Application Procedures

Once you have decided on a shortlist, you should contact the admissions office within each school and ask for further details on their policy for international pupil applications. This is particularly important for pupils who wish to join a school temporarily, as different schools will have different capacities for taking on additional pupils within certain year groups. If you have not done so already, it will be beneficial to obtain a copy of the school's prospectus, as this ought to answer all your questions about the school, its philosophy, the area, curriculum and the application process.

You will have to pay a registration fee for applications, and they will usually be followed up by a request for a school report and letter of recommendation from your child's current school. Many UK schools have now made it possible to apply over the internet. Check school websites for online application forms. If you cannot apply online you will have to complete an application form and send it in by post. Remember to allow extra time for postal applications.

Applications for a place should be made as quickly as possible to ensure the best chance of acceptance. On receiving an offer, the school may ask for confirmation of accommodation and payment of a deposit to secure the place. The school will ask for the names of schools your child has previously attended, and any qualifications gained, so that a better understanding of your child's level of learning can be obtained, together with references from the current school. Every effort should be made to visit the school prior to undertaking a place, and an English language test may be required to confirm the level of understanding. This may be done through a test similar to the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), used by universities, or through an exam created by the school itself. A school may also offer a place that is conditional on undertaking English classes. There are many ISC schools which offer English as a Second Language (ESL) and/ or English as a Foreign Language (EFL) support for international pupils. Once a final letter has been received from the school to confirm the place it should be kept in a safe place, as it may be needed for obtaining a visa and clearing customs at the airport.

There are no specific qualifications which all schools require for entry, as the requirement to pass the entrance exam will confirm the pupil's ability, and qualifications differ across countries. However, schools will require a letter of recommendation from at least one teacher, and early years pupils will need to have a form completed by the parents. There will be an interview to further assess the suitability of the pupil for study at the school, and evidence to confirm the ability to pay the fees will also be required. A non-refundable deposit to sit the entrance exam and once you have accepted a place is required, and usually a term's fees in advance is payable on acceptance.

After accepting a place at a school, you will be sent information about your child's stay to prepare you for what is needed on arrival and throughout their stay in the UK.