Expert guides for UK school admissions.
Rankings, regional intelligence, exam pathways and parent explainers — written by senior consultants, verified directly with schools, updated for each admissions cycle.
Find the right guide
Five topic areas — every guide we've published, indexed by what you need to figure out next.
School rankings
Independently researched, refreshed annually. Each ranking scores academic performance, university destinations, pastoral care and value.
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National · 2026
Best Private Schools in the UK 2026
Our flagship national ranking — 15 schools assessed across academic results, university destinations, pastoral care and value.
Best Schools 2026 7 min read -
National · 2026
Best Boarding Schools in the UK 2026
Boarding-only ranking, scored on pastoral as well as academic dimensions. Top 10 boarding schools nationally.
Best Schools 2026 6 min read -
Outcomes · 2026
Best Schools for Oxbridge Entry 2026
Ranked by Oxbridge acceptance rate, with subject and college destination context. Updated annually.
Best Schools 2026 5 min read -
City · 2026
Best Private Schools in London 2026
The capital's most academic day schools, with catchment and commute notes for each.
Best Schools 2026 7 min read
Regional intelligence
Each guide covers schools by entry route, fees, catchment realities and the school bus map.
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Surrey · 2026
Best Schools in Surrey 2026
Charterhouse, RGS Guildford, Hampton, KCS Wimbledon — and the prep schools that consistently feed them.
Schools by Region 8 min read -
Berkshire · 2026
Best Schools in Berkshire 2026
Eton, Wellington, Bradfield, Downe House and the day-school alternatives along the M4 corridor.
Schools by Region 7 min read -
Oxfordshire · 2026
Best Schools in Oxfordshire 2026
Radley, Magdalen College School, Headington, St Edward's — Oxford's strong school cluster.
Schools by Region 7 min read -
Kent · 2026
Best Schools in Kent 2026
Tonbridge, Sevenoaks, Benenden, King's Canterbury — plus the grammar overlay families also consider.
Schools by Region 7 min read -
Hampshire · 2026
Best Schools in Hampshire 2026
Winchester, Bedales, Lord Wandsworth, Twyford — schools and the families they attract.
Schools by Region 8 min read
The 2026 UK Admissions Calendar
Every key date in one PDF — registration deadlines, exam windows, scholarship calendars, interview seasons and open days.
23 schools · 4 entry points · 1 calendar
Every exam, demystified
For each major UK admissions test: format, timing, scoring rubric, sample questions, and the preparation strategy that moves the score.
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11+ Pre-Test
Iseb Pre Test Guide
The Year 6 pre-test sat by most boys' boarding schools as the first filter for 13+. Format, sections, scoring, preparation.
Test Guides 5 min read -
International
The Complete Guide to the UKiset Test
The standardised entry test most boarding schools accept from international applicants. Format and preparation strategy.
Test Guides 7 min read -
13+ Entry
The Complete Guide to 13+ Common Entrance
Subject papers, marking, scholarship overlay and how schools weight CE against pre-test scores.
Test Guides 8 min read -
Oxbridge
The Complete Guide to Oxbridge Admissions Tests
TSA, MAT, BMAT, ELAT — every Oxbridge admissions test by subject, with preparation recommendations.
Test Guides 11 min read
Plain-English guides for parents
The questions that come up over and over in consultations, written for parents new to the British independent system.
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Explainer
How Does the UK School System Work? A Guide for International Families
Year groups, key stages, the path from prep to public school. A start-to-finish primer for international families.
Parent Explainers 11 min read -
Comparison
Day School vs Boarding School – Which is Right for Your Child?
Cost, lifestyle, academic outcome, family impact — a clear-eyed comparison most families wish they'd had earlier.
Parent Explainers 10 min read -
Explainer
What is the ISEB Pre-Test and How Does It Work?
The Year 6 assessment used by most boys' boarding schools to pre-select for 13+. Format, scoring, application.
Parent Explainers 9 min read -
Funding
UK School Bursaries and Scholarships Explained
Award sizes, means-testing, how to apply, and which schools have the most generous bursary funds.
Parent Explainers 11 min read -
Comparison
A-Levels vs IB — Which is Better for University?
Which curriculum suits which child, which universities prefer each, and how results compare directly.
Parent Explainers 10 min read -
Comparison
Co-Ed vs Single-Sex Boarding Schools — Pros and Cons
How modern co-ed schools compare academically and pastorally with single-sex peers. With data, not gut feel.
Parent Explainers 9 min read
Or jump straight to a school
The flip side of the guides hub — individual school pages with entry routes, exam format, fees and scholarships.