Education and Schools in London
London’s schools vary tremendously in terms of the standard of education and the quality of the facilities they offer. As a general rule of thumb, the better schools tend to be in the more affluent areas.State schools and Independent schools are the two primary types of institutions in London.
State schools are government run, follow the national curriculum, and can only be attended by pupils resident in the catchment area. Waiting-lists for the better institutions are long.
Independent schools are privately run, charge high fees, and usually offer a superior standard of education.
A third option, popular with expats, is the International school. These institutions offer the opportunity for students to continue with the curriculum found in their home country, and as an added advantage, the familiar modes and language used for instruction can also be comforting for expat kids.
The school days run from 9am to 4pm weekdays, though this is subject to change depending on the level and the type of school in which a pupil is enrolled. There are three school terms with a week break between each; an additional two weeks of break is given at Easter and Christmas; and eight weeks of break is given over the summer period. The school year begins in early September and concludes in July.
