The SchoolFinder Blog
Practical advice on choosing schools, admissions, fees and exams for UK parents.
How to Choose a Private School in the UK: A Parent's Guide
A practical, step-by-step guide to choosing the right independent school for your child — from fees and results to ethos, location and the open-day questions that matter.
Understanding the 11-Plus: What Parents Need to Know
What the 11-plus exam involves, how grammar school admissions work, when to register, and how to support your child without over-tutoring.
EHCPs and Independent Schools: A Parent's Guide
How EHCPs work with independent schools: getting a private school named, who pays, the role of Section 41, and how the process really works.
SEN Support in Independent Schools: What to Ask
How SEN support works in independent schools, the questions every parent should ask, and how to judge whether a private school can meet your child's needs.
How School Catchment Areas Work — and How to Check
How school catchment areas work in the UK, why they move each year, and how to check a catchment properly before you rely on it.
Faith Schools and Religious Ethos: What to Consider
Faith schools explained: how admissions and ethos work, what to consider for religious and non-religious families, and the questions to ask.
How to Make the Most of a School Open Day
A practical school open day guide for parents: what to look for, the questions to ask and a checklist to compare schools confidently.
The Independent School Admissions Timeline
The independent school admissions timeline month by month: registration, pre-tests, exams, interviews and offers, so you never miss a key deadline.
ISI vs Ofsted: Understanding Inspection Reports
ISI vs Ofsted explained: who inspects which schools, how the reports differ, what changed in 2024–25, and how to read an inspection report.
Bursaries and Scholarships: Help With School Fees
How private school bursaries and scholarships work, who qualifies, what they cover and how to apply — a practical guide for UK parents.
Pastoral Care and Wellbeing: Choosing a Supportive School
How to judge a school's pastoral care and wellbeing: what good support looks like, the questions to ask, and the warning signs to watch for.
Single-Sex vs Co-Educational Schools: Does It Matter?
Single-sex vs co-educational schools compared: what the evidence and experience suggest, the pros and cons of each, and how to choose for your child.
Weekly and Flexi-Boarding Explained
Weekly and flexi-boarding explained for parents: how each works, what it costs, the pros and cons, and which children they suit best.
Class Sizes Explained: How Small Is \"Small\"?
Class sizes explained: what counts as small, why it matters less than you think, and the questions to ask beyond the headline pupil-teacher ratio.
Boarding vs Day School: Pros, Cons and Costs
Boarding vs day school compared: the real benefits, drawbacks and costs of each, plus how to judge which suits your child and family.
School Interviews: Preparing Your Child (and Yourself)
How to prepare for a school interview: what schools look for, helping your child shine without over-coaching, and how parents can prepare too.
How Much Do Private Schools Cost in the UK?
Private school fees explained: typical day and boarding costs, the 20% VAT change, hidden extras and how to plan for the full cost.
How to Read a School's Exam Results
How to read school exam results properly: A-level, GCSE and Progress 8 explained, what the numbers hide, and how to compare schools fairly.
Questions to Ask Before Accepting a School Place
The key questions to ask before accepting a school place — on academics, pastoral care, costs and fit — so you commit with confidence, not doubt.
The 7+ and 8+: Applying to London Prep Schools
A clear guide to the 7+ and 8+ exams for selective London prep schools: what they test, how competitive they are, and how to prepare sensibly.
Supporting a Child Applying to Oxbridge
How to support a child applying to Oxbridge: the timeline, admissions tests, interviews and personal statement — practical help without the pressure.
The Common Entrance Exam (13+) Explained
What the Common Entrance 13+ exam involves, which schools use it, how it's changing, and how to support your child through it — a parent's guide.
When Should You Start Looking at Secondary Schools?
When to start looking at secondary schools in the UK, the key deadlines by route, and a year-by-year timeline so you never miss a crucial date.
Private School vs Grammar School: Which Is Right?
Private school vs grammar school compared honestly: cost, entry, results and ethos — plus how to decide what actually suits your child.
Sixth Form Choices: A-levels vs the IB vs BTEC
A-levels vs the IB vs BTEC compared: how each qualification works, who it suits, and how to choose the right sixth form route for your child.
Choosing a Prep School: What Really Matters
How to choose a prep school: the factors that genuinely matter, the questions to ask and the mistakes to avoid when picking a preparatory school.
Switching Schools Mid-Year: How to Manage It Well
How to switch schools mid-year smoothly: when it's the right call, the in-year admissions process, and how to help your child settle quickly.
State vs Independent Schools: An Honest Comparison
State vs independent schools compared fairly: cost, class sizes, results, opportunities and outcomes — to help you weigh up what really matters.
Moving House? How to Find Good Schools in a New Area
Moving to a new area? How to find good schools you can actually get into, check catchments and admissions, and avoid costly relocation mistakes.
Music, Sport and Art Scholarships: How They Work
How music, sport, art and drama scholarships work at private schools: what they're worth, how to apply, and how to help your child win one.
A Day in the Life at a Boarding School
What a typical boarding school day really looks like — from morning routine to lights out — to help you and your child picture boarding life.
Relocating to London: A Guide to Schools by Borough
Relocating to London with children? How schools vary by borough, what to weigh up, and how to find the right area and school for your family.