How to Apply to a UK School as a Returning Expat: State and Private Pathways

Returning expat families face a school admissions challenge that is essentially two problems in one: navigating the UK state system's address-based, deadline-driven process, while simultaneously engaging with the independent sector's competitive examination calendar. Most families run both pathways in parallel, which adds complexity but maximises the range of options available.

This guide explains both processes step by step and addresses the key sixth-form decision — A-Levels versus the IB Diploma — for families whose children are approaching the end of secondary school. For an overview of the landscape, see the UK returning expats school hub.

---

Part 1: Applying to UK State Schools

Step 1: Identify Your Local Authority

State school admissions in England are managed by local authorities (LAs) — the council for the area you will live in. If you move between boroughs, the LA changes. Each LA publishes its own co-ordinated admissions scheme, setting out the timetable and process for that area.

Find your LA by entering your postcode on the gov.uk school admissions finder once you have a confirmed UK address.

Step 2: Determine the Correct Admissions Round

There are two distinct scenarios:

Main admissions round (September entry):

• For Year R (Reception, age 4–5) and Year 7 (secondary, age 11).
• Applications open in September of the preceding year.
• Primary deadline: 15 January for Year R; 31 October for Year 7.
• Offers issued: 16 April (Year R) and 1 March (Year 7).

In-year admissions (all other entry points):

• For any child joining a school outside the main round, or entering any year group other than Year R or Year 7.
• Application goes to the LA or directly to the school (depending on the LA's scheme).
• No national deadline; apply as soon as you have your UK address confirmed.
• Place offered if a vacancy exists; added to waiting list if the school is full.

Step 3: Gather Required Documents

For state school applications, you will typically need:

• Proof of your UK address (tenancy agreement, mortgage/completion letter, or utility bills in your name)
• Child's birth certificate
• Previous school reports (for in-year applications, the LA or school may request these to understand your child's background)

Step 4: Submit the Application

For main round applications, use the LA's online application portal (usually accessible via the council website). You will list up to three school preferences, ranked in order. You do not need to tell the schools you are applying; the LA co-ordinates across all your preferences.

For in-year applications, either apply via the LA's central in-year scheme or contact individual school offices directly, depending on the LA.

Step 5: Respond to the Offer

If you receive an offer by the offer date, you must accept or decline by the deadline (usually two weeks after offer day). Accept only one place — accepting more than one and withdrawing at the last minute blocks places for other families. If you are refused, you may appeal to an independent appeals panel.

---

Part 2: Applying to UK Independent Schools

Step 1: Register Early

Independent school registration — placing your child's name on the school's list and paying a registration fee — is entirely separate from application. Registration does not guarantee a place; it secures access to the examination process. Most popular schools close their registration lists before examinations, so registration must happen well in advance.

Target registration timing:

Entry Point	Register By
7+ (Year 2 entry)	Year 1 or earlier
8+ (Year 3 entry)	Year 1 or Year 2
11+ (Year 7 entry)	Year 4 or early Year 5
13+ via CE (Year 9 entry)	Year 5 or Year 6
Sixth form (Year 12 entry)	Spring of Year 11, or as early as possible

Registration from overseas is generally possible by email or through the school's website. You will be required to pay a registration fee (typically £100–£250) and supply basic documentation.

Step 2: Sit the Entrance Assessments

Assessment formats vary by school and entry point:

• 7+ and 8+: English, maths, and reasoning activities; sometimes play-based assessment.
• 11+: ISEB Common Pre-Test (online) followed by the school's own written papers in English and maths; interview at shortlisted stage.
• 13+: ISEB Common Pre-Test in Year 6; if conditional offer received, Common Entrance papers in May–June of Year 8 at the candidate's prep school.
• Sixth form: Predicted/actual GCSE or IGCSE grades; subject-specific test or interview; head of year reference.

For children returning from overseas, most schools will make practical arrangements for the ISEB Common Pre-Test to be sat at a recognised international examination centre, or will schedule a UK visit for the child to attend the school and sit papers in person.

Step 3: Prepare for the Exams

Children from international school backgrounds — IB, American, French, Australian curricula — should allow time for deliberate preparation:

• IB PYP to 7+/8+: Strong foundation in English literacy and numeracy; gap is usually small.
• IB MYP or American curriculum to 11+: CE-registered prep or subject tutor recommended for UK history/geography content and English literature.
• CE at 13+: Formal syllabus preparation over 12–18 months is standard; most prep schools dedicate significant curriculum time to CE subjects.
• Sixth form: Ensure IGCSE or IB MYP predicted grades are available and understood by the admissions team.

Step 4: Submit Scholarship and Bursary Applications

If you are applying for a scholarship or bursary, the application usually runs alongside — but separately from — the entrance exam registration. For bursaries, financial disclosure is required. For scholarships, there may be an additional paper, audition, portfolio review, or interview. Apply for both simultaneously to avoid missing deadlines. See our full guide on UK independent school fees, bursaries, and scholarships.

Step 5: Receive and Accept the Offer

Independent school offers typically arrive by post or email. You will be given a deadline by which to accept and pay a deposit (commonly one term's fees, refundable in part if you withdraw with sufficient notice). Read the contract carefully — terms around deposit forfeiture on withdrawal vary significantly.

---

Part 3: Sixth Form — A-Levels vs IB Diploma

For children returning to the UK at age 15 or 16, the sixth-form pathway decision is significant. Both A-Levels and the IB Diploma are accepted for UK university admissions, but they suit different learners.

A-Levels

• Typically three subjects studied in depth over two years
• Highly specialised — particularly appropriate for children who know their university subject direction
• The standard qualification at the vast majority of UK state sixth forms and most independent schools
• Strong track record with UK university admissions tutors

IB Diploma

• Six subjects across sciences, humanities, languages, and arts; plus Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, and CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service)
• Broader programme — requires higher capacity for managing multiple subject workloads simultaneously
• Offered at approximately 87 UK independent schools as of 2026; government funding for IB in state schools is due to end after 2026–27
• Well regarded internationally and by UK universities
• Particularly suitable for children who have been in IB schools abroad and wish to maintain curriculum continuity

For a child who has studied IB MYP in Dubai, Bangkok, or New York, transitioning to IB Diploma in the UK is a natural continuation. For a child who has been in an American or British curriculum school, A-Levels are the more familiar path. For more detail, see our guide on GCSEs and A-Levels for returning expats.

---

Key Timeline Summary

Action	Recommended Timing Before Return
Research schools and locations	18–24 months
Register with independent schools	12–24 months (entry-point dependent)
Secure UK address for LA application	6–12 months (or at move)
Submit main round LA application	By October (Year 7) or January (Year R)
Sit independent school entrance exams	Varies; typically autumn term
Apply for bursaries and scholarships	Alongside registration
Accept offers and pay deposits	By deadline set by school

---

How Global Investments Can Help

Timing a return to the UK so that it aligns with school admissions deadlines — and securing the right property in the right location — is something Global Investments' UK specialists help families navigate regularly. Whether you are targeting a state school catchment, a prep school, or a London day school, the property and school decisions are intertwined. Explore UK property options and current listings, or speak to our team about your return timeline.

This guide is for general information only. Admissions processes, deadlines, and examination formats change from year to year. Always verify current requirements directly with your local authority and target schools. Property values can fall as well as rise.