International Admissions
Nestled in 40 acres of stunning Suffolk countryside, Finborough offers a warm, inclusive environment for international students to thrive.
Our admissions process is personalised and supportive, with one-to-one guidance every step of the way. We pride ourselves on a tailored approach to education, offering bespoke teaching that recognises and nurtures each student’s unique strengths, goals, and cultural background. We also use several in-country trusted agent partners to assist international families with their admissions journey, please contact us to find out more.
Information about our international admissions journey can be found below.
Finborough School International Admissions – Application Process
- Enquiry Stage
- Initial Meeting
All prospective families are invited to an initial meeting with the Headmaster or a senior staff member. This can be held in person or online and serves as an informal opportunity to exchange information and assess whether the school is the right fit for the student. - Registration
After the initial meeting, families may proceed to register their child by submitting a completed registration form, paying a registration fee, and providing identification documents such as the student’s birth certificate and passports for both the student and parents. - Assessment and Interview
Once registered, the student will undergo assessment. This may involve a remote CAT4 test (invigilated by the agent, current school, or a local lawyer), an interview with the Headmaster or senior staff, and possibly a written English paper. Alternatively, the student may attend a taster day at the school, during which they will shadow lessons and complete the assessment and interview on-site. A reference will also be requested from the student’s current school. - Review and Offer
The school’s senior leadership team reviews the student’s interview, school report/reference, and CAT4 results to determine whether to make a formal offer. - Acceptance and Deposit
Parents must formally accept the offer by the given deadline and pay a deposit. For international students, this deposit is equivalent to one term’s fees. - Visa and Guardianship
After acceptance, the school works with the agent and family to arrange visa applications and guardianship as needed. - Onboarding
Toward the middle or end of the term before entry, the school provides onboarding information to ensure a smooth and well-prepared start to the student’s education at Finborough.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, we do offer short-stays. There are a limited number of short-stay places available each year so we advise early application if you are interested in joining us.
All students are expected to have a level of English that enables them to fully access the curriculum and we recognise that EAL support may be needed, particularly at the start of an international student’s school career at Finborough. As a general guideline students should be working at CEFR B1 for Year 5 – 8 entry; CEFR B2 for Year 9 entry and CEFR C1 for Year 10 – Year 12 entry, although each student is considered on merit and in line with the three strands of interview, reference/report and assessment results.
If a student is not a British Citizen a visa to study at our school may be required. Once the offer of a place has been accepted and payments have been made, we will request the relevant forms and documents and issue a CAS to support the visa application. If you require more information about the visa process, please do not hesitate to let us know. Students who study at the school with a visa will be required to bring their passport and visa to the office at the start of each term. More information about visa requirements can be found here.
Parents of pupils who are not resident in the UK must appoint a guardian for their child in the UK. The guardian must be a responsible adult, over the age of 25 and based in the UK.
Contact Us Today
Please contact our Admissions team today to find out more, or book onto an upcoming event.
Telephone: 01449 773600
Email: admissions@finboroughschool.co.uk