Teenage Independent Schools

Teenage independent schools, otherwise known as teenage private schools, teenage public schools, or teenage private academies, are mainly, or absolutely, self-supporting.

Usually, they receive no funds from the local authority or the government – unlike the state-funded schools and academies.

They are usually self-supporting from school fees and fund raising events – and the more fortunate ones will receive monetary support from benefactors.

A large number of number of independent schools, and independent academies, offer bursaries, awards and scholarships.

A proportion of independent teenage schools are boarding schools.

Teenage private schools, and teenage private academies, are considered “a must” for many parents of children approaching their teen years. And many parents who do not choose an independent school, or independent academy, immediately after their offspring finishes at primary school – will search out teenage public schools, and private academies, when their offspring reach mid-teens.

Although, without any question of a doubt, many state schools have students reaching incredibly high standards in various academic and non-academic subjects, with exam results often par excellence, many parents still feel the need to opt for an independent school for their teenager. Often, the teenager will have spent his/her childhood in an independent primary school, and the teenage independent school, or teenage independent academy, becomes a natural progression. But some children commence their education at a state primary school and then make a transition to an independent junior school or an academy catering for teenagers.

Other children are educated at a state primary school and then a state junior school. But once they reach the youngest permissible leaving age of school, they become students, for one or two years, at a teenage independent school or academy in their mid-teens.

Some state schools may not support a higher level of education. So if this is the case, and there is a need for more schooling, maybe to qualify in further examination requirements for acceptance into colleges or universities, some parents make the choice to pay for their teenagers final year(s) of school learning at teenage independent schools and teenage academies.

Some parents may not have been initially able to afford school fees. But as the parents have become more financially secure, this sometimes sways them into sending their son/daughter to a teenage independent school or academy. Other parents may not have considered the option originally of an independent school for their child.

Different independent schools, and independent academies, have different criteria for acceptance of pupils. ‘Shining’ academically on an entrance exam is often the way forward to finding your child has been accepted at a ‘regular’ public school. Apart from academia, some independent teenage schools, and many academies, will only accept students with exceptional talents in such fields as music, art and sport. Others may only accept students of a particular ethnic or religious background. Some schools and academies in the private sector will accept students with lower grades in the entrance examination.

If you are considering a public school, or private academy, for your teenage son/daughter, it is always wise, if this is within reason, to make applications at several private schools and independent academies. This should not put you under any obligation to accept a placement, if a placement is offered. But it should enable you to accept the first independent school of your choice - from all the public schools, and private academies, who are prepared to offer your child a place within their learning establishments.