UNITED KINGDOM Durham School


...Securing a place at a top UK school


will request a fee even before an application is made, to register the family’s interest in the school, but this is usually no more than a couple of hundred pounds. It will be helpful for professionals to be aware of some of the pitfalls for families when negotiating admission to fee-paying schools. Matthew Cook, managing director of Castle Consulting, which offers help to families looking to secure a place at a UK school, points out that, when parents accept a school place, they are very often agreeing to pay the first term’s fees, and could find themselves owing money to a school their child is not attending. “When it comes to accepting a place at a school,


parents need to be mindful of responding in a timely manner and that a deposit is usually required,” says Mr Cook. “In accepting a place, you are entering into a legally- binding contract and will be liable for fees whether your child attends the school or not. This can be problematic for families when a child is offered places at more than one school. It is also worth bearing in mind that there will be a notice period (usually one term) should you wish your child to leave the school.”


TIMING OF APPLICATION AND ENTRY TO UK SCHOOLS


It should be noted that the timing of entry into some


of the UK’s top public schools is structured around the completion of entrance tests and assessment days. For example, most pupils join Wellington College when they are 13+, in what is known as Year 9. However, the closing date for accepting registrations is at the end of December in Year 6. This period allows for pupils to sit an entrance test in Year 6 and to attend an assessment day at the start of Year 7. “Once we have confirmed registrations and details with families, we ask all candidates to sit the ISEB [Independent Schools Examinations Board] Common Pre- Test in the second half of the Lent Term of Year 6,” explains James Dahl, admissions director at Wellington College. “This usually takes place at the prep school, and a small number of candidates come to Wellington to do this. Overseas candidates can take the test at a British Council or an approved testing centre.”


Successful pupils will then be asked to a September


assessment day, which consists of a number of interpersonal activities, such as interviews, mock lessons and group tasks.


148 | relocateglobal.com | Keep Informed


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