International applications

We welcome families from all over the world. Pupils gain from the rich experiences offered by a traditional English education, and in return, we are enriched by the unique qualities they contribute. International pupils play a vital role in maintaining our school's diversity and talent pool, mirroring the global society of today.

Guardians

It is a requirement to have a Nominated Guardian in place when making a VISA application. The boy’s guardian must be able to reach the School within 90 minutes at all times. The School does not appoint guardians nor make recommendations. Parents should contact AEGIS (www.aegisuk.net) who can assist in locating guardians. The Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA) also has a list of recommended and certified guardians. The Pilgrims’ School is not responsible for the advice offered by external sources.

All boys joining the school must have good level of both spoken and written English. Our teaching is fast-paced and conducted in English (with the exception of French) and there is a strong emphasis on written work.

Older pupils might be required to sit a Cat 4 Test and submit samples of work before being invited for assessment. We may suggest a Zoom/Teams interview, but candidates will still be required to attend a taster day with further assessments at the school, at which point they can meet with our EAL specialist if required.

Pupils requiring a student visa

For pupils starting at Pilgrims' from September 2025 onwards, there is an initial, one-off, Child Student Visa charge of £1200 including VAT payable upon acceptance.

Thereafter, for each subsequent Child Student Visa application, (amendments or renewals), during your time at the school a charge of £600 including VAT will be applied.

These charges cover the additional costs to the school of supporting those pupils with their applications, including administration, monitoring and reporting requirements. The school must adhere to these compliance standards as set out by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) as a condition of its continued ability to support student visa applications.

We are able to support a limited number of Child Student visa applications for boys joining Boarding in Year 4 and above only. Please note that we do not sponsor Child Student visas for day boys.

Acceptance of place deposit

If your child requires a Child Student visa or your primary residence is situated outside the UK, your acceptance of place deposit will be one term's fee.

The School normally gives one term’s notice of fee increases but reserves the right to increase fees at shorter notice in exceptional circumstances.