TYPES OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES
Once you have chosen your study destination and programme, you will need to decide on the school or college where you will continue your studies.
I know that everyone wants the very best, but since perfection does not exist, I suggest that we work together to find the school that suits YOU best.
MANY OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM
Choosing a school is a very personal decision, and the wide range of options available does not make the process any easier. By going through the steps leading up to the decision, you will be able to set your own ranking based on your needs.
- What factors matter most to you when choosing a school?
- What are your hopes, dreams, and goals?
- What is most important for your future?
- Where would you like to be at the end of high school?
PRIVATE SCHOOLS CAN BE CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO SEVERAL CRITERIA
🏅 BY DEGREE OF SELECTIVITY
- Highly Selective Schools – Admission is extremely competitive, and being smart and having the necessary budget is not enough. A strong focus is placed on students’ interests, potential, attitude, personality, and compatibility with the school environment.
- Selective Schools – Places fill up quickly, and progression from one stage to another depends on academic results.
- Non-Selective Schools – Admission requirements are more relaxed. Some schools use entrance tests only to place students in the right class.
👨🏼💼👩🏻⚖️ BY GENDER STRUCTURE
- Co-educational Schools – For both boys and girls.
- Single-Sex Schools – For boys or for girls.
- Diamond Schools – Found only in the UK: co-educational until Year 7, single-sex in Years 7–11, and co-educational again in Years 12–13.
🏫 BY STRUCTURE & EDUCATIONAL APPROACH
- Boarding Schools – Usually located outside major cities.
- Colleges – Usually located in cities such as London, Cambridge, Oxford, Birmingham.
BOARDING SCHOOLS
Life at a boarding school offers many advantages, as students have everything they need on campus: classrooms, library, sports facilities, dormitories, dining hall, medical care, etc. Uniforms are usually required.
AGE OF STUDENTS
Most boarding schools accept boarders from the age of 13 or 14, but some admit younger international students.
ACCOMMODATION
Students live in dormitories on campus. Each house has a housemaster/houseparent and a tutor responsible for students’ wellbeing.
MEALS
All meals are included. Food is varied, though students should expect a different experience from what they are used to at home.
UNIFORM
Wearing a uniform is compulsory. In some schools, the uniform is replaced with a suit or business attire during the last two years of high school.
SCHEDULE
The timetable is set by the school and includes lessons, sports, recreational and extracurricular activities, as well as time for independent study and clubs. The highly structured schedule helps students become responsible, build confidence, and manage their time efficiently.
SPORTS FACILITIES
Boarding schools place great emphasis on sports, offering excellent facilities on campus: tennis, rugby, and football pitches, a swimming pool, a sports hall, netball courts, etc.
COLLEGES
At a college, the rules are more flexible: students do not wear uniforms, there is no chapel, teachers are often addressed by their first names, and after lessons, the schedule is not as rigid as in boarding schools.
AGE OF STUDENTS
Most colleges admit students from the age of 14, 15, or 16, though some require a minimum age of 16.
ACCOMMODATION
Students are housed either in dormitories or with host families. They are supervised but also enjoy freedom to go out with friends. Accommodation is usually 5–30 minutes from the school.
MEALS
Some colleges provide only breakfast, others full board, while most offer flexible meal plans.
UNIFORM
Colleges usually do not require a uniform, but students must respect a dress code. Some colleges, however, do require uniforms.
SCHEDULE
After lessons, students aged 16+ decide which sports and activities they want to pursue and how much time to devote to homework and independent study. This requires maturity and responsibility to balance study with social life.
SPORTS FACILITIES
As colleges are usually smaller in size than boarding schools, they often do not have their own sports facilities but rent pitches and swimming pools from nearby institutions.
If you are undecided between the two school types, don’t worry. We can arrange visits and start the admission process for both. After visiting and experiencing the admission steps, it will be much easier for you to make a decision.
Contact us if you would like professional support and guidance from the very first meeting to graduation.
