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.

Three pupils from Mayfield won a Gold Award in the British Physics Olympiad

Physics Gold for Mayfield

12/05/23: Three pupils from Mayfield School won a Gold Award for their experimental project work in this year's British Physics Olympiad competition, placing them in the top four nationally. The pupils travelled to the Royal Society in London to receive their award.

The winning team from Beechwood Park who won the national Youth Speaks competition

Beechwood Park crowned national debating champions

05/05/23: Beechwood Park School are celebrating after a team of three pupils won the national final of the annual Rotary Club Youth Speaks competition. Not only did the team win the overall competition but also achieved Best Chairperson and Best Opposer.

Jessica Miles, the new Head of Badminton Schoo

Badminton welcomes new Head

21/04/23: Jessica Miles has been welcomed as the new Head of Badminton School in Bristol. Mrs Miles was previously the Head of Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls and Queen Margaret's School in York.

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.