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American families relocating to the UK on Skilled Worker, ICT / Senior Specialist, or High Potential routes face a year-group offset, different exam systems, and inverted vocabulary (UK "public school" means the opposite of US "public school"). This guide maps US Grades onto UK Years, sets out AP / IB / SAT recognition, and walks through the 90-day decisions.
Key facts
The UK uses a 1 September enrolment cutoff. Most US states use the same date; some use 31 August or 1 October. UK state schools place by age, not Grade — the table below is the typical mapping.
| Age | USA | UK (England) | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–6 | Kindergarten | Reception / Year 1 | Early Years / KS1 |
| 6–7 | Grade 1 | Year 2 | Key Stage 1 |
| 7–8 | Grade 2 | Year 3 | Key Stage 2 |
| 8–9 | Grade 3 | Year 4 | Key Stage 2 |
| 9–10 | Grade 4 | Year 5 | Key Stage 2 |
| 10–11 | Grade 5 (end of Elementary) | Year 6 (SATs) | Key Stage 2 |
| 11–12 | Grade 6 (Middle School) | Year 7 | Key Stage 3 |
| 12–13 | Grade 7 | Year 8 | Key Stage 3 |
| 13–14 | Grade 8 (end of Middle) | Year 9 | Key Stage 3 |
| 14–15 | Grade 9 (Freshman / High School) | Year 10 (GCSE start) | Key Stage 4 |
| 15–16 | Grade 10 (Sophomore) | Year 11 (GCSE) | Key Stage 4 |
| 16–17 | Grade 11 (Junior — PSAT / SAT) | Year 12 (AS / start of A-level) | Key Stage 5 |
| 17–18 | Grade 12 (Senior — High School Diploma) | Year 13 (A-level) | Key Stage 5 |
Scotland uses P1–P7 (primary) and S1–S6 (secondary); Northern Ireland uses Year 1–14 with a one-year offset; Wales follows England's Year numbers. See the UK School System guide for full nation comparisons.
Get your child's exact UK Year placement and risk warning
Free: year + top transition risk for US K–12 / AP / SAT arrivals. Sourced to College Board and UCAS.
The same word often means a different thing on each side of the Atlantic. The biggest trap: "Public School" means the opposite in the UK.
| USA | UK |
|---|---|
| Elementary School | Primary School |
| Middle School / Junior High | Years 7–9 (Key Stage 3) — usually within a Secondary School |
| High School | Secondary School (Years 7–11) + Sixth Form (12–13) OR a separate Sixth Form College |
| Grade (Grade 5, 5th Grade) | Year (Year 6) |
| Public School | State School (in the UK, "Public School" historically means a fee-paying boarding school — opposite meaning!) |
| Private School | Independent School (or Private School) |
| GPA / Honor Roll | Not used. UK schools report by subject grade and progress measures |
| AP (Advanced Placement) | Closest UK equivalent: AS / A-level (greater depth, fewer subjects) |
| SAT / ACT | Used at GCSE Year 6 in the UK (Standard Assessment Tests) — different test entirely. UK universities use UCAS based on A-level / IB grades |
| School District | Local Authority (LA) — admissions are LA-managed |
| Standardized Testing | SATs (Year 6 only), then GCSE (Year 11), A-level (Year 13). No annual standardized tests |
| Graduation | Not used in the same way. UK pupils sit GCSE then A-level; no formal "graduation ceremony" at school |
UK universities have specific recognition policies for US credentials. Verify each university directly — admissions thresholds vary substantially.
Almost all visa routes give dependent children full state-school access. The route doesn't change the school choice — it changes the visa-renewal calendar. School Atlas does not give immigration advice; consult an OISC-regulated adviser for visa questions.
The most common route for US professionals moving to the UK. Children of Skilled Worker visa holders have full access to UK state schools, free of charge.
Used by US executives and specialists on company secondments. Dependants have full state school access.
Available to graduates of selected top-ranked global universities. 2-year unsponsored work permit; dependants can join.
Children moving to join a UK-resident parent — common where one US partner moved earlier on Skilled Worker, ICT, or HPI.
Since January 2024 only PhD/research-level student visas can bring dependants. Children of eligible student-visa parents have full state school access.
School Atlas is not authorised to give immigration advice. For visa applications, dependant rules, or settlement, consult an OISC-regulated adviser (search the official OISC adviser register) or read official guidance at gov.uk/visas-immigration. We can help you choose a school once you know your visa.
Search by postcode once you know where you'll live. Once results load, filter by school type (state vs independent), phase, faith, fees, and inspection grade.
