UK Education Guide
A parent's guide to UK schools
Five short guides for families in Thailand planning a UK school place: which year your child joins, when to apply, which tests they will sit, how the system fits together, and what boarding and the visa involve.
Last checked: Oct 2026
- 01
Thai and UK school years
A chart of Thai levels against UK year groups, and a date-of-birth tool that shows which UK year your child would join.
Read the guide → - 02
The application timeline
Every step from first enquiry to arrival, and how far ahead each entry point registers.
Read the guide → - 03
Entrance exams explained
UKiset, the ISEB Common Pre-Test, Common Entrance, CAT4, schools' own papers and 16+ exams, compared.
Read the guide → - 04
How the UK school system works
Key stages, year groups, types of school, Scotland's differences, and GCSE vs A level vs IB.
Read the guide → - 05
Boarding, guardianship and visas
Full, weekly and flexi boarding, a typical week, guardians, the Child Student and Student visas, and health cover.
Read the guide →
This guide is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules, fees and dates change: always check the official source (GOV.UK, the exam board or the school), or ask us.
Planning a UK school place?
Tell us your child's age and current school, and we will map out the years, tests and deadlines that apply.