Why do girls and boys still study separately in British private schools? How to choose the right school for your child, and should you trust the ratings? Can a Russian child pass a competition of 40 people per place, and how to prepare for it? We asked these and many other questions that concern parents to Anna Kunitsyna and Ekaterina Ametistova, the founders of an agency in London that has been helping Russian-speaking children enroll in private British schools for ten years.
The main question: how expensive are private schools in England?
Anna Kunitsyna (AK): If it is a day school, then the cost of education per year will average from £12,000 to £16,000. And if it is a boarding school (that is, a dormitory) - from £28,000 to £33,000, including accommodation and meals. In the first case, the child studies during the day and spends the evenings with his parents; in the second, he sees his parents on weekends, or about once every three weeks if the parents live in another country.
At what age can a child be sent to such a boarding school?
AK: From the ages of seven, eight, 11, 13 and 16 years old. From the age of seven, in most cases, boys are sent to boarding schools (the so-called boarding schools) - this was customary in England in certain social circles: among the aristocracy, representatives of the upper class. Just as in Moscow it is customary to send children at the age of seven to school, so it is customary for them to send boys at this age to boarding school. This is a tradition, a rule, and it is followed, often without even thinking about whether it is good or bad. Perhaps the parents of such children themselves suffered in the boarding school, missed their mother, but they believe that this is the right path.
Anna Kunitsyna What do others think? Who else sends their children to boarding schools?
AK: Bankers, top managers, and representatives of the upper middle class also do this, of course, but for different reasons. Some of them did not receive education in private British schools and send their own children because they believe that this is a truly high-quality system, and also good way integrate into certain social circles. In addition, it happens that parents (for example, bankers, lawyers, doctors) are busy at work around the clock, and for them a boarding school is a guarantee that their children receive quality education and upbringing.
In many private British schools there is still a separation between boys and girls. What is this connected with?
AK: First of all, this has developed historically. The British are very conservative people and follow their traditions. In addition, there is scientific evidence that the learning process is different for boys and girls. For example, girls from four to eleven years old are diligent, love to study, sit quietly in class and listen to the teacher. With boys, it’s the other way around: they don’t really want to study, it’s hard for them to sit and listen, they want to run and play. When these two options are combined in one class, the efficiency, of course, drops. Good private schools for boys (4-13 years old) have smaller classes, sports every day, and teachers are predominantly male. Even if you look at the performance ratings, the first places are occupied by single-sex schools.
What should you first look for when choosing a private school in the UK?
Ekaterina Ametistova (EA): Best criterion- this is the percentage of applicants to the most prestigious universities in the world, such as Oxford and Cambridge in England or Harvard and Stanford in America. Strong schools are not shy about this information; it is posted on their websites for free access. Weak schools remain silent or resort to tricks that the average parent cannot always guess. There is, for example, one school that accepts all children, but as they progress, the weaker students are sent to a parallel but separate school on the same campus, with a slightly changed name. As a result, we now have two schools: with strong students and weak ones. The results of the first appear at the top of the ratings, the results of the second can hardly be found at the very bottom.
How interesting! Are there any other brake lights?
If you come to school and see booklets in all the languages of the world, then you need to think about it.
This may mean that the school is short-staffed and is making extra efforts to recruit students. Most strong classical schools, where there is a huge competition for places, simply do not need this. Although some schools hold competitions for super-talented students in other countries, that's a different story.
What can you say about the various ratings of English private schools? How much can you trust them?
EA: There is only one official ranking of British private schools - the School League Table. It includes both public and private schools.
A very strong private school, Eton College, scored zeros in all GCSE rankings this year, placing it at the very bottom. After all, how are rating points calculated? Schools provide information on the five GCSEs. At Eton, they take not GCSE, but IGCSE (International GCSE). This is a secondary school examination which is conducted in schools teaching English program, but outside of England. About 20 years ago, IGCSE was taught here, but then the government began to simplify the system and transfer all schools to GSCE. And now, again, many strong schools are beginning to switch (partially or completely) to IGCSE, it is more difficult and is more valued by universities. And because of this, schools like Eton or Sevenoaks are effectively falling out of the rankings. In addition, the subjects for which schools provide exam results for rankings are not always comparable: the average score in the five “light” subjects offered in many weak schools is indistinguishable from the average score in the “strong” subjects provided by strong schools. Plus, students in strong schools, as a rule, take 10-11 different subjects, while in weak ones they may limit themselves to the very five that appear in the ranking. That is, the comparison turns out to be “apples to oranges.”
