Co-Boarding schoolsA boarding school is a residential school where pupils live and study during the school year. There are approximately 500 boarding schools across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Many UK boarding schools combine beautiful, centuries-old buildings with a mix of modern classrooms and traditional architecture. Excellent facilities help make living and learning a great experience.

Studying in the UK is an opportunity to make new friends from all around the world and discover the UK’s beautiful countryside and cities on excursions with your teachers and classmates.

UK boarding schools welcome students of all faiths, nationalities and cultures. By living and learning in this international environment, you will make friends with pupils from all around the world and gain essential skills in understanding other cultures.

Most UK boarding schools teach a mix of international pupils and local UK pupils. ‘Boarders’ are pupils who live at the school. ‘Day pupils’ live with their families and return home at the end of the school day. This mix helps to create a good social atmosphere.

Most UK boarding schools are co-educational, teaching both boys and girls (classes are mixed, but accommodation is separate).

Subjects and qualifications

Below the age of 7, children can attend boarding schools as a day pupil. From the age of 7 and upwards, children can attend as either day pupils or boarders. To join a UK boarding school, you don’t have to start at the age of 7. Most international pupils join at the age of 7, 11, 13, 14 or 16.

The UK boarding school system is split into three levels:

  • Primary education is for children aged four or five up to 11 or 13. Terms you might hear are primary school, infant school, junior school, pre-preparatory school and preparatory school. The terms ‘pre-preparatory’ and ‘preparatory’ (or ‘pre-prep’ and ‘prep’) are most commonly used in the independent sector.
  • Secondary education is for pupils aged 11 or 13 to 16. Terms you might hear for this level of education are secondary school, high school and senior school. The term ‘senior school’ is more commonly used in the independent sector.
    In the last two years of secondary school (age 14 to 16), most pupils study for GCSE qualifications.
  • Sixth form is for students aged 16 to 18. The two years are often called Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth.
    At sixth form level, most pupils take A-levels. Alternatives include Standard Grades and Highers in Scotland, or the International Baccalaureate.

Boarding schools offer a wide range of subjects – including maths, sciences (physics, biology and chemistry), history, geography, drama, IT, literature and foreign languages – in addition to extra-curricular activities.

All of these qualifications are highly regarded by universities, colleges and employers in the UK and around the world.

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