Schools Guide

Schools by County

SHOW ALL Bath & North East SomersetBedfordshireBerkshireBristolBuckinghamshireCambridgeshireCarmarthenshireConwyCornwallCounty DurhamCumbriaDenbighshireDerbyshireDevonDorsetEast SussexEssexGloucestershireHampshireHerefordshireHertfordshireIsle of ManIsle of WightKentLancashireLeicestershireLincolnshireLondonMiddlesexMonmouthshireNorfolkNorthamptonshireNorthumberlandNottinghamshireOxfordshirePowysRutlandScotlandShropshireSomersetStaffordshireSuffolkSurreyWarwickshireWest MidlandsWest SussexWiltshireWorcestershireYorkshire SHOW ALL

Foreword

When we in the Forces take the decision to send our children to boarding schools, there are always doubts. Will the school we have chosen provide the stability that we believe our children requiremore

Introduction

"We in the Services have three options: our children have a disruptive education; we board; or we live apart from our families. None of these is ideal for most people". Such was a recent indictment of the choice facing Service parents starting to educate theirmore

Articles

The Education of Service Children - the boarding option - Introduction Service Children's Education (SCE) CEAS

Children's Education Advisory Service (CEAS) The Continuity of Education Allowance (Boarding) Childcare voucher scheme CEA Eligibility certificate application process Specific learning difficulties

Boarding?

Boarding Or Day? Boarding Or Day? - The Pros and Cons Boarding School Inspections

Choosing a School

Selecting a School Difficult choices, but help is at hand The challenges facing parents who work overseas School Visits - Questions & Answers League tables - best used as only one of a series of factors League tables - what else should parents be looking for?

Government Funded Boarding Schools

Ministry of Defence funded schools Queen Victoria School (Scotland) Welbeck - The Defence Sixth Form College What A Gem - 35 State Boarding Schools Boarding School - not likely

Boarding at an Independent School

The merits of boarding at an Independent School Choosing an Independent School is a very personal process The case for continuity The moral and spiritual climate in a boarding community The extra-curricular challenge Duke of Edinburugh Award Scheme Former pupil, former parent provides a sporting perspective School sport Housemasters - with the benefit of a Service background

Types of boarding School

The advantages of starting boarding in a Preparatory School In loco parents The Preparatory School Parent partnership What the pupils and parents think Single-sex or co-Education? The pros and cons Equal, but different Why girls' schools rock 'The key is the child and what the child will want' Having it all Strong role models in boys boarding schools Single-sex education, then and now The advantages of choosing a diamond school

Specialist Schools

Special schools - nurturing special talents and abilities Special educational needs and additional needs An independent specialist provision school An Independent Specialist Needs School

The Sixth Form

Sixth-form choices - the threats to the gold standard The sixth-form examinations - the choice

Whatever next?

Whatever next? University applications and gap years Why global volunteering could be the best gap year option The University and Colleges Admission Service

Overseas

Overseas schools

Pupils and parents

The pupils The parents

Paying the fees

Paying the school fees ranks second only to paying one’s mortgage and, as such, this is a real attention-grabbing subject. Sending a child off to a fee-paying school means not only a major financial 2006: more

Special Awards

Looking specifically at grants and awards for children of those in the Armed Forces the ISBI lists some 200 schools. The following list has been specifically researched from the Independent more

From the editor

Ian Jones' career includes eleven years as Head Master of Bedford School, two years as the Director of Studies at Britannia Royal Naval College more

Useful information

 

Search this site:

Those serving abroad are spoilt for choice because, in addition to the 68 International Member Schools of the HMC, who in the main prepare their pupils for their own countries’ universities, there are a large number of other schools worldwide offering a British curriculum (international GCSEs and A-levels). Additionally, there are also schools accredited by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) across the world that offer the well-established and reputable IB Diploma in English.