EA: Of course there is. But our recommendations, first of all, depend on the specific child and his interests. There are, for example, schools with very home environment and a more personalized approach, ideal for the quiet, academically inclined child or simply an introvert; there are schools that are more dynamic, where the spirit is very competitive, they value leadership skills and the ability to find solutions themselves: such schools can be an excellent opportunity for a child to become independent and love to be the center of attention. Some parents specifically look for schools with stables; there have been cases when they even brought their own horses from Russia. Everything is very individual.
Which schools do you consider strong? Eaton has already been announced...
EA: A lot of them. But it must be borne in mind that schools with big names like Marlborough College or Harrow are sometimes academically somewhat weaker than some lesser-known schools, for example, Tonbridge School or Kings School Canterbury. Historically, prestigious private schools accepted the children of the aristocracy, many families studied in the same school from generation to generation, that is, over the centuries, a certain “elite” was formed, which then continued their studies at the same prestigious universities and then supported each other in business and politics. That is, there is a certain “club” where it is almost impossible to get into “from the outside.” But at the same time, academic results in such schools may not be the strongest. That is, parents send their children to some schools only to make the necessary connections. It is very important for parents to make a choice that takes into account the interests of the child himself, and not just their own ambitions. Not every child can study at Eton. Even if he is very smart and talented, he may not be able to withstand the peculiar environment and attacks (“bullying”).
Despite the fact that they say: “We accept everyone, we are all equal” - of course, not everyone is equal among them.
Therefore, there are many cases when a child enters there, but then at a certain age decides to move to another school.
AK: However, it must be separately emphasized that absolutely all prestigious schools try to maintain a high academic level by accepting very gifted children from “ordinary” families. We have good example- a boy from Russia who is now graduating from Eton College. His parents didn’t pay a penny for tuition, living expenses, or even school uniform. Because Eton has a huge number of scholarships for gifted children, including scholarships for musically gifted children from Russia and the countries of the former Secular Union. Private schools need such scholarship holders, since most of the children who traditionally study there are children whose fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers also studied at this school. But it is not a fact that these are smart and capable children. But the school somehow needs to maintain academic standards, so it is looking for “new blood.” At the same Eton, about a hundred boys now study completely free of charge.
What are the admission criteria for primary private schools at the age of 4?
AK: Unfortunately, there is no single standard. Somewhere they conduct an assessment - something like an interview, it’s hard to call it an exam or a test, because children take it at three years old! To pass it you need a very high level in English and good social adaptation. A child enters a small room where teachers and children are sitting, he should feel comfortable, answer the teachers’ questions, talk about himself, show how he communicates with other children (for example, put a puzzle together).
How do Russian children usually cope with this testing?
AK: Those born in England have no problems, because all kinds of play groups are very popular here from a very early age, and children by the age of three or four can master the language well and can communicate with peers. But for children who came to England at 5-6 years old, it’s already harder. It is better for them to hire an English tutor (tutor, or teacher-tutor, in Russian), who would spend time with the child, teach the English language and, importantly, the correct “English” model of behavior, which differs from Russian.
Often, during interviews for admission to schools at the age of 11-13, Russian children do not make eye contact or smile. Many people think that talking about their hobbies or successes is bragging.
And the interviewer will never find out that the child plays the violin or knows foreign languages perfectly if he does not tell about it. Therefore, we often even hire tutors with an acting background - this helps to open up and relax the child.
Do we understand correctly that one of the main areas of Bruton Lloyd’s work is the selection of tutors? Tell us more about who these people are and how you find them?
AK: It must be said right away that a tutor is not a nanny, that is, he will not iron, clean or cook. He will deal specifically with the child’s development: teach, play, go to museums with him, etc. In England, tutors are exclusively young people who do not yet have their own families and who have relatively recently graduated from university. Our tutor is a graduate good university(usually Oxford, Cambridge), who speaks excellent “Queen’s” English, loves children and knows how to convey to them the necessary school material. All tutors have a diploma in teaching English as a foreign language. But we look not so much at the diploma, but at personal and professional quality person.