Enter your UK postcode to discover schools in your area, with filters for state vs independent, phase, faith, fees, and inspection grade.
Search results open with filters matching this guide
If your child was already on the IB track in the US, choose a UK school that offers IB. The Diploma is recognised by all UK universities with explicit UCAS-point conversion. For Grade 11/12 transitions specifically, IB offers the smoothest curricular continuity.
"High school" in the UK typically refers to ages 11–18 inside a secondary school; in the US it's ages 14–18 only. "Public School" in the UK historically means a fee-paying boarding school (e.g. Eton, Winchester) — the opposite of US usage. "Grade" doesn't map cleanly to "Year" in everyday speech.
UK schools don't use GPA, class rank, or honor roll. They report subject grades, sometimes attainment vs progress measures, and end-of-Year reports. UCAS applications are based on predicted A-level / IB grades and a personal statement, not class rank.
UK schools place children by age. A child who skipped a grade in the US won't skip a year in the UK; a child held back in the US will move to age-appropriate UK year. In rare cases, parents can request out-of-year-group placement — it's discretionary and granted only with strong evidence.
US families on temporary postings (Senior Specialist Worker, some Skilled Worker contracts) often choose UK international schools that offer the IB or American curriculum. Permanent-relocation families more often go state or UK independent. ~100+ international schools exist across the UK, mostly London and the South East.
UK schools have strong sports and extracurricular programmes but the cultural weight differs from US high schools — less varsity-letter culture, less emphasis on extracurricular CV-building for university entry. UCAS personal statements focus on academic interest, not breadth of activities.
UK academic year runs September–July (similar to US August–June). UK has three terms (Autumn, Spring, Summer) with half-term breaks; US has two semesters typically. Half-term holidays are 1 week in October and February.
Many American families moving to the UK consider both state and independent (private) schools. UK state schools are free and high-quality across most of the UK, but independent schools may fit for: curriculum continuity (Cambridge IGCSE / IB / AP-track families), boarding (for families splitting countries), faith-aligned education, smaller class sizes, or selective day-school academic profiles. Below are the practical levers — fees, scholarships, boarding, admissions mechanics, and the recent VAT change.
Day: £15k–25k/year (lower-fee day schools £8k–15k in some regions).
Senior boarding: £35k–55k+/year. Top boarding schools (Eton, Harrow, Winchester etc.) at the top end.
Plus uniform, trips, music tuition, exams. Allow ~10–15% on top of headline fees.
Most independent schools offer scholarships (5–25% off fees) for academic, music, sport, art, drama, or all-rounder strength. Bursaries are means-tested and can cover 50–100% of fees at some schools.
International families are eligible — check each school's policy.
If your child was on Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International A-level, IB Diploma, or AP at an international school in your origin country, many UK independent schools (and some state schools) offer the same qualifications — no curriculum switch needed.
IB Diploma is offered at ~100+ UK schools; IGCSE at most independents and some state.
UK boarding has a long-established international tradition. Common reasons international families choose boarding: family splitting countries, established UK boarding networks from extended family, or pursuing a specific school's academic / sporting profile.
Full, weekly, and flexi boarding all available. Pastoral care is rated as part of inspections.
VAT on independent school fees (since January 2025)
UK independent school fees now attract 20% VAT. Many schools absorbed part of the rise rather than passing it through in full. The headline fee figures above already reflect post-VAT pricing at most schools. See the VAT guide for detail.
Start here: UK private school system explained
Terminology (independent / private / "public school" paradox), HMC / GSA / IAPS associations, and orientation to the sector.
Private vs state — side-by-side
Direct comparison across academics, fees, class size, EAL provision, and admissions.
Independent school fees: the true cost
Tuition + extras + uniform + trips. Day £15k–25k; senior boarding £35k–55k+.
Scholarships & bursaries
Most independent schools offer 5–25% off fees; some bursaries cover 100% on means-test.
UK boarding schools
Long-established international boarding tradition; full / weekly / flexi options.
How independent admissions work
11+, 13+, 16+ entry tests; ISEB Common Pre-Test; per-school applications, not centralised.
VAT on independent school fees
Since January 2025, independent fees attract 20% VAT. Many schools absorbed part of the rise.
International Families Guide
Year-group mapping for any country, EAL support, mid-course GCSE entry
The UK School System Explained
Reception, Key Stages, GCSE, A-level — the full structure
Independent School Entry
Common entrance, 11+, 13+, and pre-tests for selective independents
UK Exams Explained for Parents
SATs, GCSE, A-level, IB — what each one is and when it matters