Those serving abroad are spoilt for choice because, in addition to the 68 International Member Schools of the HMC, who in the main prepare their pupils for their own countries’ universities, there are a large number of other schools worldwide offering a British curriculum (international GCSEs and A-levels). Additionally, there are also schools accredited by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) across the world that offer the well-established and reputable IB Diploma in English. These schools tend to either focus on a bicultural and bilingual education, or model themselves on the British independent sector with an emphasis on British culture and language. A bilingual curriculum offers a challenging and stimulating environment for children who speak English as a first language, especially as students are required to write essays in both their native and host language. Check carefully to see what immersion language classes are available and what support is offered for students who initially speak only English. A bilingual curriculum is both beneficial and enriching for students and encourages them to become global citizens.

School fees increase incrementally according to age group in some schools, and are often paid in the local currency. There are extra costs to consider, such as application enrolment fees, deposits (sometimes refunded on leaving), school development fund fees, lunch and transport costs, student accident insurance, uniforms and exam entry fees. Full IB diploma examination fees cost around £340. Some schools offer discounts on tuition fees when two, three or more children from the same family are enrolled.

Neither the IBO nor the Council of International Schools (CIS), which accredits schools, publish league tables. The following is accordingly a small random list of good international and IB schools across the world, based on a combination of factors, such as exam results, school facilities and extra-curricular activities. Most have British principals, who usually have wide international experience.

Asia

India, Japan (and its islands) China, and in particular Hong Kong, have the best and widest range of international schools in the region, catering for a large expatriate population. When choosing a school in Bangkok, it’s advisable to consider the distance from home to school because of the heavy traffic.

Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar, West Malaysia:
Two streams, one Malaysian the other international following IGCSEs and A-levels student intake. International intake, vast majority of teachers are UK trained and all are fluent English speakers.
website: www.ktj.edu.my

The Garden International School, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur:
The largest international school in Malaysia, follows the British curriculum.
website: www.gardenschool.edu.my

The British International School, Phuket:
Large international school offering both IGCSE and the IB, and boarding. There are other schools in Malaysia that accept international students and follow the British curriculum, such as the Alice Smith School, which now has a full secondary section leading up to A-level.
website: www.bcis.ac.th

Tanglin Trust School, Singapore: Students must be fluent in English to be accepted in the school and the vast majority of teachers are British. British curriculum.
website: www.tts.edu.sg

Dulwich College International School, China (Shanghai and Beijing): A partner of Dulwich College in London, with a traditional public school atmosphere. The vast majority of its staff are native English speakers.
website: www.dulwichcollege.cn

There are two organisations to contact about most reputable schools in SE Asia: AIMS (Association of International Malaysian Schools) (www.elc.edu.my) and FOBISSEA (Federation of British International Schools in SE Asia and East Asia, such as Harrow International School and Shrewsbury International School) (www.fobissea.org).

Europe

International School of Geneva, Switzerland:
Large hi-tech flagship IB school with a bilingual international environment, curriculum either IGCSE, IB or French Baccalaureate.
website: www.ecolint.ch

Le Rosey, Chateau de Rosey, Rolle, Switzerland:
About 400 pupils, offering either the IB or the French Baccalaureate, boarding.
website: www.rosey.ch

Latin America

St Paul’s School, Sao Paulo, Brazil:
This Anglo-Brazilian bilingual school is regarded as one of the leading British schools in Latin America.
website: www.stpauls.br

Newton College, Lima, Peru:
One of the leading British-style, bilingual, international schools in South America.
website: www.newton.edu.pe

Grange School, Santiago, Chile:
A well-established and renowned bilingual school.
website: www.grange.cl

North America

The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS):
Information and resources on nearly 300 boarding schools in the USA
and abroad.
website: www.schools.com/