A tutor is not a nanny, that is, he will not iron, clean or cook Do you need to live in England to study with him?
AK: This is, of course, the most effective way, but we understand that, due to various reasons, this is not always possible. That's why Bruton Lloyd offers classes with tutors via Skype. This turns out to be a little cheaper than personal lessons, however, we carry out the process of selecting a tutor and monitoring classes as carefully as for individual lessons. The student can be anywhere: on vacation, at home, or in his room at a boarding school. The demand for these services is huge, so in the near future we are launching a new subsidiary project - BL STUDY - which will specialize in individual distance learning in all subjects of the British school curriculum, as well as preparation for GMAT, IELTS, SAT. In addition, for those who do not yet live permanently in England, we have a wonderful center in Norfolk, where adults and children come to immerse themselves in traditional English culture, intensively study the language, and get acquainted with British etiquette. Such knowledge is very often no less important than mathematics!
Are you preparing for admission only to private schools, or to grammar schools - which are free - too?
AK: We deal with private schools, but over ten years of practice, naturally, we have come to understand everything about grammar schools and can compare the pros and cons and give advice. Grammar school is free school, but they are accepted into it through a huge competition (often 30-40 people per place). Most of these schools have geographical restrictions, which is why parents often move specifically closer to the school. The level of education in such schools is as good as in private ones. But there may be fewer music lessons, ensembles and choirs - it’s difficult to compete with private ones here. The same applies to sports and languages.
When should you start preparing your child for admission?
AK: If the child already speaks English well, then at least a year, and if this is a grammar school, then even a year is not enough. Ideally, in one and a half to two years. The competition is huge now. It is important to understand that English children prepare with tutors in the same way as Russians.
We are not just trying to bring our children to the level of English children, we are competing with them. English mothers and their children have been practicing since they were almost three years old. They know their goal is to enter Westminster Under School at age seven, for example. Don’t forget also that there are European, American, Chinese, and Indian mothers here...
And they all also want the best for their child; they spare no effort, no money, no time.
How realistic is it for a person from Russia to independently go through this path, prepare and send their child to a private or public school?
AK: This is absolutely possible, but it requires time, good knowledge of English and curiosity. I also did all this myself at one time, 16 years ago; I didn’t even know then that someone could help me with this. It turns out that many families really need such help.
EA: Very often parents come to us with some unrealistic ambitions. Our task is to help them return to reality. No matter what ambitions parents have, if the child is weak, we cannot go to top-tier schools. Russian parents, out of habit, think that if they settle in some prestigious area, then there will definitely be a good day school near the house. This is wrong. Another thing that “disappoints” Russian parents is the living conditions of children in boarding schools. They are frankly Spartan. The dorms are very basic - sometimes 8-10 people per room, one toilet per floor. There is no luxury there. This is intentional, this is the school policy, and quite traditional one at that. Children of aristocrats, businessmen, and children from ordinary families live in such conditions.
Is it true that it is easier for graduates of private schools to enter a prestigious university than for graduates of public schools?
AK: Statistics say that the percentage of applicants to Oxford and Cambridge from private and public is approximately 45 and 65 percent. This seems to be a completely normal situation. But we learn from other statistics that only 7% of UK children attend private schools, meaning that private school graduates are disproportionately likely to end up at top universities as a percentage. At the same time, there is such a moment. When applying to a university, they look not just at the applicant’s grades, but at his grades in the context of the entire school. For example, a person has 10 GCSEs, half A* and half A, and comes from a state school. And another person came from a private school and he got 10 A*. And in this case they can take the first one. Because, on average, in his school he has best result, and the second student’s grades are absolutely average for his private school.
How easily do our Russian children adapt to English schools?
EA: Differently. There are children who quickly get used to it, and when their parents arrive, they say hello and run back to their business. But there are children who really suffer. But here it depends even more on the parents, and not on the children. The more freedom and independence parents give their children, the faster and easier the adaptation will be.
If a mother stands at the fence with tears and a pie in her hand, this will not help the child.
Should parents interfere in the educational process?
