Getting the UK private school application timeline right is half the battle — most families who miss out do so because they started late, not because their child wasn't capable. Registration deadlines often fall a year or more before the exam. This guide maps the key milestones for 11+, 13+ and 16+ entry, with a strategy tailored to international families.

Why timing decides outcomes

Selective schools cap places and close registration early. Miss a registration window and your child simply can't sit the exam that year, however strong they are. Building your timeline backwards from each school's deadlines is the single most important planning step.

Timeline for 11+ entry (Year 7)

  • Year 4: research schools, attend open days, build a shortlist; start foundational work.
  • Year 5 (autumn–spring): register with target schools; begin focused 11+ preparation.
  • Year 5 summer – Year 6 autumn: pre-tests / entrance exams, then interviews.
  • Year 6 (autumn–winter): offers issued; accept and pay deposit by the deadline.

Timeline for 13+ entry (Year 9)

  • Year 5–6: register early — many leading boarding schools require registration by Year 6.
  • Year 6 / Year 7: ISEB pre-tests sit here for most senior schools.
  • Year 8: Common Entrance or scholarship exams; interviews.

Timeline for 16+ / Sixth Form (Year 12)

  • Year 10 – early Year 11: research and register for Sixth Form entry.
  • Year 11 (autumn–winter): entrance assessments and interviews, often subject-specific.
  • Year 11: conditional offers based on predicted/actual GCSE grades.

A strategy for international families

Plan for the extra steps overseas applicants face: arrange online interviews across time zones, sit an English-language assessment (often UKiset) early, and have school reports professionally translated. Factor in visa timelines and guardianship arrangements, which must be in place before enrolment.

Key dates checklist

For every target school, record: registration deadline, registration fee, exam date, interview format, offer date and deposit deadline. Keep it in one calendar. BCC builds and manages this timeline with families so nothing slips — from shortlisting through to accepted offers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How early should we start the UK private school application process?

Begin 18–24 months before the entry date. Many selective schools close registration a full year before the exam, so an early start protects your options.

What is Common Entrance and when is it sat?

Common Entrance is a traditional set of exams used by many independent senior schools, usually sat at 13+ in Year 8 (and sometimes 11+). Schools increasingly use their own pre-tests in Year 6/7 first.