Term Dates:

The school year commences in September and is divided into three terms. The winter term runs from September until December: the spring term runs from January until March: the summer term runs from April until the end of June or the beginning of July (depending upon the dates of public examinations).

Schools:

Preparatory schools cater for children between 7 and 13 and Secondary schools between 11 and 18+. These age bands can vary; boys' and girls' schools differ; check each school. Some preparatory schools are situated in the same grounds as the senior school. This means that younger children have the advantage of many facilities available to the older children, for example: laboratory and sports equipment, the swimming pool and tennis courts.

Entry:

The best ages for overseas children to start school is at about the age of 9 years in a preparatory school and 11+ or 13 in a senior school. It is unwise to send a child at 15+ because children of the same age will be halfway through the two year GCSE course. The child will probably be placed in a lower class where other children are a year or more younger.

Examinations:

The first public examinations are the GCSEs (General Certificates of Secondary Education). UK students sit for these exams at the age of 16 after a two year course.

Most schools admit overseas children into the sixth form to study for their A (Advanced) levels. UK students sit for these exams at the age of 18, again after a two year course. Schools differ in their requirements but the usual condition of entry into a sixth form is that the child has passed either five GCSEs at grade C or above, or the equivalent examinations in their own country. Schools may refuse a place to a student who is already aged 17+ to 18.

Sixth Form Colleges:

Sixth form colleges, for older students of 16+ to 20-21 are an alternative. Some are residential, others day colleges. Classes are smaller with more individual teaching.