Moving to a UK boarding school from overseas
A MyDaughter subscribers asks:
Q. Hello. My name is Hannah and I will be seventeen on the 15 of September. I am currently residing in the United States, but I find myself extremely dissatisfied with the public schools that are available to me here. I realize that it may be a bit strange of a request, but I would appreciate the opportunity to start at a girls’ boarding school in the UK this or next year. I would be a senior this year at the school I am currently attending, and this would be my last year of schooling. I really feel that I have not had the opportunity to fully receive the benefits of secondary education. My schooling so far has been chaotic- I went to three high schools within the past year, and am only welcome at my current school for one more semester before being dropped from the student list (for tax purposes, I believe). I am technically a high school graduate in the state of California, because I was forced to take the proficiency test due to my lack of credits, but I do not believe that should get in the way of my enrolment at a school in an entirely different country. (At least I hope not.)
A. In terms of age, you would be much better off starting the sixth form this September as you would be the same age as your peers and therefore it would be easier to settle in with them socially. The fact that you do not have any credits will not get in your way of enrolling at a UK school, but any boarding school in this country will require references from your previous school which will include comments about your character and an indication of how you have been performing academically. In a UK sixth form you will pick 3 or 4 subjects to study and schools will be particularly interested to know how you were performing in similar subjects in high school. Some schools may require you to take a test before being offered a place as well as completion of the confidential school reference.
You will find that sixth form studies in the UK, either A Levels or the International Baccalaureate, require more extended writing skills than you will be used to in the US. Many American students have difficulty with the transition and the sixth form in the UK is generally at post high school level so a step up academically. There is more independent learning required and most schools do not grade you as often as you will have been used to in the US. Most of the courses involve terminal examinations so you are working towards an end goal rather than achieving credits as you go through the two year course. If you are interested in taking up a place at a US University it is worth checking with the boarding school that they can arrange for you to take part in SAT training and to make arrangements for you to sit the tests locally, many do so.
Finally to come to school in the UK you will need to get a student visa, the regulations have changed recently and the process can be quite long winded. You cannot apply for a visa until you have an offer in writing from the receiving school which includes a lot of subsidiary information; your application also has to be backed up with financial information which proves that you will be supported throughout your time in the UK. If you want to start this September you will need to talk to a school urgently to see if they still have places available and then if they offer you a place start on the visa application immediately to ensure that you do not miss too much of the beginning of the new school year.
Although many UK boarding schools do have American students, you must not underestimate the enormity of the change that you are proposing. Moving from being at a day school into boarding is not only exciting but also brings about its own challenges. Moving from one education system to another is a similar challenge. You need to think very carefully about the steps that you are taking and to have good support from your own family
Your comments
My daughter has moved from a day school in Kenya to a boarding school in England and although the transition was initially hard(socially only) I find that she is exposed to a plethora of opportunities that she would not be offered anywhere else. Moreover she is doing the demanding Cambridge Pre-U course and still finding time to be in all the team sports and debates and societies of her choice. I think a British Boarding school is a brilliant way to mould a youngster into have excellent time-management skills.
Perhaps an easier move might be into an International Boarding School; one that offers either the American curriculum or IB certificates with an American High School Diploma. There are schools like these not just in the UK (www.marymountlondon.com), but also in other European countries. There is a cost factor to consider, however, as these boarding schools can be quite expensive. As mentioned above, with as unstable an education as you have had, it might be best to attend a boarding school for two years. This will also make the University/College application process easier as you will have more of a consistent record to show them. Good luck.