Schooling is usually uppermost in any parent’s mind when a move overseas is imminent. For many parents the decision-making processes can be complicated and overwhelming, with difficult choices to be made. Some families decide to keep the family together and attend a local or International School in their new country, whilst other expatriate parents place their children in a UK boarding school if there are no suitable schooling options in the overseas location.
Very often the transition is a happy one, but if you need to re-think your children’s schooling when you are abroad or opt for a boarding school in the UK before you leave, Gabbitas can guide you.
We can help you to pinpoint a boarding school in the UK where your children can thrive and experience continuity and consistency in their education. This is often a positive step for families with older children who may have to relocate frequently.
"You find us extremely satisfied Gabbitas customers. Both schools bent over backwards to understand the needs and difficulties that the children had to face over the past year and welcomed them into their schools. I would like to thank you and your team. I would not hesitate to recommend the Gabbitas service to others." Mrs A
Whether you are looking for a traditional UK education system or an International School, Gabbitas consultants have years of professional experience in placing children in UK boarding schools and we can guide you to make the appropriate choice for your children.
However, for children who are not used to living away from home the adjustment can be a difficult one. If you do not have a close friend or relative who can act as a guardian for your children whist you are out of the UK, please contact our Guardianship Department for information on how we can help.
We provide help and information in the following areas and more:
- Finding out about independent education
- Choosing the right school or college
- Transferring between state and independent schools
- Special Needs provision
- Problems at school
- Choosing GCSE or A level subjects
- Making the right choices after GCSE or A level
- Coming to the UK from overseas
- Going abroad/returning to the UK
One-to-one guidance for selecting the right school
Consultations are available at our London offices or by telephone, fax or email. Tell us about your child and our specialist consultants will recommend a number of schools or colleges we think will be suitable.
After consultation, you will receive our recommendations by email. We will arrange for the selected schools or colleges to send you further information directly, such as their current prospectus, online brochure and full links to their website. This enables you to follow up the consultation with your own research on the school. We are happy to provide as much help as required.
"A very efficient and excellent service which we shall be delighted to recommend to others. We have been especially pleased with your response to our daughter's requirements." Mr D
The Gabbitas team regularly visits schools and colleges and has extensive experience in helping you make the right choice. We can help with all aspects of school choice as well as practical arrangements for visiting schools and making applications, which may be particularly helpful for parents who live outside the UK or who have a limited knowledge of English. At Gabbitas we are used to guiding parents in:
- Independent day and boarding schools (prep and senior)
- Schools with a special emphasis, e.g. in sport, music, art
- Schools with provision for special needs, e.g. dyslexia
- International Schools
- Sixth form colleges
Fee Structure
Our personalised school selection service starts from £79 (inc VAT) and our consultation fees start at £99 (plus VAT) for a 20 minute telephone consultation, however we have a range of packages which provide excellent value. Please contact us for full details. If you require extensive research, liaison with several schools, assistance with your application or a Gabbitas consultant to accompany you on a school visit, one of our packages could be the answer.
- Based on your requirements, we will send you a selection of up to 5 schools along with a personalised summary of each school, written by a Gabbitas consultant.
- A 30 minute telephone consultation to discuss in depth your child’s needs, consider any special points and answer any questions before we make our recommendations.
- A 1 hour consultation in our London office to discuss your child’s needs face-to-face. During this time we can also contact schools on your behalf to arrange appointments, explore admission requirements, check vacancies and find out whether the school would be willing to offer a place.
- Golden Package
This includes a 1 hour consultation by telephone or in our London office plus 2 hours research, which would include a personalised selection of schools and liaison with these schools to ascertain availability of places. - Platinum Package
This includes a 1 hour consultation by telephone or in our London office plus unlimited research, which would include a personalised selection of schools and liaison with these schools to ascertain availability of places. - Diamond Package
In addition to the features offered in our other packages, our new Diamond Package includes a visit by one of our consultants to your home or other location, either within the UK or abroad. We will meet you and your child to discuss his or her needs in depth and consider any special points and answer any questions you have before we make our recommendations.
We also offer:
- Assistance with applications and registrations
- Accompanied visits
- Private tutors
- Education Assessment
- Interview and exam technique for entry to selective public schools
- Subject specialists for Oxbridge interview technique
- Career focus
- After GCSEs, what next?
- School and College Selection
- After A levels or IB, what next?
Expatriate service
Not all parents require a full guardianship service. For UK expatriates whose children are at boarding school in the UK we are happy to provide support only in those areas where it is specifically required, including the selection of a family to look after the child while parents are overseas and to provide a UK contact for the child's school in case of emergency.
For more information or to discuss your personal requirements, contact Catherine Walters.
