Returning to England or choosing UK boarding: questions families ask

These answers cover England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own education systems, admissions rules and university fee rules, so families moving to those nations should check the arrangements there. Rules change, and each school or university makes its own decision, so confirm the position with them before you rely on it.

Returning to England

Which year group will my child join?

State schools and academies admit children to their normal age group. Parents can ask for a place outside it, and the admission authority decides what is in the child's best interests, taking account of the head teacher's views, and gives its reasons in writing. Fee-paying independent schools are not covered by the School Admissions Code and make their own decisions on year group.

Can we apply for a school place before we have a UK address?

Yes. Department for Education guidance says a council should not refuse an application made from overseas and cannot require a permanent home address. It can ask for evidence of where you will live, such as a rental agreement, a mortgage or a letter confirming a work transfer. Families of UK service personnel and Crown servants who apply with an official letter giving a relocation date must be allocated a place in advance.

Children who are in the UK as visitors cannot enrol at a state-funded school. Children who hold a Child Student visa must attend a licensed independent school or college.

Will a sixth form take a student who has not taken GCSEs?

Each sixth form sets its own entry requirements, and a state school sixth form must apply the same academic criteria to students joining from elsewhere as to its own students. Ask each sixth form which qualifications it accepts.

A student without a grade 4 in maths or English, or an accepted equivalent, will be required to continue studying that subject alongside their sixth-form courses. IGCSEs count as equivalent to GCSEs for this purpose. For other overseas qualifications, the sixth form confirms the equivalence with UK ENIC.

Will my child still qualify for home fees at an English university after years abroad?

In England, a student usually needs settled status and three years' ordinary residence in the UK and Islands before the course begins. Time abroad because a parent was working temporarily outside the UK is generally treated as if the family had remained resident. Each university makes its own assessment of fee status, so ask the university, and check the UK Council for International Student Affairs guidance for your circumstances.

Choosing UK boarding

Should my child start boarding at 11 or at 13?

Most boarding schools have closing dates for entry at 7, 11, 13 and 16. Common Entrance at 13+ is taken in Years 7 and 8. The right age depends on the child: their readiness to live away from home, the school's entry points and how long the family expects to be abroad.

Is the school full boarding at weekends?

Schools describe their boarding as full, weekly or flexible, and use the terms in different ways. Ask how many boarders stay at the school at weekends, what they do, and how many staff are on duty.

Does my child need a guardian, and who should it be?

Each school sets its own requirement, so ask whether it requires a UK guardian for pupils whose parents live overseas, and what the guardian is expected to do during exeats and holidays. The Boarding Schools' Association strongly recommends that international pupils have a certified guardian. The association runs a certified guardian scheme, and AEGIS inspects and accredits guardianship organisations.

If a child under 16 is cared for by someone who is not a parent or relative for 28 days or more, this can be private fostering, and the local council must be told. Ask the school and the guardian how this applies to your arrangements.

How does my child sit entrance tests from abroad?

The ISEB Pre-Tests, which some senior schools ask candidates to take, are sat online. They can be sat at the child's current school, including international schools, at the senior school, or at an approved venue such as a British Council centre. Common Entrance at 13+ continues on its current specifications; ISEB has said it will consult on its future. UKiset, an assessment for international applicants to British independent schools, is taken online by most candidates, with remote invigilation.

Advice for your family

If you are returning to England or considering boarding, we can advise on schools, year groups, entry points and timing for your child. Read about our advice for families or request a complimentary consultation.