The steps from nursery to university

Find out how the independent school system is structured and essential differences in qualifications between schools in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. By Val Proctor

Fettes College, Edinburgh, Tony Blair

The independent schools system

If you are new to the independent system, it’s easier to understand it as a two-tier system – preparatory and secondary schools.

Private schools follow the national curriculum, which operates at four general key stages. There are more than 2500 private schools in the UK, educating around 615,000 boys and girls (seven per cent of the UK's children). Catering to such a huge number of people means the system has to be flexible.

Typical ages of entry for senior schools are 11+, 13+ or 16+, while the younger age groups are usually able to join at any stage. The typical system is detailed below:

Private nursery (6 months upwards)

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In England and Wales, the government provides part-time nursery care for every three-four-year-old.

The usual age for starting school is five, so most private schools offer nursery facilities from a much younger age and some will look after children from six months upwards. All good nurseries should be inspected regularly by Ofsted.

Fees: start at around £1000 for a private nursery school but this does vary geographically.

Pre-preparatory schools (age three to seven)

Pre-prep schools are usually attached to a prep school which children move into automatically at age seven (Year 3). These aim to introduce younger children into the more formal schooling system. The day is structured, although it usually finishes slightly earlier than the prep school day.

Fees: from £1200 to £2400 per term.

Preparatory school (age seven to 11 or 13)

Prep schools are the middle schools of the independent sector. Most pupils will leave prep to join senior school at age 11 or 13.

Drama
According to Mike Davies, headmaster of Edge Grove Preparatory School in Hertfordshire: "The three things parents hold dearest in prep schools are small class sizes to maximise academic advancement, a wide breadth of extra-curricular activity to offer all-round development and a positive ethos on behaviour. These core elements prepare children well for senior school."

Most prep schools have their own entrance tests. Some act as feeder schools to prestigious independent senior schools.

Fees: day school fees range between £2700 and £4000; some boarding prep schools can cost up to £7000 per term.

Senior school (ages 11/13 to 18)

Haileybury, school

Private senior schools are generally selective and to enter, pupils usually have to pass entrance exams and provide good references fromprevious schools.

The variety of senior schools available is vast – from single sex day schools to co-educational boarding schools, to those who finish at GCSE level and those who offer A-Levels and the International Baccalaureate.

The GCSE is the primary means of assessing the curriculum at the end of compulsory schooling. GCSE courses are generally taught over the two years of Key Stage 4 of the National Curriculum from age 14 and are assessed through a combination of coursework and examination.

A-Levels are the usual means of entry to British universities. More schools are offering the International Baccalaureate, a two-year programme for students aged 16-19. It can be considered an attractive alternative to A-Levels for students who seek a broad and challenging programme, as it embraces languages, mathematics, sciences and arts.

Fees: range from £3000 to £6200 for day pupils and £5000 to £8500 for boarders per term.

Sixth form college (ages 16 to 18)

Independent sixth form or tutorial colleges are useful for overseas students aged 18 plus who wish to take A levels but would not, in view of their age, be accepted by a school sixth form. Most colleges offer resit and revision courses as well as full-time one-year and two-year GCSE and A Level courses. Tuition is in small groups with special emphasis given to exam technique and study skills.

Attendance at lessons and academic progress are strictly monitored, but the overall atmosphere is generally less formal than in a school. Most are day colleges but will guide parents as to suitable, nearby accommodation.

Fees are similar to the range given for senior schools.

Find out more information on how to choose the right school for your child

Scottish national qualifications

Merchiston School, Edinburgh The Scottish public exam qualifications, administered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), are recognised for entrance to all universities in the UK. Standard Grade or Intermediate level exams, usually taken in the fourth year of secondary school, cover a broad range of subjects and are equivalent to GCSEs in England.

After this, students usually follow a two-year programme at Higher and Advanced Higher, in their fifth and sixth year. Both academic and vocational subjects are offered, giving students breadth and depth of study and individual choice. In the sixth year pupils can improve on their Highers, take more, or continue in selected subjects to Advanced Higher.

In Scotland, AS and A-Level courses may be offered with the Scottish Higher and Advanced Higher programme in some or all subjects. A small number of independent schools in Scotland now also offer the International Baccalaureate (IB).