Competitive Independent Schools: A Full List
Independent, or private, schools are fee paying schools which don’t receive any funding from the government. There are approximately 2400 independent schools currently operating in the country.
Fees typically range from £5,000 to £40,000 per year.
Luckily, an increasing number of large and small independent schools offer means-tested bursarial support to families of candidates applying for entry, which in some cases cover the full tuition fees, plus extras. Aside from that, many schools award scholarships to the top-performing applicants in their entrance exams, which may range from 10% to 50% of the full fees.
But are there any real benefits of enrolling your child in an independent school?
Here are a few of the main ones:
- Most independent schools provide excellent pastoral care. Once a child is admitted and starts attending lessons, the staff begin to actively engage in providing the best possible environment for their academic and personal growth, centred on an individualised approach towards their learning needs.
- Most independent schools make a wide range of extracurricular activities accessible to students in order to boost their broader skills and abilities, as well as to help them discover new interests and talents.
- Many extracurricular programmes include cross-border trips to exotic destinations, through which independent schools aim to maximise pupils’ cultural awareness and broaden their horizons.
- Most independent schools invest a lot of effort into maintaining their ethos, which often is as old as the school itself. This typically revolves around values such as compassion, integrity and tolerance whilst encouraging independent thought and promoting a sense of personal responsibility amongst students.
- Most independent schools maintain strong ties with their notable alumni, which could include Nobel Laureates, doctors, inventors and widely successful authors and athletes, thus inspiring current students and providing them with a powerful network they can tap into.
- Most independent schools offer cutting-edge facilities and methods of teaching, leading to solid exam results and offers at the country’s top universities.
If you wish to learn more about the finest independent schools in the country, click on the links below to uncover details about their history, curriculum, admissions process and entrance exams:
The information provided about independent schools was believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of future changes. We advise you to contact the school directly if you are unsure of anything. School contact details are provided within the posts.
Image source: e4education.co.uk
