Guide · Timing
Application timeline,
from any calendar.
UK boarding schools start their year in September and place students by age on 31 August. This guide shows how to find your child's UK year group from their date of birth, wherever they go to school now, and then lists the stages of an application counted back from September entry.
On this page
01 / Year groups
Age to UK year.
| Age on 31 August | UK year group in September | Entry point |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Year 7 | 11+ |
| 12 | Year 8 | — |
| 13 | Year 9 | 13+ |
| 14 | Year 10 | — |
| 16 | Year 12 (Sixth Form) | 16+ |
11
- UK year group in September
- Year 7
- Entry point
- 11+
12
- UK year group in September
- Year 8
- Entry point
- —
13
- UK year group in September
- Year 9
- Entry point
- 13+
14
- UK year group in September
- Year 10
- Entry point
- —
16
- UK year group in September
- Year 12 (Sixth Form)
- Entry point
- 16+
Based on the UK's 31 August cut-off. Schools apply their own age rules and may place a student differently, so confirm with each school.
02 / Your current calendar
Where your child's year starts.
| Current school year starts | What to check |
|---|---|
| August or September | The move usually lines up with the UK year; confirm the year group with each school |
| January or February | Your child will leave part-way through a school year; check which UK year group applies and which topics the new class has already covered |
| Another month | Map the date of birth to a UK year group first, then plan the months between the two calendars |
August or September
- What to check
- The move usually lines up with the UK year; confirm the year group with each school
January or February
- What to check
- Your child will leave part-way through a school year; check which UK year group applies and which topics the new class has already covered
Another month
- What to check
- Map the date of birth to a UK year group first, then plan the months between the two calendars
Your coordinator checks the age rules of the schools you choose.
03 / The stages
Counting back from September.
| Stage | What happens | When (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Compare countries and schools | Draw up a shortlist; visits or virtual tours | Two to three years before entry （to be confirmed） |
| Register | Apply to each school before its deadline | Set by each school |
| Pre-tests and UKiset | Online tests used early in selection | Often around two years before 13+ entry （to be confirmed） |
| Exams and interviews | School exams, Common Entrance or the school's own papers; interviews | Set by each school |
| Offers | Accept a place and pay a deposit | Set by each school |
| Visa, guardian and travel | Child Student visa, educational guardian, flights | The months before entry |
| Start | Join the school in September | — |
Compare countries and schools
- What happens
- Draw up a shortlist; visits or virtual tours
- When (typical)
- Two to three years before entry （to be confirmed）
Register
- What happens
- Apply to each school before its deadline
- When (typical)
- Set by each school
Pre-tests and UKiset
- What happens
- Online tests used early in selection
- When (typical)
- Often around two years before 13+ entry （to be confirmed）
Exams and interviews
- What happens
- School exams, Common Entrance or the school's own papers; interviews
- When (typical)
- Set by each school
Offers
- What happens
- Accept a place and pay a deposit
- When (typical)
- Set by each school
Visa, guardian and travel
- What happens
- Child Student visa, educational guardian, flights
- When (typical)
- The months before entry
Start
- What happens
- Join the school in September
- When (typical)
- —
04 / Questions
Families ask.
We are starting late. Is it still possible?
Often, depending on the schools and the entry point. A coordinator can check the deadlines for the schools you have in mind.
Can my child join a younger year group?
Some schools allow this and others do not; it is each school's decision.
About this article
- Written by
- （to be confirmed）
- Reviewed by
- （to be confirmed）
- Last updated
- 2026-10-31
Work out your timeline.
Send us your child's date of birth, current school and the country you live in.