FREE UK Schools Directory 2 019/ 2 0 THE UK BOARDING SCHOOLS SPECIALISTS FOR WEST AFRICA In Association With www.andersoneducation.co.uk www.ukboardingschoolexhibition.com "Achievement, confidence, happiness." Welcome to the Contents 05 Help & advice latest UK Boarding 08 Boarding experiences School Directory... 16 London and South East region Choosing a boarding school is difficult 31 South and West enough when you live in the UK. When region you live overseas, it makes selecting and 42 Central region 48 Eastern region visiting schools a huge task. 51 Northern region For those parents with little experience of boarding schools it 59 Welsh region can be a daunting prospect; most rely on friends and family for 63 Scottish region help and advice. Each child is different and each school is different. 66 School listing and With a little help from the experts you can find that perfect place regional map where your child will blossom and grow to his or her full potential. Details of further schools The Directory is distributed throughout West Africa and is are available on our website available from British Council offices, schools, hotels, clubs and www.boardingschoolsadvice.com exhibitions and events that we attend. The UK Boarding School Exhibition in Nigeria (March and October) and Ghana (May) each year provides an excellent opportunity for parents to meet Heads from schools throughout the UK. We shall be delighted to offer you FREE help and guidance. EVERYONE HAS A STORY We would like to include your Best wishes personal experiences of boarding, as a parent or student, in the next West Africa Directory. Please send copy (max 200 words) to: [email protected] SPECIAL THANKS Sara Sparling, Education Consultant Special thanks to students, families and schools that have contributed editorial and photographs. FUTURE INFORMATION Anderson Education Langton House, Meopham Green, Meopham, Kent DA13 0PY, England. Tel: +44 (0)1474 815450 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.andersoneducation.co.uk FUTURE EVENTS For future events visit: www.ukboardingschoolexhibition.com 3 Anderson Education We have personally visited over 350 UK boarding schools; this first-hand experience enables us to identify what is special and unique about each school and match this with the needs of each child. The ease and convenience of our educational service aims to make the search for the best school a stress free experience. Sara Sparling is an Nikki Harlow is an Education Consultant who Education Consultant, who travels frequently to meet joined the Anderson Education local and expat families team in 2015, she has a considering a UK boarding wide range of experience school, summer or language in education with extensive programme. Her experience knowledge of working as a teacher, expat wife, with children with Special mother of three children and as a boarder herself, Educational Needs. Nikki’s career has included working enables her to understand the needs and concerns in schools and also as an events and exhibition manager. of parents. Whilst in the UK Sara makes regular school She has lived in the USA and the Middle East and her visits to identify what is unique and special about each son attends a UK boarding school. boarding school and ensure that Anderson Education has up to date knowledge and information. Mark Brooks Education Mark Brooks has been a consultant to overseas parents and UK boarding schools for the past 16 years. His marketing career began with the Financial Times in London, since then he has worked as an adviser to over 100 leading independent schools worldwide - including governors in Lagos and Abuja to recruit their Heads and teachers. Since 2008 he has supported dozens of families in Nigeria and Ghana to secure a place for their children at some of the most prestigious boarding schools in the UK and has visited the nation many times. Now available online The UK Boarding School Directory is now available online and will feature updated news features and case studies: westafrica.ukboardingschoolsdirectory.com 4 UK SCHOOLS DIRECTORY 2019/20 Selecting the best school Ask the experts for help and advice when selecting the ‘best’ school for your child. Although boarding schools appear similar when browsing the web or through prospectuses, in reality each has a unique quality. Our job as Education Consultants is to identify for their child. The education of each and every child and match your child’s individual talents, skills and is one of the most important decisions we make, time aspirations to a school that will challenge, encourage spent in early exploration and research is wise. Families and develop, to ensure that each child reaches his living overseas are looking for reassurance that their or her full potential. The purpose and aim of the children will achieve their full potential, in a happy, safe, Education Consultant who specialises in school secure environment. Working closely with an Education placement is to work on behalf of the family, to offer Consultant for the purpose of school selection should help and guidance in the selection of the ‘best’ school follow the process outlined below: PLAN EARLY WHAT TO EXPECT 1. Early planning is advisable, allow at least 18 months. 1. The Education Consultant selects schools that best meet the agreed criteria, for your consideration. 2. Ask questions and identify the type of educational environment that would best suit the needs of 2. The Education Consultant will arrange for the your child; is it to be co-educational or a single sex school prospectuses to be sent to the family. school, highly selective or more suitable for the 3. The Education Consultant should be available to ‘all rounder’. discuss the benefits of each school selected and 3. Do you have any special requirements? i.e. Dyslexia, generally answer parent’s questions. medical condition, learning or physical difficulties, intensive English language provision. 4. It is advisable to make appointments to visit 3 or 4 schools. To see the school in action is 4. Do you require the school to be in any particular important, parents are advised to visit in term area of the UK? time whenever possible. 5. Have copies of the child’s School Reports available. 6. Inform the child’s present school of your intentions; the Principal will be required to supply a reference. 7. Be clear about, if and when, you are able to visit the schools selected. UK SCHOOLS DIRECTORY 2019/20 5 If English is not your Visas for Boarding first language School Students UK Boarding Schools offer first class English in the UK language teaching and have a great deal of experience in helping students, whose first language OVERVIEW is not English, to improve their language skills. You can apply for the Tier 4 (Child) student visa if The EFL (English as a Foreign Language) you’re aged between 4 and 17 and you want to study Department in schools and colleges offer the in the UK. overseas student a warm welcome; they have an important role to play in helping the international You should also: student successfully integrate and understand the • have a place on a course excitement and challenges of boarding life. • have the consent of your parent or guardian • have enough money to cover your course fees International Study Centres have specifically and living costs designed pre-boarding and pre- A Level/IB courses; • be from a country that’s not in the European their aim is to ensure that the student’s English is of Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland a sufficient level to enable them to cope with the GCSE and A Level/IB examinations. • meet the eligibility requirements A Summer School provides an excellent HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE introduction to the UK, offering English language You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before your teaching and activities, such as sports, art, drama and date of travel to the UK. gov.uk/child-study-visa outdoor activities; a fun way to improve your English. You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks. Learning Support Check the guide processing times to find out how long getting a visa might take in your country. We can recommend schools with excellent learning support for children with Dyslexia, FEES Dyspraxia and ADHD as well as specialist schools It costs £348 to apply for a Tier 4 (Child) student visa for children with Asperger's Syndrome and from outside the UK. Cerebral Palsy, deaf children and young people You’ll also have to pay a healthcare surcharge as part who have complex learning issues. of your application. State Boarding Schools HOW LONG YOU CAN STAY Admission to state boarding in the UK is limited to Your age and the length of your course of study will British citizens, EU passport holders and anyone with affect how long you can stay. a right of residence in the UK. At state boarding schools you pay for the boarding Age when you apply How long you can stay only and the tuition is paid by the government, as it Under 16 Course length (up to 6 years) would at any other state school in England. plus 4 months afterwards 16 or 17 Course length (up to 3 years) A Guardian Family plus 4 months afterwards It is a requirement of schools for all parents resident outside the UK to appoint a Guardian living in Britain, You can arrive in the UK: who will act with their full authority. The choice of • up to 1 week before your course starts if your Guardian is the responsibility of the parents. course lasts 6 months or less • up to 1 month before your course starts if your The ‘Guardian’ acts on behalf of the parent, providing course lasts more than 6 months a home from home environment at half term and weekend exeats, they represent the parents at school Disclaimer: This information in this guide is correct as of functions and are available in case of an emergency.