One traditioncarried forward with purpose

Our boarding provision has always been an integral part of Highfield School and its continued popularity reflects just how well we do it. Our full boarding is perfect for children whose families may be overseas, and our buoyant boarding community ensures that no child ever feels alone when their parents are out of the country. 

The children who board all become part of a large extended family. We ensure they are cared for, looked after and receive the attention they deserve, just as they would if they were at home. Every evening the whole boarding community, including staff, sit and eat dinner together. Our international children benefit from the balance of the big, bustling boarding community during the week and the more intimate atmosphere of the weekends. 

Our curriculum is designed to ensure children are fully prepared for exams by providing plenty of time for the core subjects, as well as breadth through our sport, performing arts and visual arts lessons. And the opportunities don’t end there. Our extensive extra-curricular programme offers endless opportunities, from bushcraft to refining a golf swing on our own course. 

Our exceptional teachers and rich curriculum fully prepare children for the ISEB exams sat in Year 6. Children who join us in Year 7 without having already sat these examinations will have the opportunity to take them in their first term with us. We continue to prepare children for Common Entrance in the core subjects: English, Maths and Science. Our scholarship programme is for Year 8 pupils showing great strength across the board, extending beyond the normal demands of the curriculum to help prepare children with real aptitude to apply for a senior school scholarship. 

We welcome children from many different countries. Our school community currently includes over ten different nationalities beyond the UK, bringing great vibrancy and enrichment to school life and a wonderful opportunity for both children and staff to celebrate diversity and inclusion. 

If English is not your child’s first language, Highfield School provides a full immersion experience. Children make rapid progress once they arrive, though they do need sufficient spoken and written English before arrival to be able to follow lessons. When a new pupil joins, our specialist English as an Additional Language (EAL) teacher carries out an individual assessment of their English language skills, then contacts parents directly to discuss and agree the right level of ongoing support for their child. This is provided at an additional cost where needed. 

Our admissions process ensures we maintain a dynamic mix of nationalities and never allow any single one to dominate. This means your child will always be motivated to speak English and become fully accustomed to British traditions and culture. 

We understand that moving your child to study in the UK involves more than just choosing the right school, it means navigating visas, guardianship and the practical realities of life at a distance. Our experienced Admissions Registrar, Charlotte Cottrell, supports every family through this process, including CAS and visa applications, so you’re never left to work it out alone. 

Visas.

It is the parents’ responsibility to ensure their child has the correct permission to study in the UK, but we make the process as smooth as possible. As your child’s sponsor, we issue a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS), which can be arranged up to six months before your child’s studies begin. If your child is joining us as a day pupil, one parent may instead apply for a Parent of a Child Student Visa. Please note that any child whose studies we sponsor must move to full boarding from the age of 12. 

Guardians.

If you live outside the UK, your child will need an educational guardian, accredited by AEGIS or the Boarding Schools’ Association, to represent you and support your child while they’re with us. Guardians must be at least 25, fluent in English, resident within 90 minutes of the school, and either a British citizen or UK permanent resident. They play a genuinely important role — from being a point of contact in an emergency, to arranging safe travel during the holidays, to providing a proper home (never a hotel or Airbnb) if your child isn’t returning home for a break. We’re happy to talk you through exactly what this involves and support you in finding the right person. 

Fees and travel.

International fees include a termly international supplement covering visa sponsorship, and we ask for a year’s tuition fees in advance (one term for families joining us from Europe). In line with UK Visas and Immigration requirements, we also ask sponsored families to keep us updated on travel plans during school breaks — simply so we know your child is safe and accounted for at all times. 

Our friendly and knowledgeable Admissions Registrar will guide you through our admissions process, offering help and advice every step of the way. To ensure our school maintains an exciting blend of nationalities and supports our international children to fully integrate, our admissions criteria ensure that no overseas nationality dominates. 

1. Visit us in person, or arrange an online meeting with the Head 
2. Complete registration and pay the registration fee 
3. Taster day (including a trial boarding night, where relevant) or online testing for children aged 7 and above 
4. Interview with the Head, including a verbal English proficiency check 
5. Offer sent, if successful 
6. Complete the acceptance form and pay the deposit 
7. Nominate a guardian, who is then checked by the school 
8. Payment of fees in advance 
9. CAS issued by the school 
10. Visa application by parents, checked by the school 
11. School entry 

We recognise the value of working with educational agents and welcome enquiries from them on behalf of international families. Families are welcome to join us in September, January or April, with options for either long-term or short-term stays. We recommend registering at least 18 months in advance for entry in September, and at least 12 months in advance for entry in January or April. Registrations are considered by the Head in the order received, so early registration is always advised.