International schools in the UK

Search for the best international schools in the United Kingdom; you can find a list of selected schools at the bottom of this page. Use the search filters to select only girls' or boys' schools, prep schools, senior schools or sixth forms; or you can search for schools that offer a particular curriculum, such as the International Baccalaureate or the International Primary Curriculum. 

A leading destination country for university students from around the world, the UK has attracted a growing contingent of high-flying international students to its independent schools over recent years, with the largest number coming from Hong Kong. In 2022, there were 25,079 overseas students – accounting for 4.6 per cent of the total student body – at the 1,388 member schools of the Independent Schools Council, which represents the vast majority of the sector.

International day schools have grown in number over the past decade in London, which also has French, German, Spanish and Japanese schools. The capital boasts the largest concentration of independent schools, which are mainly spread across Southern England and the Midlands.

There are 139 IB World Schools, which all teach in English. Of these, 91 are authorised to teach the IB Diploma, and five, including ICS London and St Leonards School, offer all three IB programmes.

The UK also has several pre-university boarding colleges aimed at international students, such as CATS Canterbury, which offers the IB Diploma alongside British exams, and its sister colleges in Cambridge and London, which offer A-levels and IGCSEs.

EF Academy Oxford offers the IB Diploma and A-levels to international boarders, while Bath Academy takes boarders for IGCSE and A-level programmes. The Independent Schools Inspectorate monitors ISC schools and accrediting bodies include the Council of International Schools and the Council for Independent Further Education. 

Education is compulsory for 14 years from age five to 18 inclusive. Most state schools follow the National Curriculum, with primary schools teaching Key Stage 1 and 2 up to age 11, and secondary schools following Key Stage 3 and 4 up to GCSE exams at age 16. Children of foreign nationals can attend state schools, if they have UK residency or are from the EEA. 

Key Stage 5 involves two years of study at school or college towards academic A-levels or vocational qualifications such as NVQ and BTEC. The UK has more than 130 universities, which admitted 605,130 international students in 2020, the second largest number after the US.

If you are looking specifically for International Baccalaureate World Schools in the United Kingdom, you can find selected schools on our sister website: www.ibyb.org.