EA: Usually the school does not welcome this. They have their own rules that parents must follow. We have clients who are used to everything happening the way they want. And they come to school parent meetings and they see: there are different rules here. English schools have slightly different systems and values. That is, if a child faces the same “bullying,” what will a Russian parent tell him? “Give change, know how to stand up for yourself, be a man!” But at school they tell him something completely different. It is important that parents support the school in this regard and do not contradict it when the child is at home.
Our tutor is a graduate of a good university (usually Oxford, Cambridge), who speaks excellent “Queen’s” English, loves children and knows how to convey to them the necessary school material Is it worth helping children with their studies? Or do teachers give enough?
EA: Sometimes it's worth helping initial stage when the child adapts to new system and a new language. Extra preparation before exams can also help (most English parents hire tutors for these periods). Effort is required from parents if the child goes to day school. He comes home at three o'clock, and if his parents don't keep an eye on it, he'll sit down in front of his iPad and forget about studying. But you shouldn’t abuse tutors either: the child may become dependent and forget how to work independently. But in boarding houses, children work non-stop from 8 am to 10 pm. And if, in general, everything is going well for the child, schools do not encourage additional classes. Some parents hire tutors during the holidays. As a result, the child works throughout the holidays, and when he finds himself back in the boarding school, he tries to compensate for overwork, begins to be lazy, his academic performance drops, the parents hire a tutor again for the next holiday, everything repeats itself, and it turns out to be a vicious circle. The system is designed for very intense work at school, so the child is expected to relax at home.
It feels like we were just talking about children who really want to learn! What to do with those who are not very willing to sit at a desk and complete tasks?
AK: A lot of parents make the mistake of thinking that their child should study at private school with the highest academic rating. There are many excellent schools in England that cater for the average academic level of children. And the majority of such “ordinary” children are. There are schools for them, where, instead of very complex mathematics and physics, the child can choose subjects that are more suitable for him: foreign languages, art, theater, music, art history.
There are schools that even offer subjects such as sports biomechanics or horse management and care. A very popular item, by the way.
EA: In our agency, we, first of all, test the child: we figure out what is interesting and important to him, what abilities he has. This helps avoid wasting time and money. If we understand that the child will never get into Harrow this year, then there is no point in promising this and traumatizing the child. In this case, we try to place him in the best possible school that matches his preparation, in which he will not feel inferior, and we advise him to strive to enter the same Harrow later, for example, at the age of 16. And all these years, prepare the child more carefully in order to have real chances. Our task in each project is to achieve the best possible result for that particular child.
Text: Katerina Nikitina, Gayane Avetyan
Photo: Valeria Vygodnaya, Katerina Nikitina
Thanks to Bruton Lloyd for the advice. A lot of useful information can be found at
Great Britain has been and remains one of the world leaders in education. Schools in England are known for their traditions and the highest level teaching, and they accept both British and foreigners. This is why parents are increasingly sending their children to study in Shakespeare’s homeland: the percentage of Russian students in pre-university educational institutions in the UK is growing by 10-20% annually. This is because a diploma from an English school opens many doors. Yes, studying in English schools is quite expensive, but it is an investment in the bright future of your children.
Before you decide to send your child to a British school, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons.
Pros:
Minuses:
In most cases, this choice is not worth it at all, since in the UK only children born in this country and the children of those who are eligible to study in state schools permanent residence Here. That is, if parents live in the UK on a long-term visa, the child can enroll in a public school. But foreigners whose parents live in another country are accepted only by private schools (although there are exceptions).
On a note
According to The Telegraph dated August 27, 2016, the top five private schools in England include:
Both the standards and curriculum of private and public schools are very similar. But private ones compare favorably with municipal ones in terms of comfort and choice of additional classes and electives. The number of students per class in a private school is smaller, which allows for an individual approach. And finally, the social level of students in private schools is higher - high tuition fees mean that only children from very prosperous families. It is therefore not surprising that many Britons who could send their children to a state school still prefer a private one.
Important!
Since British schools are taught exclusively in English, your child should speak English very well. A level of at least upper-intermediate is required. Therefore, preparations for sending to England should begin in advance - it is advisable to begin intensive study with a native speaker at least a year before the move. For this purpose, nannies and governesses from England are often invited.
