<p>I have a couple pretty good questions about Boarding School in the UK.</p>
<li>Are there any sites for schools overseas similar to BoardingSchoolReview?</li>
<li>Are Americans applying to British schools considered international/diverse?</li>
<li>Does “Full Boarding” mean boarding over summer break and/or holidays or just boarding throughout school year?</li>
<li>Any good 2nd tier boarding schools that you can recommend? Preferably in England, not in Scotland or Ireland.</li>
</ol>
<p>My son attends Atlantic College in Wales <a href="http://www.atlanticcollege.org/%5B/url%5D">http://www.atlanticcollege.org/</a></p>
<p>It is different than most UK boarding schools because it is one of the United World Colleges -- however, a plus is that it is free for US citizens if you get in. The kids come from all over the world, and they place about 9 Americans at the school each year (1/2 boys, 1/2 girls). It is only for 11th and 12th grade -- and you graduate with an IB diploma. close to 50% of the students are accepted at Ivies or Cambridge/Oxford -- and the school is one of the top IB schools in the world.</p>
<p>As far as answering your questions -- Americans applying to Boarding Schools in the UK are considered Internationals. Even with Full Boarding, school closes over Christmas break and Summer (at my son's school, students who can't afford a plane ticket home generally go to a friend's house locally for the Christmas Break).</p>
<p>I'm applying for the 10th grade so that might be a problem :(</p>
<p>just something to keep in mind -- if you are in 9th grade this year, you couldn't apply for the UWC's until next January -- so if things don't work out for you this year, that would give you an option for next year.</p>
<p>I'm mildly confused by some of British schooling terms too.</p>
<p>Can someone explain the forms/years? Is it like Harry Potter?
Also, are the entrance exams the same there as it is in the U.S. Do SSAT's still count as an exam?</p>
<p>Yes - much of HP is taken directly from BBSchool terminology. In general, 'years' run backwards from the US. So a 'first year' is a high school senior. British schools There are generally three terms (like the trimester system here). It also appears that at least some use the SSAT and/or ISEE.
<a href="http://www.isc.co.uk%5B/url%5D">http://www.isc.co.uk</a> has a ton of info.</p>