Finding a private school which sponsors a child and parent visa in London

Finding a private school which sponsors a child and parent visa in London

Find out which independent schools in London participate in the government’s Parent of a Child Student visa scheme – so you can move to the UK capital to give your child the support they need during their education.

What you’ll learn in this quick guide:

• What a Parent of a Child Student visa is
• How to qualify for the visa
• Which schools in London sponsor the visa

If your family is relocating to the UK from overseas, you might also want to explore this guide to family immigration on our sister site. It covers the essentials of bringing your family to the UK.

Parent of a Child Student Visa: Participating Schools in London

From small class sizes to table-topping exam results, the UK’s independent (private) schools are famed the world over for the A-grade education they offer pupils. Places at these fee-paying institutions are sought after by parents across the globe who want to provide their kids with the best possible start in life.

If you want your child to benefit from a private education in London – home to some of the country’s most prestigious independent schools – you’ll need to move there as well to support them during these formative years.

Thankfully, there’s a special visa that can facilitate this: the Parent of a Child Student visa. This allows one parent to come to or stay in the UK to care for their child (or children) where the child is studying at an independent fee-paying school under a Child Student visa – or they currently have a Tier 4 (Child) visa.

For you to qualify, your child must attend an independent school that’s included on the government’s list of institutions that will sponsor you for a Parent of a Child Student visa.

Schools in London that can sponsor children’s visas

Here’s a current list of the schools in London that are included on this list:

• • Alleyn’s School – an independent day school and sixth form for pupils aged 4 to 18 in Dulwich, south London.
  • Architectural Association School of Architecture – AA is the oldest private school of architecture in the UK. The AA offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses for students aged 18+.
  • Arts Educational School London – ArtsEd is an independent performing arts school for pupils aged 11+ in Chiswick, west London.
  • Ashbourne College – an independent day school and sixth form for pupils aged 13+ in Kensington, west London.
  • Bales College – an independent day school and sixth form for pupils aged 11 to 18
  • in Kensal Rise, west London.
  • Blackheath High School GDST – an independent day school for girls aged 3 to 18 in Blackheath Village, southeast London.
  • Brampton College – an independent sixth form for pupils aged 15 to 19 in Hendon, northwest London.
  • Centre Academy London – a specialised independent school that provides education for students with special education needs (SEN) in Battersea, southwest London.
  • Channing School – an independent day school and sixth form for girls aged 4 to 18 in Highgate, north London.
  • Cognita Schools Limited – a global private schools group which owns and operates schools throughout the UK, including London.
  • Collingham Independent GCSE & Sixth Form College – an independent GCSE (Kensington) and sixth form college (Earl’s Court) in west London.
  • David Game College Ltd – an independent school and sixth form for pupils aged 14 to 22 in Aldgate.
  • DLD College London – an independent school for day and boarding students aged 14+ in central London.
  • Dulwich College – an independent day and boarding school and sixth form for boys aged 2 to 18 in Dulwich, southeast London.
  • Dwight School London – an international school and sixth form for pupils aged 2 to 18 in north London that’s part of the global Dwight School network.
  • Eaton House Schools – a group of private schools, all situated in London: Eaton House the Manor Nursery, Eaton House the Manor Pre-Preparatory, Eaton House the Manor Preparatory, Eaton House the Manor Girls’ School, Eaton House Belgravia Pre-Preparatory, and Eaton House Belgravia Preparatory.
  • Eaton Square School – a group of independent co-educational schools in central London that offers education for students ranging from nursery age to 18.
  • Eltham College – an independent day school for pupils aged 7 to 18 in Mottingham, southeast London.
  • Emanuel School – an independent day school and sixth form for pupils aged 10 to 18 in Battersea, southwest London.
  • Fairley House School – a specialist independent school that provides tailored support for students with specific learning difficulties aged 5 to 16 in Lambeth, southwest London.
  • Falkner House LLP – an independent school for girls aged 4 to 11 with a co-educational nursery for children aged 2 to 4 in South Kensington, west London.
  • Francis Holland Schools Trust – the trust comprises three independent girls’ schools in three central London locations: Francis Holland, Regent’s Park (11 to 18), Francis Holland, Sloane Square (11 to 18), and Francis Holland Prep (4 to 11).
  • Garden House School – an independent school for pupils aged 3 to 11 consisting of two major preparatory schools, two pre-prep schools and a Kindergarten in Chelsea, west London.
  • Halcyon London International School – the only not-for-profit IB school in London, it’s an International Baccalaureate school for Grade 6 to 12 students in central London.
  • Harrow Independent College – a full-time sixth form college and part-time tuition from Year 7 to A-Levels in Harrow, northwest London.
  • Harvington School Educational Trust Ltd – Harvington Prep School provides nursery and primary education for girls aged 3 to 11 and nursery education for boys aged 3 to 7 in Ealing, west London.
  • Highgate School – an independent day school and sixth form for pupils aged 8 to 18 in Highgate, north London.

