If you would like more information on this topic or to speak with us directly, please contact us on +44 7878 985564. We are available on the phone, via WhatsApp, or register on our homepage for a free consultation call.
You will find that a number of top UK schools will begin the week with homework on a Sunday evening. This is usually in part because the weekend has been busy with sports fixtures, cultural excursions or it could be the student has taken a well-earned rest after a busy week before. This homework slot will often be between 1-2 hours in length and helps ensure the school week gets off to a good start.
The school day for many of the top British boarding schools will begin sometime between 8am and 8:30am, with a short period of registration prior to the first lesson of the day. Boarding students will also be able to head for their breakfast before this, with students being able to wake up from 6am onwards.
For some schools there also may be small assemblies which take place in buildings such as the school chapel. These non-religious services will usually contain important notices for the week ahead or perhaps an inspiring story for the students to reflect on. You can expect the first lesson to have started at some point between 8:30am and 9am.
During the school day, students will generally have 6-8 lessons for around 50 minutes to 1 hour in length (on average - each school is different) and there will be a break for lunch, where students head over to the school dining hall. Note, for the best British boarding schools these buildings are usually grand buildings which have lots of history and are one of the few places where most students can fit into the same room, although some schools will stagger the lunchtime to allow younger students in first. It is also worth remembering that the food in top UK schools is not just fish and chips, and UK boarding schools have become far better at offering international options to students in recent years. In addition, you will find that most schools will have a morning break and an afternoon break, perhaps for 15-20 minutes or so.
Moving on to the late afternoon, most teaching time in independent schooling will finish around 4:30pm before the students can then participate in 1 hour of co-curricular activities - an opportunity for them to develop a talent or interest and build those all important soft skills. Finding a school with an extensive range of activities will provide the greatest choice for students. Some schools will offer activities three times per week, whereas some will offer this every day of the week and weekends too! (An experienced education counsellor can help you assess what best suits your needs).
At some point following the activity, there will be the evening meal and between 1 or 2 hours of homework per evening. This homework is supervised and is often referred to as ‘prep’, it can take place in the library, boarding house study areas or a shared dedicated space, such as a Sixth Form building. In most cases, schools will then have lights out at 11pm for older students (Age 14+) and 10pm for younger students.
Top UK boarding schools will all have slightly different variations of the above, some may combine activities and prep time with an earlier meal, some may have an earlier breakfast and shorter lessons. Each school is different but the above should give you a broad picture of everyday life through the week. One final thing to note is that schools will often mirror UK universities, with Wednesday afternoon being dedicated to sports or activities.
If you are considering UK education but unsure where to begin, allow us to share our knowledge and experience we have with helping over 400 other families choose the best school for them. We can talk you through a suggested list of independent schools in the UK that match your requirements and we are confident you will be pleased with the results.
Finding the right private schools in the UK is a very important task and one that will shape your child’s future. We do not underestimate the importance of this decision and are confident that we can find the perfect UK boarding school for you and your child, based on your exact needs.
If you would like more information on this topic or to speak with us directly, please contact us on +44 7878 985564. We are available on the phone, via WhatsApp, or register on our homepage for a free consultation call.
This will enable us to schedule an appointment, where we look forward to speaking in more depth about your specific situation, and helping in any way we can. We look forward to helping you on this journey.
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