Best Schools - Late Applications

Late Applications for 2025 Private School Entry

Find a Last-Minute Place at a Top UK Independent School

Still considering private education for your child in 2025? Even with the recent introduction of VAT on school fees, many families are looking to move schools, sometimes unexpectedly—as exam season approaches. Whether it’s due to relocation, curriculum preferences, or simply seeking a better fit, there are still excellent options available at leading independent schools.

Can You Still Apply to a Private School for 2025?

Yes… even top private schools can have late vacancies. While most schools handle admissions well in advance, unexpected openings do occur. The key is to act quickly, clearly understand your needs, and work with professionals who are well connected.

Common Reasons Families Move Schools Late:

· Family relocation or life changes

· A desire to switch from A Levels to the IB or BTECs

· Interest in boarding or a different school environment

· Looking for stronger academic or personal development support

Parent Testimonial:

We contacted Education Advisers with a very late application - the new school year was starting in just over a week!
In such a short time, they managed to organise interviews with several schools which were all a great fit for our daughter, as well as entrance exams. A week later, our daughter was accepted to a wonderful boarding school, where she is thriving.
We received a professional and caring service; such a supportive and life changing experience!

Mr and Mrs L, Mauritius

What to Do If You’ve Missed the Deadline

1. Know That You Still Have Options

Even high-demand schools may accept late applications—especially if your child is a strong match for their academic or personal profile. We regularly help families secure last-minute places, even as late as the summer before entry.

At Education Advisers, we:

Stay in daily contact with hundreds of top UK schools
Keep updated on sudden openings due to withdrawals
Help families act fast to secure available places

We also guide you through entrance tests, interviews, visits or virtual tours, and handle all logistics, including guardianship and student visa support for international families.

2. Clarify Your Priorities

To make a confident school choice, it’s important to understand what your child needs now. Ask yourself:

Academic Fit – What are your child’s strengths? Do they need a school that offers more structure or flexibility? Our Academic Ability Test can help.
Curriculum Pathway – Is your child continuing with their current curriculum or switching? (e.g. A Level, IB, BTEC, Pre-U)
Personal Growth – Do you want strong extracurriculars, pastoral care, sports, or leadership opportunities?

Remember: It’s not about finding any available space, it’s about finding the right school where your child can thrive.

3. Speak With Us – Private Education Experts

Our experienced education consultants will guide you through every step. We take the time to understand your child and your requirements, based on the following:

Your child’s date of birth (some schools limit entry by age groups)
Your academic and personal goals
Your budget (we may even help negotiate discounted fees)
Your preferences for school ethos, curriculum, location, and more

Parent testimonial:

Our experience, as parents, with Education Advisers has been a very rewarding one. When we partnered with our consultant to find the best fit of school for our child, we were met with a professional who not only made it her mission to understand our child and who she is “on paper”, but she got to know her heart as well. She made it her mission to discover the fine intricacies of what makes our daughter “tick”, her motivations, passions and overall character.

Our consultant brought her knowledge and expertise of what the UK schools had to offer, coupled with her full academic and personal assessment of our daughter, to decide which school would bring out her true potential. Due to the holistic and thorough care of our consultant, the process of assessments, interviews and applying for schools was seamless and overall very exciting. I could not recommend this company enough

Mrs TA, Mauritius

How We Help Families Secure the Right School at the Last Minute

Over the past 20 years, we’ve supported thousands of families in securing places at top UK independent schools — often when deadlines have already passed. Whether you're navigating a last-minute move, switching curriculums, or simply rethinking what’s best for your child, our team is here to help.

We take the stress out of late applications by:

· Identifying schools that still have availability

· Matching your child to the right academic and pastoral environment

· Guiding you through assessments, interviews, and enrolment

· Supporting international families with guardianship and visa processes

· Ready to Take the Next Step?

Late applications can feel daunting but with the right support, they don’t have to be. Our expert consultants offer a free, tailored placement service designed to move quickly and get results. If you’re still looking for a place for 2025, now is the time to act.