A Level (Advanced Level) or the IB Diploma (International Baccalaureate).

The GCSE

British students study around nine or ten GCSE subjects over the course of two years, normally beginning in the British Year 10, at the age of fourteen years. For some international students the popular one-year Pre-IB course in Year 11 provides an ideal point of entry into the UK system at around fifteen years.

The A Level

The A Level is the traditional British school leaving qualification. Four (or five) subjects are studied in the Lower Sixth / Year 12, followed by three (or four) of the same subjects to a more advanced level in the Upper Sixth / Year 13.

The IB Diploma

The IB is becoming increasingly popular in UK schools due to the breadth of its curriculum. Students study a total of six subjects (three at Higher Level and three at Standard Level) over the course of two years.