U.K. Admissions Series
Where to start? How to plan?
Is U.K. Education one of the preeminent plans for your family and your child? Are you aware of the complexity of processes and strategies involved to optimise your choices? At WOODLAND SERVICES, we aim to provide you with all the best U.K. education options foryour child. From the choice of school type to the assessment of individual ability, we address your deepest concerns and support your child by analysing the best academic environment for them to thrive in.
Here we address some of your concerns:
(A) U.K. School Types – State Schools vs. Private/Independent Schools
1) State Schools – fully funded by the British government, free for all British children of ages 5-16
This type of schooling is only eligible for British Citizens and/or legal residents of the U.K. Owning a permanent address in the U.K. is always a necessary condition for application to these State Schools. According to the Annual OFSTED Report published by the U.K. Government, most State Schools are generally categorised into three categories: Outstanding, Good or Requires Improvement.
Around 160+ of these States Schools are classified as Grammar Schools, which are usually extremely selective and prestigious, hence academic requirements for entry are often higher than that of other States Schools. In particular, students at Junior School Year 6 are required to take the Year 7 (11+) admissions exams for an opportunity to impress their favourable Grammar Schools.
2) Private/Independent Boarding Schools – partly funded by private organisations and/or fee-charging endowment
Most Independent Schools in the U.K. admit Day School and Boarding School students.
Public Schools are a type of independent schooling ‘public’ to students irrespective of their nationality, family background, etc. There is a strong British tradition for public schools to admit students from the Royal Family and families of higher status in the U.K.. Notable examples of Public Schools include: Eton College, Harrow School and Westminster School. Predictably, the academic requirements of these schools are exceptionally demanding.
(B) Relevant Fees for U.K. Education
1) Tuition Fees for Private/Independent Schools
a. Day School students – approximately £5,000 to £7,000 per year
b. Full Boarding School students – approximately £11,000 to £14,000 per year (variations subject to school type and grade of students)
The fees included tuition of three academic terms per year:
Autumn Term – from September to mid-December
Spring Term – from January to late-March
Summer Term – from mid-April to early July
In addition, there may be an additional charge for most non-local students in taking the school’s compulsory English as an Additional Language (EAL) class, depending on student’s ability to use English language
2) Guardian Fees – compulsory for all under-18 students, as an over-25 British Citizen or British resident is required to be legally responsible for the student. The guardian may be a family member, friend, or an adult appointed by a guardian agency. The usual registration fee for these agencies is £200, with an annual fee of around £2,300.
3) Host Family Fees – there may be an additional charge for homestay with a trusted local family during Term Breaks, arranged by the guardian agency. Homestay rates range between £50 and £60 per night, with extra surcharge for pick-up and drop-off services.
4) Tier-4 Student Visa (for non-British Citizens) – approximately £350 per application
5) Body Check for the Tier-4 Student Visa (Tuberculosis X-Ray test required for Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong students) – approximately HKD$1,000
6) NHS National Health Insurance Fee – approximately £300 per year
7) Return flight Tickets to and from Mainland China/Hong Kong – approximately HKD $12,000 + tax per return trip.
(C) Year Grading System
In the U.K., British children enter their preparatory school for Reception Grade at the age of 4, and enter formal schooling (Junior School) at 5 years old. The timeline of schooling is therefore slightly ahead compared to that in Hong Kong.
Please see the following table for your reference:
State Schools in the U.K. are generally extremely strict on the upper age requirement of students – downgrade or repeating a certain grade is not accepted. If your child’s age does not fit the specified grade in the U.K., Independent Schools are generally recommended for a higher flexibility and chance of being accepted.
