Beginner’s Guide on Starting a Private Education Institute in the United Kingdom
Starting a private education institute in the United Kingdom is a long-term process. Private schools are usually known to offer high-quality education, and by starting one, you’re offering valuable services to the community. The first avenue of establishing a private school is raising money to acquire the property and hire teachers. After that, there’s the development of a curriculum before admission.
Here’s a guide on starting a private education institute in the United Kingdom.
Industry Practices for Private Education Institute
The number of private schools in the United Kingdom has been rising because many people highly prefer the education standard. These schools strive to provide the best education to young people. United Kingdom private institutions, without a doubt, have the best teaching facilities that you can imagine. It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re interested in science, arts, ICT or social related courses; they offer the best.
In the United Kingdom, learning is mandatory from the ages of five (5) to eighteen (18). Prior to that, parents have the option of placing their kids in early childhood development at institutions or through in-home assistance. After that, parents can choose from a variety of schools. The moment the students have graduated from elementary and secondary school, they can get ready for higher education.
Differences Between Public and Private and Independent Schools
When you talk about private schools, these are schools not financed by the state but primarily by school fees. Independent schools belong to the private schools’ category and are technically overseen by a board of governors or trustees. An owner with no governing body may also run a private school.
Public schools are institutions that are funded by the state. Furthermore, some of the oldest, traditional and expensive boarding schools are also referred to as public schools.
United Kingdom State Schools
The United Kingdom state schools are in the following categories:
- Community schools
- Foundation schools and voluntary schools: receives funds from the local authority but have some degree of independence to change the way they operate.
- Academies and free schools: operate by non-profit academy trusts and are independent of the local authority. They have the independence to decide on how to work and can follow a different curriculum.
- Grammar schools: can be run by the local authority, an academy trust, a foundation and select their students based on academic ability.
Business Registration Process
The Education Act 2002, governs private education institute in the United Kingdom. The Act stipulates that independent schools must reach a reasonable standard in respect of education quality. The regulation requires a school to satisfy the conditions for registration, which cover the following:
- Quality education
- Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development
- Welfare, health and safety of pupils
- Availability of staff, supply staff and proprietors
- Premises of and accommodation at schools
- How the institute handle complaints
- Quality of leadership in and management of schools
- Delivery of information
The Department for Education is the authority responsible for the United Kingdom company registration of private schools. Before registration, the institute must undergo an Ofsted inspection of its establishment. The Ofsted then reports to the Secretary of State on the level to which these standards have been met.
Chapter one (1), part four (4) of the Education and Skills Act 2008, allows independent schools to be registered by the Secretary of State for education. According to the Act, one must comply with the independent educational institution standards.
Application Form for Registering a Private Education Institute in the United Kingdom
An entrepreneur planning on starting a private education institute in the United Kingdom must complete the application form first. For independent schools, you can apply online through GOV.United Kingdom website by submitting documents electronically. Furthermore, If you want your registration process to go faster, upload all the supporting documents on a cloud file and provide the link.
Some of the supporting documents include the following:
- A statement that the school is an independent school
- A plan indicating the layout of the school premises and any accommodation offered
- A written policy on the curriculum alongside curriculum plans and schemes of work. Remember that you have to consider the ages and aptitudes in this one and, therefore, must cover all year groups.
- A written structure for the assessment of pupil performance
- A written policy on behaviour setting out, including other issues, the consents to be adopted in the event of pupil misbehaviour
- Details of the school’s preparation to preserve and promote the welfare of pupils at the school (must follow the guideline issued by the Secretary of State). Likewise, it has to follow the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools or Residential Special Schools in boarding.
- Details of the school’s arrangement to ensure that specific health and safety laws
- The school’s anti-bullying strategy
- The school’s process for handling complaints from parents of pupils
Note that all the application documents must be in English to expedite the consideration of an application. For more information about the registration of companies in the United Kingdom, see: company incorporation services.
Other Information to Provide During the Registration
You must also provide the following information:
In a situation where the proprietor is an individual:
- Full name or any previous names
- Residential address
- Telephone number
- Email address
- Date of birth
- National insurance number (if allocated one)
In a situation, the proprietor is a body of persons corporate or unincorporated:
- Its names and address
- Telephone number and email address of its registered or principal office
- The full names and other past names, residential addresses
- Date of birth
- National insurance numbers of each member of the body of persons
In case the proprietor is a body of individuals corporate or incorporate:
- A statement of proprietor’s or chair’s employment history (five years before the date of the application). It must contain the name of the institution (s) at which they held any post and the title.
- A passport photo of the proprietor or chair
Choose a School Structure
You must decide on the structure before starting your private school. You can go for either a profit or a non-profit company before deciding about other academic aspects. This means you have to develop a proper name and register it with the Department for Education. Likewise, you have to determine if you’re going to manage a day school or a boarding school. If you choose to open a private boarding school, you must ensure you have suitable finances and documents. Many private schools begin with fewer and lower grade levels then expand progressively.
Institution/school with a Religious Ethos
When doing the registration, the application form inquires whether or not the school has a religious ethos. In case the philosophy is there, they shall record on GIAS.
Teachers’ Pension Scheme
The moment the independent school is registered, it may apply to participate in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
Interview Your Teaching Staff
Before opening your private school, you may conduct interviews to get the best fit of teaching staff. They must have gained qualified teacher status (OTS) in addition to a first degree. Besides that, they should not have any criminal records.
Market Your Private School to Prospective Parents
To gain publicity, you have to market your school within the community to boost enrollment. You can advertise through community, church and service groups. You can promote through private school directories and local newspapers as well.
Hire Administrative Staff
Before opening doors for students, you must conduct interviews of the staff members who will work in the business office. They will help in the admission process of the student, among other things. To get qualified applicants, you can post job descriptions on platforms such as LinkedIn and Monster. Alternatively, you can contact 3E Accounting for further assistance.
Licences, Permits and Regulations
To start a private education institute in the United Kingdom, you must apply for education accreditation from known agencies.
Under Ofsted, the owner, or the corporate service provider should pay inspection fees, a cost based on a sliding scale relating to the size of the school. The fee collection is in instalments yearly. Remember, the fee for the pre-registration inspection is done before any new independent school registration.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) order 2005 places the responsibility on the proprietor to do the following:
- Conduct a fire risk assessment
- Generate a fire risk policy that includes the removal or reduction of risks from hazardous substances.
- Create fire procedure and provide staff training
- Ensure the safety of staff or anyone else legally within the school premises
- Conduct fire drills and contact emergency services when needed
- Select one or more competent persons (must have sufficient training and experience)
- Must have an appropriate system for the maintenance of clear emergency routes and exits.
- Offer staff and any other working within the school with fire safety information.