Joining from Overseas

We understand how important it is to have piece of mind when sending your child to be educated abroad and the Admissions Team are highly experienced in guiding families through the admissions process.

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While families are always welcome to visit, we recognise this is not always possible, so we are happy to arrange online meetings with the Headmaster or Director of Boarding. Our Headmaster travels abroad regularly so face to face interviews and family visits may be possible during these trips.

Registration

The first step in the process for any admission is to complete and return the registration form, along with a registration fee of £120 which is non-refundable. Applications for future years are encouraged; they will be acknowledged and you will continue to receive updates and news from the school. At this stage we will also request a copy of the pupil's most recent school report and passport.

Assessment

It is important for us to understand every pupil's English level in order to be able to support them. Pupils are asked to sit online EAL tests prior to arrival.

For entry into Sixth Form, students would normally be expected to offer one of the following qualifications at pass level or above – GSCE English, IGCSE English as a second language, IELTS band 5.5 or any other equivalent EAL qualification. Students are asked to complete online EAL tests prior to arrival and some courses require subject specific testing.

For pupils looking to enter lower down the school we are looking for evidence that they have the potential to achieve Grade 5 or above at English GCSE (or equivalent). This is evaluated by our admissions testing.

Interview

All pupils are invited to a zoom meeting with our Director of International Students, Mrs Quick, or the Deputy Head Academic, Mr Whittle, for those whom English is their first language. This is an opportunity for pupils to introduce themselves and to start talking about the academic programme that they want to study when they join us.

Offer and Acceptance

If you and the school are happy to progress we will offer a place. This may happen before the assessment is complete and be subject to the results of testing. We will email you with our Parent Contract and Acceptance Form. Offers may be open for a limited time only. You will be asked to secure your place by completing the Acceptance Form and paying a deposit (which is returned against your final school bill).

Child Visa Route

If your child has a UK passport they will not require a visa to study in the UK. All other students joining for more than six months will need to a visa to enter the country and study here. Leweston is a registered Student and Child Student Sponsor, licenced by UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) to issue Student and Child Student visas. More information on visas is available below.

Induction

Joining information will then be shared with you well ahead of your child’s start date and the admissions team will keep in regular contact in the run up to start. For pupils joining in September there is a special day at the start of the academic year where new boarders are invited to arrive early to settle into their Houses.

Preparing for your UK Study Visa

Once your child has a place at Leweston you may need to apply for a visa. If so, there are important steps to take before they can travel.

IMPORTANT VISA ADVICE: Leweston School is not regulated to provide immigration or visa advice. We cannot tell you which visa your child needs, whether they will be successful in their application, or advise you on the immigration process.

Your education agent is your first point of contact for visa guidance. If you do not have an agent or if they are not able to act on your behalf, you should seek advice from a qualified immigration adviser registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) or a regulated solicitor. Official UK government visa information is available at gov.uk/student-visa and gov.uk/child-student-visa.

Our Process

Our role in the visa process is specific and limited. We issue the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), which is a reference number your child will need to include in their visa application. We do not manage the application itself, that is between your family and the Home Office. Here is what you can expect from us, and when:

1. Place offered and accepted: Once you accept a place and pay the deposit, Leweston will confirm your child's enrolment in writing. This is the starting point for the visa process.

2. Medical details collected: We will ask you to complete medical and welfare information as part of the acceptance process. This must be returned before we can issue a CAS.

3. CAS Issued by Leweston: Once all acceptance conditions are met, our admissions team will issue your child's CAS reference number. We will send this to you directly. You need to use this reference in the visa application. We will request a range of documentation from you in order to issue CAS which must be supplied before the reference number can be issued. This includes a named UK guardian and a signed letter of understanding from that guardian confirming their responsibility for the student during their time at Leweston.

4. Visa application: The visa application is made by you, supported by your agent or immigration adviser. Leweston does not submit or manage visa applications. Please do not ask our admissions team for immigration advice during this stage. Do not submit an application before you have received a CAS from us.

5. Visa granted - confirm arrival details: Once the visa is granted, please notify our admissions team and confirm your child's travel arrangements. We will send joining information, uniform guidance and arrival details.

6. Arrival at Leweston: Our admissions team will confirm airport collection arrangements where applicable. On arrival the student (and parents if you have travelled together) will meet with admissions and boarding to confirm proof of entry and check the visa documentation. Please notify us immediately if there are any changes to your child's travel arrangements.

Start early

We strongly encourage families to begin the acceptance process, and therefore the CAS process, as early as possible. Visa applications take time, and processing times vary significantly by country. For September entry, we recommend having your place fully accepted and your CAS issued no later than the end of May, to allow sufficient time before term begins.

UK Government Study Ready Campaign #StudyReady

The UK government runs a campaign called Study Ready, designed to help international students and their families prepare for the visa application process well in advance. Leweston supports this campaign and encourages all prospective international families to engage with the resources it provides. The Study Ready campaign provides official guidance on preparing a UK student visa application, including what documents to gather, timelines to follow, and how to avoid common delays. All information comes directly from UK Visas and Immigration.

Working with Educational Agents

Leweston School works with a selected number of education agents and counsellors to support international families on their journey to study in the UK.

The Agent Quality Framework

Leweston School is committed to the UK Agent Quality Framework (AQF), a sector-wide initiative that promotes ethical practice, transparency, and high standards in international student recruitment. The AQF is led by the British Council, the Boarding Schools' Association (BSA), BUILA, UKCISA, and Universities UK International.

The AQF is built on four principles, which Leweston upholds in all its agents relationships:

Empowering student choice — ensuring that every student and family has access to impartial, accurate information to make informed decisions.
Good agent governance and professionalism — working only with agents who operate to high professional standards.
Ethical practice, professional knowledge and competency — requiring all contracted agents to complete sector-endorsed training.
Transparency and accountability — being open about our commercial relationships with agents and giving families clear routes to raise concerns.

If you are considering using an education agent to support your application to a UK school, the British Council has produced a free guide to help you make an informed choice.

Families are very welcome to apply to Leweston School directly, without using an education agent or counsellor. Our Admissions team is happy to guide you through the process, answer questions about the school, and support your application from start to finish.