Boarding schools with swim teams and American programs!!!!! HELP!!!!!!!!

[Sarahjk789]

I need a good boarding school in the UK for my American child that is going into year 11, the catch, she wants a good swim program. But we need a school that has an American program so that she can go. Any help?

For international/American programs ACS Cobham comes to mind. I’d also look at Marymount - they may well not have a school swim team but they’re in a location to have nearby club options with transportation and I know they have other athletes in individual sports like gymnastics.

And some PP are being silly about no boarding schools taking a Y11 entry - of course there are options. A decent number of boarding schools that do the IB diploma have a “pre-diploma” or “pre-sixth” program for international boarders joining in Y11 where they do a core set of condensed iGCSEs before proceeding on to the IB. Off the top of my head I know that Haileybury, Kent College Canterbury, Sidcot, Leighton Park, Stonyhurst, and Bromsgrove do. I can’t speak to swimming at each, you’ll likely need to investigate both school programs and ask about students swimming for local clubs.

Others are right that Y11 is the most difficult time to move into UK schools. If she’s willing to consider repeating Y10 that will open a few more options. Another option I wouldn’t dismiss is doing a year at ACS or Marymount but also applying to do 6th form (Y12-13) at another IB school. 6th form is a separate stage of education and it’s extremely normal for students to move schools then with many schools bringing in fairly large new starter cohorts. If you find there’s a great fit for IB & swimming that doesn’t have a Y11 entry option that’s worth considering. Boarding schools with IB programs will all have admissions processes that work with students who haven’t been on the GCSE system.

It’s not right that no schools accept into year 11 although it isn’t a usual entry point. For example, Haileybury do a pre-IB course for joiners in year 11. They also have a great swim team and send odd few children to USA for uni if you wanted that. I think given what a key year year 11 is here in the UK I would try and move now for her to join year 10 or try and postpone to year 12. Or American School in London and you have to make other plans for swimming and boarding.

Millfield has an amazing swim program, excellent boarding and am sure should be able to discuss how to place her academically (which year, path and etc) to work it out.