The British Schools of America were founded in 1998, when the first school opened in Washington, DC. The British Schools of Boston and Houston both opened in September 2000; the British School of Chicago opened in September 2001 and the British American School of Charlotte, its fifth school, opened in September 2004. It is anticipated during the next few years that the total number of British Schools of America will grow to 20, all located in major cities across the USA. The British Schools of America is a division of World Class Learning Schools and Systems (WCLS), based in London. WCLS also operates Overseas Schools Limited and Fieldwork Education Limited. For more information, contact: Chief Operating Officer, 2001 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20007, Tel: (202) 829 0442, Fax: (202) 829 3989, Web: www.britishschool.org

Middle East

St Christopher’s School, Bahrain:
Information and resources on nearly 300 boarding schools in the USA and abroad.
website: www.schools.com


Groups of Schools – worldwide

The United World Colleges (UWC) are a group of 12 international schools. Founded during the Cold War, the United World College Movement aimed to promote understanding between the different nations through education and through interaction between young people from different countries, living and working together. The UWC select students from around the globe at a pre-university level, on merit, regardless of their financial, ethnic, religious or educational background, or their ability to pay.

The international organisation of UWC is a British-based foundation that comprises 12 colleges in Canada, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Norway, Singapore, Swaziland, the United States, Venezuela and the United Kingdom, and, as of August 2006, newly opened 11th and 12th colleges in Costa Rica and Bosnia & Herzegovina, National Committees in more than 130 countries, a network of more than 36,000 graduates and an International Office in London. The United World Colleges usually accept students who are between 16 and 18 years old, with the exception of those in Singapore and Swaziland. Each UWC typically comprises between 200 and 300 students from about 90 different countries. For information, contact United World Colleges (International), Second Floor, 17–21 Emerald Street, London WC1N 3QN, UK Tel: +44 20 7269 7800 Fax: +44 20 7405 4374 Email: enquiries@uwcio.uwc.org Web: http://www.uwc.org/contact


Shell Schools

The Shell Group of Companies currently controls 14 schools in ten countries and three continents in order to provide education for the children – usually aged 4–12 – of their expatriate staff. Sometimes schools are also able to admit children of international contractors and other expatriate families. The schools are mostly in locations where there are no other international schools available. For more information, visit http://www.fieldworkeducationservices.com/res/Parents.pdf

Note

It must be borne in mind that overseas schools are highly unlikely to qualify for the Continuity of Education Allowance. However, boarding can be available for those attending SCE schools (see below).

Boarding overseas for those attending SCE schools

Boarding accommodation is available in three secondary schools in Germany: at Windsor School, Rheindahlen; King’s School, Gütersloh; and Prince Rupert School, Rinteln. These schools meet the needs of secondary-aged pupils who live outside daily travelling distance of the nearest secondary school. All three schools offer weekly boarding facilities, and in addition full facilities for termly boarders are available at Windsor School, Rheindahlen. Parents are required to pay a ‘Home Savings Contribution’. This is a payment made in recognition of those savings that are made generally and on food by children attending boarding school as opposed to living at home and attending a day school. The Home Savings Contribution is payable in advance at the beginning of each term.

Application form SCE Form 3001 – obtainable from HQ SCE or any of the SCE boarding schools – must be completed and forwarded to HQ SCE before pupils are admitted to an SCE boarding school. Further details of the scope of education and financial support available for children living in ‘remote’ areas of north-west Europe can be obtained from: AEO (Schools) at HQ SCE, BFPO 40, Tel: (0049) 2161 908 2305, or contact the Helpline on (0049) 01980 618244.

Special arrangements have also been made to provide secondary education for pupils whose parents are posted to Brunei. Local provision is available at Jerudong International School, while a limited number of places is available at the United World College, SE Asia, Singapore, and Uplands School, Penang. Both schools offer boarding facilities. Parents should enquire through SCE (UK) about the availability of places at this school before the family embarks for Brunei. It is stressed that places at United World College, Singapore, and Uplands School, Penang, are strictly limited and no guarantee of a place at either school can be given. Further information can be obtained by contacting the Helpline on (0049) 01980 618244.