Discover Britain's leading independent prep and senior schools

Attain has been helping parents navigate the maze of independent education for over 15 years, offering impartial advice about prep and senior schools. Learn more about independent education with the latest news from schools, features on key issues for parents and profiles of the leading schools.

Attain's independent schools guide is different. We offer facts, not opinions. We cut through the marketing and highlight the key things parents need to think about in order to make informed choices. Finding the right school for your child is not easy and myriad sources claim to help. Attain has an established reputation amongst schools for impartiality, integrity and independence. Attain is different and so is our guide. Find out more.

Bede's pupils had the change to perform at London's Excel Centre

Bede's perform at world's biggest dance festival

23/03/23: Following a round of successful auditions, a group of pupils from Bede's Legat Dance Academy had the chance to perform on the main stage at the opening of 'Move It' at London's Excel Centre.

Baffling bakes at Hazlegrove

22/03/23: Pupils at Hazlegrove produced an incredible array of cakes under the theme of 'curiosity' which included a cake which looked like a steak dinner, a baked potato cake and football boots. The cakes were all sold to raise money for charity.

The new Ryde School cookery programme, a pilot school for the Leiths Academy

Ryde launches new cookery school

16/03/23: Ryde School has been chosen as a pilot school for the Leiths Academy, enabling a new programme of courses to be offered to students. Pupils can take advantage of a new purpose-built cookery room at the school, with demonstration kitchen.

Boarding prep schools within reach of London

Discover independent boarding prep schools within easy reach of London, for weekly boarding opportunities.

Boarding senior schools within reach of London

Discover independent boarding senior schools within easy reach of London, for weekly boarding opportunities.

There is a growing number of requests from parents for further information

When communication becomes unhealthy

4 min read: It was vital for parents to email teachers far more than usual during the pandemic. But the volume of messages has not stopped, as Nina Kingsmill Moore, Headmistress of Glendower Preparatory School, explains.

The magic 10 per cent

3 min read: If 90% of what schools do appears to be the same, asks David Griffiths, Headmaster of Old Buckenham Hall, what is the other 10%? For prospective parents, it's the 'magic' they should focus on when choosing a school for their child.

Enjoying the moment

4 min read: As a result of the pandemic, many people feel unable to look ahead and plan with confidence. But we need to refocus on the present, explains Fionnuala Kennedy, Head of Wimbledon High School GDST, and find the joy in the here and now.

Prep schools in London

Discover independent prep schools in London which go through until transition to senior school at either 11 or 13 years.

Senior schools in London

Discover independent senior schools in London, with entry normally at age 11 or 13 years.

North of England

Search for independent prep and senior schools in Cheshire, County Durham, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear and Yorkshire.

Midlands

Search for independent prep and senior schools in Derbyshire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, the West Midlands and Worcestershire.

East of England

Search for independent prep and senior schools from across the East of England, including Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

London

Search for independent prep and senior schools from across Greater London, including East London and the City, North London, North West London, South East London, South West London and West London.

South East

Search for independent prep and senior schools from across the South East, including Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex.

South West

Search for independent prep and senior schools from across the South West, including Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire.

Scotland

Discover independent schools in Scotland around Edinburgh, Perth, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and St Andrews.

Wales

Discover independent schools in Wales around Cardiff, Brecon, Monmouth, Llandudno and Denbigh.

More Regions

Discover independent schools in Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.