Joining From Abroad
Blackheath High welcomes many international students, usually as a result of their parents’ job relocation to London, either as a dependent on a parent’s visa or as a British passport holder.
In addition, we are registered as a Child Sponsor with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). This means that we can accept a small number of bright, unaccompanied girls from overseas schools in our Sixth Form.
The admissions process:
Please note that as standard, we only accept applications that require Child Student Visa Sponsorship for entry at 16+. International students coming to the UK as a dependent on a parent’s visa may still apply for entry at 3+, 4+, 7+, 11+, 13+ and 16+. We occasionally have openings in other year groups - please contact our Admissions Team for more information.
- A good first step in your application journey is to take a tour of the school. If you are able, we highly recommend attending one of our open events. However we understand that this may not always be possible, and so we also have a fabulous 360 Virtual Tour.
- Once you are ready to proceed, you will need to fill in an application form. At this point you will also be asked to pay a registration fee.
- Your daughter’s current school will be contacted for a reference and details of her academic performance. This may include examination results or predictions, as applicable to her age group.
- It is a requirement that all applicants be able to speak and write English fluently at a level appropriate to her age group. All applicants will undergo an assessment to establish her level of English, and all Senior School applicants must pass our standard entrance exams in Maths and English. We can arrange for your daughter to sit these exams at Blackheath High School or at her current school, depending on your travel plans.
- Once your daugher has passed her assessments, a member of our leadership team will invite her for an interview - this can be conducted in person or online, e.g. via Zoom.
- If we feel that your daughter has good academic potential and is well motivated, a formal offer of a place will be issued. At this point, you will be asked to pay a non-refundable deposit. For more information, please read our Fees advice.
Important information:
- If your daughter requires a visa, a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies will be raised once we have received your deposit and completed acceptance paperwork.
- International applicants to the Senior School and Sixth Form may still apply for scholarships. Unfortunately, we cannot offer bursaries to international applicants at this time. For more information, visit our Scholarships & Bursaries page.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
We welcome bright and engaging students, eager to benefit from the broad education we provide and we are proud of the mix of socio-economic backgrounds within our student population.
The multi-cultural community here means that girls gain a rich learning experience through their exposure to other backgrounds, languages and customs. Individuality is cherished and there is an environment of open-mindedness and harmony. Our school is diverse, inclusive and dynamic, and we pride ourselves on having a strong sense of community, created by building strong links between the staff and students’ families.
EAL students receive individual support to ensure that they can access the curriculum and make optimum progress.
Admission for students relocating from overseas to Blackheath High is not uncommon. We strive to ensure that transition to the UK is as smooth as possible. Our teaching staff are experienced at working with students for whom English is not their first language, so have a very good understanding of the emotional and educational needs associated with this transition.
Understanding the English school system
The National Curriculum is constructed in five Key Stages (note that each academic year runs from birth dates starting 1st September, and finishes with birth dates to 31st August the following year):
Key Stage 1: Foundation year and Years 1 to 2 - for students between 5 and 7 years old
Key Stage 2: Years 3 to 6 - for students between 8 and 11 years old
Key Stage 3: Years 7 to 9 - for students between 12 and 14 years old
Key Stage 4: Years 10 to 11 - for students between 15 and 16 years old
Key Stage 5: Years 12 to 13 - for students between 17 and 18 years old
Junior School is from age 5-11, and Senior School is from age 11-16. Sixth Form is from age 16-18.