• Ibstock Place School – an independent day school for pupils aged 4 to 18 in Roehampton, southwest London.
• Independent Educational Association Ltd – a charity that provides educates pupils aged 2 to 18 through the St James Schools: Nursery School, Prep School and Senior Girls’ School in Kensington, west London and Senior Boys’ School at Ashford, Surrey.
• International Community School – an International Baccalaureate School for pupils aged 3 to 18 in Marylebone, central London.
• International School of London – an International Baccalaureate School in Chiswick, west London.
• James Allen’s Girls’ School – an independent day school and sixth form for girls aged 4 to 18 in Dulwich, southeast London.
• Kensington Park School – an independent day and boarding school for pupils aged 11 to 18 in Kensington, west London.
• Kensington Prep School GDST – an independent day school for girls aged 4 to 11 in Fulham, west London.
• King Fahad Academy – an independent school that provides an Islamic-based education for pupils aged 3 to 18 in Acton, west London.
• Lycee Francais Charles de Gaulle – a French independent day school and sixth form for pupils aged 3 to 19 in South Kensington, west London.
• Mander Portman Woodward School – an independent sixth form college in south Kensington, west London.
• Mill Hill School Foundation – a group of independent schools located in Mill Hill, North London: Mill Hill School (ages 13 to 18), Belmont (7 to 13), Grimsdell (ages 3 to 7), and The Mount, Mill Hill International (ages 13 to 17).
• More House School Ltd – independent schools and sixth forms for girls aged 9 to 18 in Knightsbridge, west London.
• Mount House School Ltd – an independent day school and sixth form for pupils aged 11 to 18 in Monken Hadley, north London.
• Newton Prep – a selective preparatory school and nursery for pupils aged 3 to 13 in Battersea, southwest London.
• North London Grammar School – an independent preparatory school, secondary school and sixth form for pupils aged 7 to 18 located in Hendon, north London.
• Putney High School – an independent day school and sixth form for girls aged 4 to 18 in Putney, west London.
• Queen’s Gate School Trust Limited – an independent day school and sixth form for girls aged 4 to 18 in Queen’s Gate, west London.
• River House Montessori School – an independent school for pupils aged 3 to 11 on the Isle of Dogs, east London.
• Sarum Hall School – an independent preparatory school for girls aged 3 -to11 in Hampstead, northwest London.
• South Hampstead High School – a selective independent school and sixth form for girls aged 4 to 18 in Hampstead, northwest London.
• St Dunstan’s Educational Foundation – an independent day school and sixth form for pupils aged 3 to 18 in Catford, southeast London.
• St Helen’s School – an independent day school for girls aged 3 to 18 in Northwood, northwest London.
• St Margaret’s School – an independent school for girls aged 4 to 16 in Hampstead, northwest London.
• St Paul’s Girls’ School – an independent day school for girls aged 11 to 18 in Brook Green, west London.
• St Paul’s School – a selective independent day school (with limited boarding) for boys aged 13 to 18 in St Paul’s, central London.
• Sussex House School – an independent day school for boys aged 8 to 13 in Chelsea, west London.
• Swedish School Society in London – an independent school and sixth form for pupils aged 3 to 19 in Richmond, southwest London.
• Sydenham High School – an independent day school and sixth form for girls aged 4 to 18 in Sydenham, southeast London.
• Sylvia Young Theatre School – an independent school specialising in performing arts for pupils aged 10 to 16 in Marble Arch, central London.
• Thames Christian School – an independent school and sixth form for pupils aged 11 to 18 in Clapham Junction, southwest London.
• The American School in London – an independent school for Grades 9 to 12 in St John’s Wood, London.
• The Cedars School – an independent school and sixth form for boys aged 11 to 18 Upper Norwood, southeast London.
• The Gower School – an independent Montessori nursery and primary school in Islington, north London.
• The Lloyd Williamson Schools Foundation Schools – three independent schools – nursery, lower and secondary – in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, west London.
• The Royal Ballet School – a school of classical ballet training based purely on dancing talent and potential for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Covent Garden, central London.
• The White House Preparatory School – an independent prep school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Clapham, southwest London.
• Trevor Roberts School Ltd – an independent day school for pupils aged 5 to 13 in Belsize Park, northwest London.
• Westminster Abbey Choir School – a boarding preparatory school for boys aged 8 to 13 in Westminster, London. It’s the only remaining choir school in the UK which exclusively educates choristers.
• Westminster School – an independent day and boarding school for boys aged 13 to 18, with girls joining the sixth form, in Westminster, central London.
• Wimbledon High School – an independent day school and sixth form for girls aged 4 to 18 in Wimbledon, southwest London.

FAQs

> How many independent schools in London sponsor the visa?

• Over 60 located across the UK capital.

> What are the eligibility requirements?

• The child must be aged under 12 and have or be applying for a Child Student visa.
• The applicant must be the child’s parent and the only parent accompanying the child.
• Sufficient funds must be demonstrated to support living costs without relying on public funds.
• The parent must intend to live with the child in the UK for the duration of their visa.

> How long can I stay in the UK on the visa?

• The length of stay matches the child’s visa duration or until the child turns 12 years old, whichever comes first.
• If the child turns 12, you may need to leave the UK unless you qualify for another visa.

> Can I work on a Parent of a Child Student visa?

• No, you cannot work, take paid employment, or engage in any business activities in the UK under this visa.

> What’s the average annual cost of independent school fees in London?

• The annual cost of independent school fees in London varies depending on the school and age group, but typical fees are:

Day Schools: Fees for day students generally range between £21,000 and £30,000 per year.

Boarding Schools: For boarding students, fees can be significantly higher, typically ranging between £35,000 and £45,000 per year.

(Please note that these prices are ex VAT and you should expect to pay an additional 20% VAT on all UK private school fees).

Some of the most prestigious schools in London may charge more, especially for senior years and boarding.

Resources

• • Visa information
  • Register of visa sponsors
  • Independent school search

Consult with Simply London

Our Simply London School Expert will:

• Explain the school system and admissions process
• Select the most suitable schools for your children
• Assist you with your applications until your children have received a school place.
• Work with you throughout the entire school search process, until your children have started at their new London school!

All our schools experts are based in London and have extensive knowledge of state schools, private schools, and international schools – in and around London.

Reach out to us for help with your move by sending us a message, or book a call with one of our experts.

Need help bringing your family to the UK? Our sister site Simply UK Visa offers expert guidance on family immigration—because getting settled starts with getting here.