US citizens moving to the UK part 6: Choosing the right UK school

Key Takeaways:

• UK schools are broadly categorised into state-funded, independent and international schools, each with distinct admissions processes, fee structures and academic criteria.
• Independent school fees range from £6,000 to £80,000 per year depending on location, age group and whether the pupil boards, and competition for top schools can be intense.
• State school access typically requires residence within the school’s “catchment area” and an immigration status permitting UK state education.

An overview of the UK education system

The schooling system in the UK is unique given the distinct groups by which schools are categorised. Broadly, these categories are state-funded, independent and international schools. Within each category there are sub-groups, such as day or boarding for independent and international schools, and grammar or comprehensive for state schools. Across all three groups, schools can be selective on, for instance, religious or academic grounds.

Independent schools: Access, fees and competition

There are many independent schools (also known as “private” or “public” schools) in the UK. UK independent schools often admit students at ages 4, 7, 11, 13 and 16. The application process for the top-performing schools can be extremely competitive. Access to independent schools varies depending on the type of school sought in terms of academic and religious requirements, whether the school has boarding facilities and fees.

There are around 2,500 independent schools in the UK, 1,500 of which are independent secondary schools. Many of the highest-performing schools in terms of academics are based in London and the south of England, though there are many well-known day and boarding schools spread across the UK. Around one third of independent schools offer some kind of boarding. Fees range from £6,000 to £80,000 per year, depending on the location of the school, age group and whether the pupil boards or not.

State-funded schools: Free education with catchment requirements

The majority of schools in the UK are state-funded, meaning that they are free to attend. However, the state schools that are consistently ranked amongst the best in the UK tend to be entirely selective on academic grounds, such as grammar schools. In addition, most state schools will require a pupil to live in the requisite “catchment area”. For a relocating US national to attend a state school, they must have a UK address, one which ideally falls within the relevant catchment area of the school to which they are applying, and an immigration status which permits UK state education.

There are a wide number of specialist education consultants who can assist with relocation and school entry. There are also property-finding services that specialise in finding homes for relocating families within catchment areas for top schools, which will typically be relevant to state-funded schools.

International schools: A familiar option for American families

There are a number of international schools in the UK. However, these schools are predominantly based in and around London, Oxford and Brighton. Many of the international schools in the UK offer boarding facilities, yet there are several schools that do not, such as The American School in London. Though international schools do not have a catchment area, practically a day pupil will need to live an accessible distance from the school. Moreover, many international schools are also selective on academic or religious grounds and may require an applicant to complete an assessment upon application. For a UK international day school, the fees are around £8,000 to £50,000 per year. For international boarding schools, the fees range from £25,000 to £70,000 per year.

Enrolment and admissions: How the process works

To obtain a place at an independent or international school, applications must be made directly to the school itself. Applicants must usually sit an entrance exam a year in advance of enrolment. There may then be an interview for shortlisted candidates which will assess why the candidate might want to attend that school and assess their character and fit. Offers will be sent to those who have met the relevant thresholds. Upon acceptance of an offer, a deposit must usually be paid.

Competition for the top independent schools can be fierce and, for certain schools, families can be required to register their interest a few years in advance. This is particularly the case for schools in or near London. To obtain a place at a state school, an application must be made to the local authority, as opposed to the school itself. Residence is an important entrance requirement for the majority of state schools. For state schools which are selective on academic grounds, applicants will also be required to complete an entrance exam and possibly an interview. Priority will often be given to applicants that live in the relevant catchment area.

This is Part 6 of our eight-part series, “US citizens moving to the UK.” Read the other posts in this series for guidance on immigration, tax residence, inheritance planning, US tax traps, healthcare, banking and housing.