There are two types of English private schools: day school and boarding school. In practice, many schools combine these two systems. Children go to day school the same way as to a regular school, and return home to spend the night. In the case of foreign students, it is very common to live with a British family, in a house located near the school. At the boarding school, children live permanently, housed in special dormitory buildings. Typically, such buildings are divided into small rooms for 3-4 people. Each building has a common living room where children can study and socialize. They eat in the school canteen. Boarding school students can go home twice a year - for the summer and Christmas holidays.
Most foreign and non-resident students of British private schools live in such boarding houses. You have to pay extra for placement, and it often costs more than the training itself. However, there are often not enough places in the boarding school, and parents are forced to settle for home accommodation.
Both systems have their advantages: boarding is discipline and constant control, home placement is more “mental”, human participation in the child’s life.
The following schools in England are some of the most popular among Russians:
The review will consider only a few of them that, in the author’s opinion, deserve special attention.
One of the most famous and prestigious girls' schools in the country. Located in Bristol, in the university area. The school was founded in the middle of the 19th century. The institution owns a huge plot of land on which educational and dormitory buildings are located, as well as numerous sports grounds - sports traditions are strong here and almost all students engage in horse riding, martial arts, tennis or swimming. The school's special pride is the newly built arts center. Intensive extracurricular activities do not harm academic performance - most graduates of the Badminton school enter prestigious universities. The training program here is more than serious, with an emphasis on exact sciences and art.
Relatively small sizes(120 students in total) the schools create a friendly, almost family-like atmosphere. This is one of the most comfortable institutions in England, and a lot of attention is paid to the comfort of students here - in particular, the school has received specialized awards several times for the quality of work of the local chefs.
A private boarding school for girls located in Worcestershire, near London. 360 girls from best families. Founded at the end of the 19th century. The school accepts children aged 4 to 18 years. The academic standards here are very high, and these are not empty words: approximately more than 50% of the school's students are excellent students. This school is known for its excellent organization extracurricular activities, and in particular - its sports sections, the most popular of which are golf, horse riding and lacrosse sections.
The school's program is more focused on the humanities. According to statistics, school graduates most often pursue careers in law, journalism and medicine.
A private boarding school for gifted boys located in Dorset. Now there are about 600 students studying here. Children aged 13 to 18 years are accepted here. Most of the school's students are young Britons; there are few foreigners here. The school is rightfully proud of its list of graduates: actor Jeremy Irons, head of MI6 David Spedding, King Mswati III of Swaziland, outstanding cryptologist and mathematician Alan Turing and many other figures in art, politics and science studied here.
Sherborne School is located in an ancient monastery. There is a strong influence of tradition here (founded in the 16th century), but the current director, Chris Davis, is known for his innovative and non-conformist approach to teaching - first and foremost he wants to teach students to think and use the resources of their personality. For this purpose, a special training program was developed in collaboration with the outstanding psychologist Guy Claxton. Despite the fact that Sherborne mainly has a humanitarian bias, it has a very strong mathematics department, where only children who are especially gifted in this subject are selected.
A boarding school for boys and girls, located in one of most beautiful places Oxfordshire, founded in 1886. Children from 11 to 18 years old are accepted here (foreigners - from 14 years old). Today, 280 children study at Kingham Hill, more than 70% live permanently at the school. This educational institution is not selective, that is, it does not practice selection based on academic performance. Kingham Hill's mission is to develop the talents of gifted children and at the same time help students with average ability to achieve excellence. new level. That is why they practice an individual approach to each student. After all, there are no less gifted children - there are children who at one time were not allowed to fully realize themselves.
Academically, the school follows the standard school curriculum, offering a very wide choice extracurricular activities with an emphasis on sports - horse riding, rugby, martial arts, hockey, dancing and ballet are popular here.
A relatively young (founded in 1977) private boarding school for boys and girls with full-time education. About 240 children study here, half of them live in the school residence - mostly foreign students. D"Overbroeck"s College is a school for high school students, admitting teenagers from 16 to 18 years old. Younger children attend Leckford Place School, which is part of the college.
