International Admissions

Entry Process

Children may join at any point during the academic year, when there are places available. Our small classes ensure that all new arrivals are made to feel welcome and are able to integrate quickly and easily. You will soon feel very much part of the Knighton community once you have joined.

It’s really important to us that we help you every step of the way and guide you through every possible detail where no question is off limits.

We understand that circumstances change all the time so we are always as flexible and accommodating as possible about accepting children. Please do ask if you are considering placing your child with us at any point during the year not just the usual entry times which tend to be at the start of each term.

Registration can take place at any time but early registration is recommended in order to secure a place. A registration form should be completed and the appropriate registration fee paid. If a particular year group is full, children will be placed on a waiting list.

Our International Admissions Coordinator will write to you with details of the deposit and when it is due to secure your child’s place at Knighton. The balance of this deposit is refundable after the deduction of any outstanding charges following your final account. The deposit is not refundable if your child does not take up the place.

Although Knighton House is a non-selective school, it’s important to us that that your child will be able to flourish at Knighton so we pay particular attention to their report and reference from their previous school as well as on meeting them when they visit. We will also invite them to take part in some form of assessment before they arrive so we are informed of their academic ability. The type of assessment varies depending on entry point.

We value the contribution our international girls make to school life at Knighton House and the building of strong relationships often leads to lifelong friendships. We have a number of international pupils from Spain, France, Italy, China, Eastern Europe and Africa.

New girls have a ‘shadow’ for the first half of term who is responsible for helping their friend settle in to life at Knighton House. The greatest effort is made to ensure that all girls are fully integrated. The pastoral care at Knighton House is excellent. Being a small school, each member of staff is quickly known to new pupils and vice versa. Often prospective parents comment on the ‘homely atmosphere at Knighton’ where the community feels like one big happy family.

Prep School
Girls can join the prep school from Year 3 onwards (the academic year in which girls turn eight). For the prep school the latest point of entry is during Year 8, their final year at Knighton. After Year 8 girls move to their chosen senior schools.

Guardians

Every girl whose home is overseas or whose parents currently live or are posted abroad must have a guardian, regardless of the duration of their stay at Knighton House. This guardian must be resident in the UK, over the age of 25 and should speak English.

The main duties of the guardian are:
1. To take decisions in emergencies on behalf of the parents where the school is not responsible.
2. To arrange transport and provide accommodation for the child:
• During fixed exeat weekends, half term and holidays as required
• In the case of emergencies
• In the event of illness (should a period of recuperation be needed)
• In the event of an expulsion or suspension
3. To attend relevant parents’ evenings and school events where a parental presence is required or invited.
4. To make the necessary travel and administrative arrangements for the children in absentia, and ensure that passport, visas and inoculations are up to date on behalf of the parents if required.
5. To assist in the event of an emergency or a disciplinary incident where the child has to leave the school and the parent cannot immediately attend.

A pupil without parents living in the UK cannot be accepted as a boarder unless a confirmed guardian is in place. Admission may be refused and the deposit surrendered. Knighton House does not arrange guardians, nor do we recommend a specific agency; however, we do recommend that you use an AEGIS accredited company. All guardianship agencies provide a variety of plans and fees to suit individual needs.

For further information on Boarding click here.

English as an Additional Language

Over the years, Knighton House has welcomed pupils from Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, China and beyond.  Pupils usually join us for a minimum of a year in order to improve their English, play new sports and enjoy new experiences and build confidence.  They are offered EAL lessons with a specialist teacher.  Lessons are tailored to the individual pupil’s needs and support the school curriculum.  Sessions are based around the core skills of Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing in order to strengthen and embed their vocabulary and grammar structure. In addition, pupils are entered for the University of Cambridge affiliated KET, PET, FCE and Cambridge Advanced English qualifications.

We now offer EAL online; the thinking behind this innovation being all about continuity of teaching.  When our overseas students come to Knighton, for a few weeks or an entire academic year, during that time they prepare for a wide range of EAL examinations, from First Certificate in English to Cambridge Advanced English; they are taught intensively by our Head of EAL and obtain excellent results. On returning to their schools, many girls wish to take further examinations under the guidance of our staff, so for them we have created an online tutoring service which meets that need.  Girls take home with them all the resources they require (syllabus, text book and guidance notes) and book in a weekly lesson slot.

English as an Additional Language for international pupils at Knighton House