Have a question about this school or want us to help you?
16 April 2018
by Ferdinand Steinbeis
by Ferdinand Steinbeis
—
The Essentials Series #2: When do I best apply for an English boarding school?
Hello from summery Oxford!
A school year is coming to a close. As usual a lot of families are getting in touch with us - either to still find a placce for this September or already to start for a stay in 2019.
One frequently recurring question we get is the following: when is the best time to apply for a boarding school place?
Since a simple "the sooner, the better" won't do, we will devote this blog post to answering this question in depth.
From over 25 years of experience, we know the following to be true....
Malvern College - we've managed to place pupils here AFTER term start!
1. There's ALWAYS places at good boarding schools.
We can allay this fear - it's never too late to start searching for a place at a good boarding school!
Only last year we placed one of our pupils after term start in September at top boarding school Malvern College. This was because a place became available at very short notice and a lucky applicant was still searching.
This happens all the time. Right up until the start of the school year in September, the places situation at many top schools is still in flux. That is because most pupils apply for several schools at the same time and only decide rather late. Moreover, pupils change their minds about going to boarding school last-minute or leave a boarding school due to a change in personal circumstances.
Wycombe Abbey School - it pays to apply here early!
2. Be early for the big-name schools.
There are certain boarding schools where it pays to be early. Two years in advance, in fact. Among these are the classic, big name schools like Eton, Harrow or Radley.
Sometimes we even get lucky here: a very talented Spanish pupil of ours managed to win a place at England's finest girls boarding schools Wycombe Abbey.
Sevenoaks School - application deadline: 1. August of the year prior!
3. Rule of thumb: plan a year-and-a-half in advance.
In order to have a smooth, stress-free search and application process, we at von Bülow Education advise families start their application process 1 1/2 years in advance of a stay. Like this, all options are open and you have enough time to discuss and visit schools.
Most good boarding schools' deadlines are in the autumn of the year prior to the stay (e.g. want to come in September 2019, apply by November 2018). Top IB-schools expect applications sooner. At e.g. Sevenoaks School, the deadline of 1. August must be adhered to in order to be considered.
Interested in more of the same? Then why not read our "10 Things that make British boarding schools special"
—
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter
Interested in our insights, opinions and stories related to English boarding schools? Then why not sign up!
von Bülow Education
Holbrooke House
34 - 38 Hill Rise
Richmond
TW10 6UA
Tel: +44 (0) 203 9534063
Email: info@buloweducation.com
Holbrooke House
34 - 38 Hill Rise
Richmond
TW10 6UA
Tel: +44 (0) 203 9534063
Email: info@buloweducation.com