Since this school has many students from abroad, it offers an additional one-year course in English, taught using a special, highly effective methodology. It is this fact that becomes decisive for the parents of many foreign students. However, teaching languages is generally the strong point of D"Overbroeck"s College.
It is expected that school graduates will work in the field social activities and will become politicians, journalists, sociologists. Therefore, in addition to the compulsory subjects, rhetoric, political science, communication culture, and economics are taught here. About a third of the school's students are excellent students. The prestige of the school is so high that many gifted students are offered conditional admission to universities in England, and approximately 10% continue their studies at Cambridge and Oxford.
A private co-educational boarding school in Wiltshire, serving boys and girls aged 3 to 18 years. In addition to the boarding house, there is also a day care facility. The school was founded in 1707. Now there are 600 students studying here, of which 220 live in the school permanently. The school is known for its international composition of students - about 17% of children come from abroad, mainly from Europe. Most of them are over 11 years old and live in a boarding house.
The school has a pronounced natural science bias, but also creates optimal conditions to develop creative skills (music is taught especially seriously here). According to the director, flexibility, creativity, the ability to quickly adapt, lead and collaborate in our time are no less important than academic success, and he tries to develop these qualities in his students. The results are already noticeable - there are many successful managers and businessmen among the school’s graduates. Almost everyone who graduates from Warminster goes to university, and about 5% go to the ultra-prestigious Cambridge and Oxford.
Of course, this is far from full list- students from Russia are accepted by dozens of the best English schools. An agency that helps arrange training abroad will help you choose the right one.
“It is not enough to decide that your child should continue his education in England,” says Valentin Grogol, manager of the English Nanny agency. - This decision is followed by a long preparatory work. You need to study the educational conditions and programs of dozens of English schools and choose the one in which your child can realize his potential. All schools are different - some are focused on the humanities, others are famous for their natural science base, and in some places they devote Special attention development of creative or sports talents. There are schools for gifted children and for those who have not yet demonstrated outstanding success. So this stage may drag on for a long time. After this, you need to agree with the directorate and collect a package of documents necessary for admission, sign an agreement and organize the child’s move to England. I'll be honest - if you don't speak English fluently, don't understand the bureaucratic intricacies and don't know the UK educational system like the back of your hand, it will be very difficult. However, there is a shortcut - contact our agency. We work with many private schools in England and have been helping for many years with organizing the enrollment of Russian students in English schools and colleges. You only need to express your wishes, and we will do the rest ourselves. By the way, while we are doing this, your child can improve his English without wasting time - our agency provides the services of high-quality English-speaking governesses and teachers.
English boarding schools have earned worldwide recognition for their quality and comprehensive education. In such schools, children live and study all year, returning home only for the holidays. The opportunity to combine good academic preparation, music, art and different types sports are attractive to many Englishmen and foreigners alike. The British, whose work involves frequent travel or increased workload, willingly send their children to private boarding schools. Even very wealthy parents, who have the opportunity to hire tutors and teachers for their children, prefer to use the services of prestigious boarding schools. Therefore, boarding schools in England have remained popular for many years.
The main goal of boarding schools in England is the comprehensive development of children. School subjects, sports and art are organically combined here into a single program for the upbringing and education of children, which has been formed over decades, has stood the test of time and continues to be continuously improved. Private schools in England perfectly combine long-standing traditions and modern tendencies training.
Most private schools in England are located outside major cities. The distance from the bustle of the city makes it possible to provide children with a calm and safe atmosphere for learning and living, as well as to compactly accommodate all the necessary infrastructure of the school (swimming pools, golf courses, cricket, football, art studios, workshops, school theater, library, etc.). Private schools in the UK have good infrastructure that allows children to lead a full life within the educational institution.
England is one of the few countries where single-sex schools still exist. It is believed that such a system allows children to concentrate more on their studies and not be distracted by daily communication with the opposite sex. Also, supporters of separate education say that in such schools children grow up more self-confident and even avoid the emergence of some of the complexes of adolescence. Therefore, many private schools in the UK maintain this tradition.
The main argument of supporters of co-education is that children should grow up in their natural habitat and, from childhood, get used to communicating with the opposite sex as equals.
