Brandon Learning Centre: British Education - process, preparation and practicalities

 The days of standalone prep schools are numbered in the UK...  Winchester College and Pilgrims' Radley College and Cothill Charterhouse and Windlesham  Who's next? I can take a wild guess. The fact is that running small schools in the UK has become increasingly challenging in the face of increased National Insurance, Teachers' Pension Scheme contributions, energy costs and general inflation. And that isn't before you think of falling rolls once VAT really kicks in. So the solution is joining forces with a larger entity.  Prep schools feed a range of senior schools; anyone wanting a solid prep for Eton, Winchester or Harrow picked from a wide pool. These days, the pool is shrinking whilst the group of boys entering from UK state schools is increasing as parents turn away from boarding and economise.  How does all this affect your choices?  There are still some standalones who haven't mentioned mergers yet and some which are clearly in strong positions and m...

Which schools ask for the ISEB pretest? The list has grown! Check here:   Schools like Eton, Winchester, Charterhouse and Wellington will ask your child to sit the ISEB Pre-test ahead of inviting them for an interview. Other schools such as Benenden will ask for the test in addition to their assessment day. Check the admissions pages of the school websites. Top Ten questions from Brandon parents!  1: How do I enter for the ISEB pretest? Once you have registered with your senior schools, they will enter your child once the appropriate year comes around.  2: Where do I take the test? Brandon, of course! Notify your senior school that you are taking the test with us and they will send us test codes.  3: When do I take the test?  Your school will give you a window during which the test must be taken. Some schools have early deadlines. You need to check!  4: So what does the pre-test consist of? The test is taken online and there are four sections: Maths (50 min...

Times are changing and boarding schools are alive to the need to offer options. The traditional single-sex or co-ed division has changed. The diamond structure of schooling (mixed until 11 - single sex until 16 - mixed sixth form)  is possible when single-sex schools are in close proximity. Students benefit from having time to develop at their own pace but can take advantage of a greater range of facilities. Examples include: Berkhamsted School with more to follow (for more information, look at this article from the Spectator:   Insight into diamond schools) Mixed Sixth forms allow schools to offer a breadth of subjects and to introduce a new cohort at 16+. Successful examples include: Westminster and Charterhouse (who recently announced that they will be going fully co-ed!) Schools which remain single-sex but take advantage of geographical proximity to offer joint activities  throughout the school include: Sherborne Girls partnering with Sherborne Boys and St ...