Our UK Boarding School Consulting Services
1. Consultation
Meet with our experienced consultants to identify individual strengths and needs.
4. Exam Prep
Arrange academic tutorials to prepare student for entrance exams.
2. Strategy
Design customised plan with an optimal school list that best aligns with the student's interests.
5. Interviews
Provide interview coaching delivered by experts, followed by a detailed and comprehensive report.
3. Applications
Assist in portfolio compilation, application submission and school visit arrangements.
6. Full Support
Communicate with schools on behalf of the family and offer advice on school decisions.
Why Ampla?
Unparalleled team
With all of our UK consultants having studied at UK boarding schools, we are best positioned to advise families.
One-stop solution
Benefit from Ampla’s one-stop all inclusive education consulting services to amplify your child’s success.
Customised Services
We tailor all our services and teaching approaches to adapt to your family’s unique needs.
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Placement Rate
We adopt a flexible and realistic approach to accommodate each of our client’s needs.
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Stellar Results
ADMISSIONS SUCCESS
- Cheltenham Ladies’ College
- Eton College
- Harrow School
- Sevenoaks School
- Tonbridge School
- Wellington College
- Westminster School
- Winchester College
- Wycombe Abbey
UK Boarding School Admissions Overview
Each school has slightly different deadlines and entry assessments. Application to competitive top schools should be made well in advance.
Stage 1 – Finding the right school for your child
2-3 years before entry
- Understand the strengths and interests of your child
- Consult our education consultants for advice on suitable schools
- Take tests such as UKiset/ CAT4 to identify child’s academic positioning and find the most suitable schools (test results may also be used for school applications)
Stage 2 – School Visits
1-2 years before entry
- A chance for you and your child to see the school, its facilities, staff, students and the local area
- Private visits can be arranged (schools are always willing to do this – especially for families from China and Hong Kong)
- We can arrange boarding school educated consultants to accompany your family on school visits/ interviews, and provide counselling advice throughout
- Visit during an organised Open Day, ‘taster’ visits organised by the schools for children to stay overnight or summer camps that prepare children for entrance exams
*Remember first impressions definitely still count in these visits so book a session with our expert interview coaches before visiting the schools
Stage 3 – Registration
At least one year before entry
- The earlier the better for normal entry points
- Schools accept registration for other entry points where there might be a vacancy
- Some schools require students to submit a hand-written letter or supplementary questionnaire
- Our experienced consultants can guide you through the application process, and review and edit the documents before submission
Stage 4 – Assessments & Interviews
- Largely similar in most UK boarding schools
- However, most exams (other than ISEB Common Entrance) are still set by individual schools and requirements can vary considerably, meaning the child should practice past papers from each separate school they apply to. Some schools have designated time for exams to be taken at their school, while some are more flexible, with the possibility to have exams taken in Hong Kong.
Interviews
- Most schools interview students
- Can be done during a visit, as part of the entrance assessments, or by Skype
Scholarships and Bursaries
- Most schools offer scholarships and bursaries for students who excel in core academic subjects as well as subjects like Music, Art, Sports and Drama
- Qualifying students need to apply for scholarships and bursaries in advance
- Scholarship assessments/ exams are not usually taken on the same day as standard exams
Stage 5 – Offer
December the year before to the following February
- Schools make formal offers of places in writing after reviewing the student’s performance in entrance exams and interviews
- Some schools follow a strict annual timeline for releasing offers, usually in December
- We provide advice on school decisions by analysing the school and student profile
Stage 6 – Acceptance
- You are required to accept or decline an offer in a given period of time (roughly 2-3 weeks)
- Once you have accepted the offer, you will be required to pay a deposit
Stage 7 – Familiarisation Visit
May or June before entry
- Many schools ask new students to make a return visit to the school
- Format of visit varies from school to school
- A chance to know other new boys/ girls and their families, and to take care of domestic arrangements such as uniform, and guardianship if required
Stage 8 – Paperwork
- We assist with visa applications and guardianship arrangements
- Practical information regarding medical, uniform and school holiday arrangements
UK Independent Schools: Admissions Timeline
Depending on the student’s age, below are different possible entry routes:
Preparatory Schools (Prep school)
Year 5
Age : 9-10
Sep
Year 5 is a good time to enter prep school if the goal is to enter a top senior school and be prepared for 13+ Common Entrance
Jun
Deadline for registration at top schools (e.g. Eton, Harrow, Wellington, Westminster & Winchester)
Year 6
Age : 10-11
Oct – Nov
11+ Pre-Tests for top schools (to offer conditional places pending Common Entrance exam results)
Jan
11+ Entrance exams (mainly Girls’ schools)
Year 7
Age : 11-12
Sep
Last year of entry to Prep School for students wishing to be prepared for 13+ Common Entrance
Registration at 13+ Senior Schools
Year 8
Age : 12-13
Jan – Feb
13+ Entrance exams (non-UK Prep School students)
May
13+ Common Entrance exams (UK Prep schools)
Senior Schools
Year 9
Age : 13-14
Sep
Register for 14+ senior school
Jan – Feb
14+ Entrance exams
Year 10
Age : 14-15
2-year GCSE programme begins
Year 11
Age : 15-16
Nov
16+ Entrance exams
Dec
16+ Offers
Year 12
Age : 16-17
2-year A-Level programme begins
May
13+ Common Entrance exams (UK Prep schools)
Year 13
Age : 17-18
Application to university/ higher education begins
Complimentary Consultation
Interested to know more about our UK Boarding School Admissions Consultancy Services?
Contact us now to arrange a complimentary meeting with our dedicated consultants.
