Register an independent school: application guidance and checklist
Updated 20 September 2022
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-an-independent-school-application-form/register-an-independent-school-application-guidance-and-checklist
1. Registration requirements and independent school standards
Find out if you need to register as an independent school. Read the independent school registration requirements guidance and independent school standards guidance.
2. Complete the form
Complete the application form. You must show how you will meet the required independent school standards for each part of the checklist.
3. Checklist of supporting documents
Alongside the completed application form you’ll need to provide copies of the following:
- premises plan
- curriculum policy
- curriculum plans
- schemes of work
- pupil assessment procedures
- anti-bullying policy
- safeguarding policy
- health and safety policy
- behaviour policy
- complaints procedure
- covering letter (independent school statement)
- proprietor details form
If applicable, you’ll need to provide copies of the following:
- early years curriculum framework
- curriculum plans, schemes of work - year group 1
- curriculum plans, schemes of work - year group 2
- curriculum plans, schemes of work - year group 3
- curriculum plans, schemes of work - year group 4
- curriculum plans, schemes of work - year group 5
- curriculum plans, schemes of work - year group 6
- curriculum plans, schemes of work - year group 7
- curriculum plans, schemes of work - year group 8
- curriculum plans, schemes of work - year group 9
- curriculum plans, schemes of work - year group 10
- curriculum plans, schemes of work - year group 11
- curriculum plans, schemes of work - year group 12
- curriculum plans, schemes of work - year group 13
- 18 plus programme activity for SEN
4. Send your application
Send your application form, supporting documents and proprietor details form to:
Independent education and boarding team
Bishopsgate House
Feethams
Darlington
County Durham
DL1 5QE
5. Processing your application
The registration process takes approximately 6 months once we receive a complete application.
Incomplete applications, that do not have all the required documents or information, will not be processed. You will need to resubmit your application once you have all the documents and information.
Once we have the required documentation, we will ask Ofsted to carry out a pre-registration inspection. The pre-registration inspection report sets out how likely the schools standards will be met and will form part of your application.
Further information on the registration process can be found in the registration of independent school guidance.
6. Registered independent schools
If your application is successful, your independent school will be registered and listed on Get information about schools.
Ofsted will carry out their first standard inspection in the school’s first year of operation. Further information on inspections, including the fees payable, is available in the independent school registration guidance.