UK independent, prep & private school guides
Everything parents need to navigate UK independent school admissions — from fees and open days to choosing the right school.
In the UK, the terms prep school, independent school, and private school are often used interchangeably. Strictly speaking, a prep school is an independent school for children aged 7–13 that prepares them for senior school entry. These guides use all three terms — and cover the full journey from nursery through to sixth form.
What Is a Prep School? Ages, Stages and How It Works
Prep school in the UK runs from around age 7 to 13, with pre-prep before it and senior school after. Here's what each stage actually means in practice.
Read guide →Should You Defer Your Summer-Born Child at a Private School?
At an independent school the head decides whether a summer-born can defer, not the council. How the two routes work, the trade-offs, and what to ask first.
Read →Your Child's on a School Waiting List: What Happens Now?
Three things can land on offer day: an offer, a waitlist place, or no place. How private school waiting lists work, whether your spot can move, and what to do at each.
Read →Pre-Prep School: When It Starts, and the Jump Into Prep
Pre-prep runs ages 4 to 7, before prep begins at 7+. Here's when it starts, what comes next, and why registration can open earlier than parents expect.
Read →UK Boarding Schools for International Families: A Parent's Guide
Applying to UK boarding from overseas: UKiset, guardianship, visas, deposits and what term-time travel really costs, from parents who've done it from abroad.
Read →A UK independent school glossary every parent eventually needs
Predicted grades, exeats, VAT on fees, SEND — every UK independent school term parents need to know, defined plainly with what it means for your child.
Read →Is UK Boarding School Right for Your Child? A Parent's Guide
UK boarding in 2026: full vs weekly vs flexi, the 20% VAT impact on fees, UKiset for international families, and an honest read on whether it suits your child.
Read →When is it too late to apply to a boarding school?
Missed September registration? In almost every year group, places open through autumn and spring. Here's what's still possible — and which schools are flexible.
Read →11+ vs 13+ Entry: Which Path Should Your Child Take?
11+ takes your child to senior school at Year 7; 13+ at Year 9 after the ISEB Pre-Test in Year 6. How to pick, and the Year 5 date that catches parents.
Read →How Do I Choose the Right Prep School for My Child?
Choosing a prep school sets the next ten years of your child's education. Four questions that actually matter — and the order to ask them in.
Read →What Should I Ask at My Child's Prep School Open Day?
Open days run September to November and February to March. The questions that show you what a school is really like — and what to look for before your child applies.
Read →What Does Prep School Actually Cost? A Complete Fee Guide
Prep school costs more than the headline fee. Day from £13,500 a year, boarding from £36,000, plus the extras parents underestimate. Here's the honest breakdown.
Read →What Year Is My Child In? UK Years, Forms and Ages Mapped
UK school years from Reception (age 4) to Year 13 (age 18), mapped to the form names prep schools still use. Plus the Year 5 deadline most miss.
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