In any case, the fact remains unchanged that the majority of private schools in England that occupy the first lines of ratings (including the famous Eton, Harrow, Badminton) are single-sex schools. It is also worth considering that children are not deprived of communication with the opposite sex in principle; schools regularly organize joint sports and cultural events.
International and many English students boarding schools live on the school grounds in a student residence (boarding house). This ensures that the child is 100% immersed in school life, has a good effect on academic performance and provides the opportunity to gain communication experience in a team. Boys and girls live in separate buildings if it is a coeducational school. The older the student, the fewer roommates he has. High school students live in double or single rooms. The children live in the building with their home supervisors or educators, who can always be contacted with any questions. The building has everything necessary for a student’s life and comfortable stay: a place to sleep and study, all the amenities for personal hygiene. The school provides three meals a day, laundry services, and medical care.
Teachers are responsible for all aspects of students’ extracurricular life, their health, and psychological state. Boarding schools must have a 24-hour medical office with qualified nurses. Schools usually have agreements with local doctors who regularly conduct medical examinations of children and can arrive on call and provide necessary assistance. medical care any time of the day.
From the ages of 11 to 16, English schoolchildren study in high school(Secondary School). This stage of training is considered the most responsible, because It depends on him with what knowledge the child will graduate from school and what university he will be able to enroll in. It is at this time that many English people prefer to take their children out of public educational institutions and send them to private ones. Therefore, boarding schools in the UK are mainly aimed at teenagers.
During the first two years, children learn English, French, German, spanish languages(optional) mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, history, geography, information Technology, physical culture, design, music, drama.
At the age of 14, students choose 8-10 disciplines and over the next two years purposefully prepare for exams for a certificate of secondary education - General Certificate of Secondary Education, GCSE.
After successfully passing the GCSE exams, students wishing to subsequently receive higher education, are embarking on another two-year course that prepares them for their A-Level exams. A-Level - a state exam for obtaining an “Advanced Level Certificate” - is taken at the age of 18, at the end of the 13th year of study in 3-4 disciplines of the student’s choice. As a rule, these are the subjects that the student plans to study at university. Based on the results of A-Level exams, students are admitted to British universities.
An interactive table explaining the English education system can be found.
There are more than two and a half thousand private schools in the UK. Among them, about 500 are included in the annual ratings. As a rule, the first 100 positions in the ranking are occupied by so-called selective schools (Eton, Harrow, Rugby, etc.), which select children with above average abilities. By origin, these are those educational establishments, where the elite of the British Empire were brought up - counts, members of the royal family, figures in politics, art and culture. As before, as now, among the students of such schools there are many children of famous parents - Hollywood stars, politicians, world-famous businessmen. However, a lot of money does not guarantee getting into school, but only allows you to give children good preparation. The path to selective schools is open to everyone who is able to pass exams and pay for tuition, the cost of which is not much different from other private schools in England (25-30 thousand pounds per year). By the way, students from the CIS usually study in each of these selective schools.
They differ from state educational institutions. They have smaller classes and a different curriculum. The latter, in addition to traditional subjects for study, also includes disciplines aimed at the comprehensive development of a successful personality. These include the basics of business, law, statistics, as well as subjects from the field of art.
British boarding schools imply the student’s constant stay on the territory of the educational institution, therefore they necessarily have a developed infrastructure for practicing various sports, as well as art schools and various clubs.
You should know that secondary education institutions are divided into English girls' schools and English schools for boys. Their training programs do not have serious differences, except that there are some subjects that are interesting exclusively to a certain gender. However, most English boarding schools are still coeducational schools, not differentiated by gender.
Foreign students can be enrolled in British boarding school based on a certificate and recommendations from the educational institution where they previously studied. In addition, you will need to undergo mandatory certification, as well as possibly a personal interview.
Naturally, a good knowledge of English is simply necessary to admission to a British school went without any difficulties. However, this factor is not always decisive. Every school has special courses for foreigners to improve their language level. The academic year in private boarding schools does not differ from the state program and is divided into three trimesters, lasting from September to July. Academic semester in private school in England traditionally ends with a vacation that lasts two weeks, since the first time falls on the Christmas holidays, and the second on the Easter holidays.
Wanting to provide my children British education, many parents face main problem- choosing a decent private boarding school. The main factors to pay attention to are:
