How To Apply

Once your school visits have been undertaken and your research completed, it is time to begin the application process. If you have already been in contact with or visited a school, the admissions staff will have explained the relevant procedures to you. Do remember that many schools are oversubscribed or have specific entry requirements which your daughter must meet. Make sure you understand what these are. You may not be able to secure a place at your first choice school, so it is a good idea to have more than one on your shortlist.

Why Register?

The first step when applying to most independent schools is to register your child. This does not guarantee a place but demonstrates your serious interest in the school. You can usually find a registration form in the back of the prospectus although some schools encourage online registration. In most cases there will be a non-refundable registration fee to cover administrative costs.

When to register

Ideally you will be registering at least one full academic year in advance of your child joining the school and in some areas of high demand this will be essential. Registration at birth may be advisable for sought-after schools with long waiting lists. This applies particularly to schools in London. However schools are well aware that families relocate and change their plans and will do their best to accommodate you if they have spaces available in the appropriate year group.

Next steps.

After you have registered, the school will inform you of the next step. For the youngest children this may be an opportunity to visit the school for an informal play session or a series of more structured activities to assess potential. Older pupils may need to sit a selective entrance examination or attend an assessment day. A formal offer of a place will usually only follow after your child has completed this stage of the process.

When you accept an offer from an independent school you will be required to pay a deposit and sign a contract. This is legally binding, so ensure that you read all the conditions that apply. It is important to note that a full term’s notice in writing is usually required to withdraw a pupil from a school.

Application procedures are very different for maintained schools. Make sure you contact your local authority in plenty of time and that you are fully briefed on catchment areas and other relevant issues.