At all times, a noble education, combined with good breeding and noble manners, was highly valued. For this reason, parents most often sent their children to private boys' schools in England. In such educational institutions appropriate conditions were created for a worthy education. Moreover, studying at such schools opens up a wide range of prospects: most graduates of English boarding schools enter top universities in the UK as well as in Canada, the USA and some other large countries. In the future, students are waiting for well-paying positions and good contacts for a successful business.
Stages of study in private schools in England
Primary education in England is mainly represented by day schools. Most local students enter private boarding schools at the age of eleven. From the same year onwards, many foreigners start studying in England. Private school education is divided into three levels.
-
Elementary school (preparatory) - 4-5 years old to 11-13 years old
-
Secondary school - 11-13 to 16 year olds. In the last two years of secondary school, most students take the GGSE (General Certificates of Secondary Education). The GCSE curriculum consists of 8-10 subjects, which require English and Maths.
-
Sixth Form - A special course of study in upper secondary school for young people aged 16 to 18. The main task at this stage is to prepare for entry to a British university. For this purpose, 3-4 A-Levels subjects are chosen, which are examined after two years of intensive study. Sometimes you can choose applied subjects with a smaller share of theory (computer science, drama, design, etc.). In addition to A-levels, UK private school students can also take the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme. It is considered more difficult: students study 6 subjects and prepare for the final design.
Study and life at a private boys' school in London
Boarding schools offer a wide range of subjects, including mathematics, science, history, geography, computer science, literature and foreign languages. All conditions have been created for after-school self-study: you can study in your own room or use a special classroom; a well-stocked library is always at the students' disposal. Sports and leisure receive a great deal of attention - the schedule of extra activities is drawn up months in advance. Any UK private school has a first-class sporting infrastructure as well as creative opportunities. You can play soccer or rowing, dramatic arts or music. Boarding school students live in one or more houses, with boys and girls separated. Each house has at least one tutor to supervise the students at all times. Younger children usually live two or three at a time in a room, and older students live one at a time, in their own bedroom. Sometimes the rooms have their own bathrooms (connecting rooms). These houses have common rooms and lounge areas where children can socialize, play games or watch TV. Many boarding schools close for the summer and Christmas holidays, during which time students go home (some schools stay open and offer language classes). During short holidays and vacations, boarding houses are usually not closed: there are no classes, but children do participate in various extracurricular activities. Therefore, studying in the UK does not require students to fly home very often.
Advantages of studying at a private school in the UK
What makes many parents and their children around the world dream and target of elite schools in the UK? At a typical British private school, a child can learn to play almost any instrument, try out different sports, act, draw - whatever he or she wants. This is good because it is very important for the child to try different types of activities during the school year so that when he graduates from the school he can determine for himself the areas of interest and the areas he wants to like to continue his studies at the university. What can say about the quality of academic education! Educational institutions at this level are extremely selective in the formation of their faculty, so students learn from the strongest teachers. Year after year, British boarding schools occupy the first line of authoritative ratings in terms of final student performance in final exams. It is no surprise that graduates from these schools go on to attend some of the most prestigious universities in the world, including Oxford and Cambridge. Another important point for us as foreign students is to be immersed in the language environment. While studying in a British school, children are most effectively acclimated to spoken English and learn to perceive objects in English, which can be a great advantage when entering a foreign university.
How to proceed in schools in London?
First of all, you need to improve your English: to get into a private school in the UK, you will need a fairly high level of knowledge of the language. It is also necessary to carefully study the requirements of your chosen school - entrance exams may vary. In most cases, candidates will.
-
Pass an interview with a school representative.
-
write a letter of motivation.
-
Provide transcripts from schools.
-
Pass the internal exams of the chosen school: these exams may include tasks in general education subjects and English.
During the admission process it is very important to understand the possible nuances of a particular school, to study the rules, to collect all necessary documents and to comply with strict deadlines. Otherwise, the dream of becoming a student at a top UK school will have to be postponed for a year.
Cost of studying at a private boarding school in London
Education in public schools is free, but these schools do not accept children whose parents live in other countries. At private schools in London, you must pay for accommodation and tuition fees. However, these schools are ready to accept talented children from any country in the world. The average cost of a semester at a private school for boys (tuition and accommodation) is £10,000 for high school and £7,500 for preparatory courses. The price includes accommodation, meals and laundry service. A deposit of three months' fees is sometimes required.