UK Boarding School Types

A boarding school is an educational institution where some or all pupils not only study, but also live, amongst their peers. The word 'boarding' in this sense means to provide food and lodging. In the United Kingdom, around 700 schools, both single-sex and co-educational, offer boarding places. Most also admit a significant number of day pupils. Boarders enjoy benefits such as close and long-lasting friendships and immediate access to staff who can assist with studies. There is usually also an excellent range of facilities and activities offered.

UK and Hong Kong education system are similar to each other, courses and grades are closely linked; the education system in the UK has been famous worldwide for its high quality and diversity. Thus, UK has been a very popular place for Hong Kong students who want to study aboard.

UK boarding school starts in September with 3 terms, each term is divided by a one-week break called half term, usually at the end of October, mid-February and the end of May.

3 Types of UK Boarding School:

1. Preparatory School
Entry age 7-13 , Class : Primary two to Secondary two

Preparatory school (usually abbreviated to prep school) is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen. Prep school provides a high quality education from primary two to secondary two. It is the best choice for parents who wish their younger children to enter UK primary or junior secondary school.

Prep School is very popular among parents for its wide varieties of subjects and extra curricular activities; chance for their children to learn foreign languages at an early age and a low student teachers ratio, teachers can focus more on their students and provide help and care when needed. The Independent School Council has reported that prep school students have 100 more hours of class each year, comparing to the public day school students, they also achieved higher marks in the public exams.

When the student is preparing to enter Year 9 (Form 3), the principal and our centre will provide advice and suggestion on the schools that is suitable for this student. This kind of schools has their own school network, therefore parents need not to worry about lack of school options after finished prep school; in addition, prep school can provide an excellent learning environment for the children, a better start to their future.

Prep School fee and the number of Hong Kong students are normally lower than the senior school; students can learn English more efficiently. In year 2007/08, the school fee and accommodation fee are around 4000-5000GBP per year (vary in different schools).


2. Senior School
Entry age: 11/13-18, Class: Form one/three to seven

UK independent boarding school has better facilities and education quality comparing to the public school, it also has a tighter measurement on students’ entry age. Not only focusing on academic, senior school also concern on students’ musical and physical development.

Moreover, UK’s GCSE (Form 4 and 5) and A-Levels’ subjects choice tend to be more flexible compared to Hong Kong ,students can choose subjects according to their own interest; whilst Hong Kong students can only choose either arts, science or business, UK A-Levels students can take history, physics and economics at the same time.

UK education system is similar to Hong Kong’s, with 6 years primary school (Year 1 to 6), 5 years secondary school (Year 7 to 11) and two years in Advanced Levels. After finished Year 11, students need to take the GCSE exam (HKCEE); finished Year 13, students need to take the A-Levels exam. Universities give offer according to their A-Levels exam results.

3. ISC - International Study Centree
Entry age: 9-18

Normally based inside the historical boarding school, target at overseas students. ISC is small class based with 4-8 persons in a class. Its courses mainly focus on improving students’ English level and their understanding on subjects, course normally finished within one year, student can then change back to main stream boarding school. ISC also provides one year Form 5 repeat course, targeted at their weaknesses and lay out focal course to help students achieve a higher mark in exam.