Primary and Secondary Schools in The United Kingdom

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each run their own school system, with different rules on, for example, the school leaving age. For international families, the main choice is between state schools, which are free, and private schools, also called independent schools, which charge fees. In England, all children between the ages of 5 and 16 are entitled to a free place at a state school. Private schools are not funded by the government and do not have to follow the national curriculum, but they must be registered with the government and are inspected regularly.

Most schools in this directory are independent day and boarding schools in England, such as Sidcot School in Somerset, a co-educational Quaker school for ages 3 to 18; King's College in Taunton, with day and boarding places for ages 2 to 18; Marymount International School London, an International Baccalaureate (IB) school for girls in Kingston upon Thames; and Greenfields School in Forest Row, East Sussex. The list also includes Dartford Grammar School in Kent.

How school education works in England

The national curriculum in England is organised into key stages:

• Early years: Reception class at age 4 to 5
• Key stages 1 and 2 (primary): Years 1 to 6, ages 5 to 11
• Key stage 3: Years 7 to 9, ages 11 to 14
• Key stage 4: Years 10 and 11, ages 14 to 16, when most pupils take GCSEs
• Sixth form: Years 12 and 13, usually with A levels or the IB Diploma, both level 3 qualifications used for university entry

In England, pupils can leave school at 16 but must then stay in education or training, start an apprenticeship, or combine work or volunteering with part-time study until they are 18. Many independent schools offer more than one route in the sixth form: Sidcot lists A levels, the IB and BTEC courses, while Marymount teaches the IB Diploma Programme in its sixth form for students aged 16 to 18.

State schools include grammar schools, which select pupils by academic ability with an entrance test. Dartford Grammar School, for example, admits students in Year 7 and in Year 12.

Admission and visas for international pupils

Children from abroad who come to the UK without their family to study normally need a Child Student visa. It is for students aged 4 to 17 with an unconditional offer from an independent school; students aged 18 or over apply for a Student visa. The school must be a licensed student sponsor and issues a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), which parents need before applying. A child on a Child Student visa or Student visa cannot study at a state-funded school. Since free movement ended at the end of 2020, the same rules apply to children from EU countries who were not living in the UK by then.

The Child Student visa costs £558 from outside the UK, plus the immigration health surcharge of £776 per year for applicants under 18. Families must show enough money to pay the course fees and, for boarders, the boarding fees for one academic year (up to nine months). Pupils aged 16 or over may work up to 10 hours a week during term.

Schools assess English during admission. At Sidcot, international students whose first language is not English usually receive one 50-minute EAL (English as an Additional Language) lesson a week, and a Pre-GCSE Pathway for ages 12 to 14 adds five EAL sessions a week before GCSE entry in Year 10.

Costs

Independent school fees are set by each school and charged per term. King's College Taunton, for example, lists international fees for 2026/27 of £17,595 per term for Years 9 to 13, including tuition, breakfast and supper and laundry, with compulsory extras for lunch and IT and a separate charge for public exams such as GCSEs and A levels. Sidcot asks for a deposit of £5,000 for international boarding places, refunded when the student leaves.

How to choose a school in the UK

• Curriculum: GCSEs and A levels, or the IB Diploma in the sixth form
• Boarding: full, weekly or flexi boarding, or day places with a family or guardian
• Language support: EAL lessons, pre-GCSE programmes and help with English exams
• School type: co-educational or single-sex, and the age range the school covers
• Inspection: read the school's latest report from Ofsted or the Independent Schools Inspectorate
• Location: distance to an airport and to the nearest city, and the school's rules on guardians and transfers

Frequently asked questions

Can international students attend a state school in the UK?

Not on a study visa. Children on a Child Student visa or Student visa must study at an independent school or college that is a licensed student sponsor. Children who live in the UK with a parent who has the right to be there can normally attend state schools.

Which visa does my child need to study at a UK boarding school?

Children aged 4 to 17 apply for a Child Student visa with an unconditional offer and a CAS from an independent school. Students aged 18 or over apply for a Student visa.

What is the difference between GCSEs and A levels?

Most pupils in England take GCSEs at the end of Year 11, around age 16. A levels are taken in the sixth form at age 18 and are level 3 qualifications, like the IB Diploma.

How much does a UK boarding school cost?

Fees vary by school. King's College Taunton, for example, charges international pupils in Years 9 to 13 £17,595 per term in 2026/27, plus compulsory extras.