Are there affordable prep schools?

Welcome to our latest feature on affordable prep schools.

Click these ISEB links for:

…downloading this excellent ISEB introductory guide ISEB 11+ Pre Tests Parents Guide

or ISEB Maths Revision Guide ISEB 11+ Maths Revision Guide

MOCK EXAMS 7+ 8+ 10+ 11+ Purchase mark schemes

What are the pre-tests?

There are two pre-tests publisher. Firstly, the 11 plus for independent schools published by GL Education.

Secondly, ISEB’s pre-tests. These Common Pre-Tests are highly respected.

Both GL Assessment and ISEB’s pre-tests are increasingly used for private and independent school entrance.

Which prep school entry uses ISEB’s pre-tests?

You can search using this link for those senior schools using the ISEB Common Pretest.

How much do Prep Schools Cost?

Everybody talks about how good independent schools are but nobody discussed the fact that they can be quite expensive. Independent schools have never been cost-effective but when it comes to the education of a child, parents are willing to spend a lot so that they get top-of-the-class education.

If we talk about an approximate figure, then the cost can go up to 1519 GBP. The cost might rise or even fall with the change of the academic year. The cost includes 220 GBP as childcare, 70 GBP as uniform cost, 85 GBP as tech cost, 106 GBP as after-school clubs. There are many other costs such as commuting, school social events, etc. All parents are not able to bear the fees, which in turn leads the children to wear replacement trousers throughout the year.

The education cost might vary from place to place. For example, in East Anglia, the total cost of primary schools is around 15,312 GBP and in central London, it is around 21,298 GBP. This is primarily because London is a far more developed place. A lot of experts are of an opinion that 2021 might just be the most expensive academic year for a child. The reason being, the pandemic has led to a lot of losses for the schools and in order to make that up, the schools might just increase the tuition fees.

Modern schools, heavily invest in infrastructure as well, such as modern classes, well-equipped cafeterias, and food stations. They also look for the best teachers in the country to provide the school a premium level grade. Furthermore, these days, a school invests heavily in PR campaigns and advertising its brand. Nowadays, a school or an education institution works like a company and less like a body providing knowledge.

Prep school benefits

Classes are a lot smaller and there is less competition.

Prep schools not only offer the child to be more confident but also provides them opportunities for making up for areas where they have been unfortunate in life, for example through means of scholarships and special education programs.

Whereas, ,t in the United States, American prep schools cost between £10,000 – £20,000 per year. Although the quality of education that the students in the UK get is much better than that of the US.

Prep school fee structures

Fee structure can vary from school to school. Based upon the 2020 Independent School Council, average boarding fees vary between £7-12K. The fees can be paid within a specific span of time and can be paid in advance as well.

The payment methods also vary from school to school. There are prep boarding schools that request payment just in cash and then again, there will be schools that accept grant money as well. The fee that is paid to the institutions is usually for tuition and recreational activities.

Third parties that can assist parents through offering short-term academic loans till the commencement of the sessions. In cases of scholarship students, an interview and competitive examination are taken to determine the eligibility.

Prep school academic scholarships

Academic scholarships are the most common kind of scholarships, which are then followed by music scholarships and then sports.

The pupils who are eligible for scholarships are usually between the ages of 11 and 16. There are grant opportunities that students can avail themselves of in schools.

Prep school academic life

Academics is one of the most valued things for teenagers and even grown-ups understand the fact and are ready to invest a good amount of money on educating their children. The school fees include, tuition fee, hostel and unform fee and sometimes other miscellaneous expenses such as admission fee, which is a one-time fee. There are prep schools that provide sports programs and muscle classes as well and the fees for those schools might be a little higher. When it comes to senior boarding school fees, it may be somewhere around 35,000 GBP minimum.

Firstly, location plays a major role. If a school is located in a posh area, then the fees will automatically be more specifically due to infrastructure costs.

Secondly, the parent body to which the schools belong can also be a determining factor.

Academic records

Next, the academic track record that a school has can also determine the valuation of the institution.

Finally, the additional facilities that a school is providing such as hostels, free meals, etc will also increase the value. This is one of the most important factors that has been increasing the fees in boarding and prep schools in the UK for the last 5 years. That is how the schools plan on affecting the psychology of the parents and persuades them to admit their child to their institutions.

Who goes to prep school?

A lot of students in the UK prefer prep schools more than primary and middle schools. One of the main reasons behind this is that the quality of treatment they offer in prep schools is far better than several good public-school programs combined.

Prep school students can explore different career paths to choose from as they attend a variety of classes. A student feels free and encouraged in a prep school and by the time the admission to private school time comes, they are almost ready to choose their ideal career path.

A lot of parents believe that prep schools ask for a ton of money and do not offer much in terms of academics. Even though this opinion is partially right, one should be knowing that academics is not the only thing that prep schools focus on.

Prep schools encourage students to follow a path they find suitable for themselves. In terms of academics, through strategically designing the coursework and reducing expectations on the students to perform they build a comfortable space for the children.

This in turn allows a child to study the way he or she wants and not based on how the board is asking them to. The development comes first, which builds character and allows a student to be confident.