How to choose a school when relocating to the UK
Whether you are trying to select the best Nursery, Prep or Senior School in the UK, read our expert tips for choosing a school when relocating to the UK.
Our Education Consultancy
We offer unrivalled expertise in navigating the British education system. Our consultants are the finest in their field, offering in-depth knowledge and expertise across every age and stage of your child’s academic journey – from nursery through to university.
We offer independent advice, tailored to your aspirations and your child’s talents, ensuring they gain a place at the right school for them, and laying the foundation for an exceptional future.
We are not a hands-off agency but a hands-on consultancy. We will deliver an unmatched level of care for your family, whether your child is undergoing tuition or not. When you work with SLT, you are not hiring an individual tutor but a full team of experienced educators who will be at your disposal whenever you need them.
Our Services
Navigating your child’s education journey can be daunting. We are able to offer trusted guidance & expert advice at every important stage.
Nursery and Pre-Prep Placements
Choosing the right nursery and pre-prep school for your child is vital. We will advise you on the very best nurseries and pre-preps in your area and help your child secure a place.
Preparatory School Placements
Our education consultants have helped families from around the world secure places at top UK prep schools. We will help you choose the right prep school for your child and guide you through every step of the application process to achieve a successful outcome, whether that’s a securing a place at in-demand schools like Wetherby and Garden House, or finding the right fit at hidden gems where your child will thrive.
Senior School Placements
We go much further than simply recommending the best school for your child. We will manage every step of your application to leading schools such as Eton, Harrow, Wycombe Abbey and Cheltenham Ladies College, and guide you through the entire application process with as much support as you require. We will help you understand the entry requirements for each individual school, and prepare your child for key assessments.
Oxbridge University Admissions
We are experts at applications to Oxbridge with a 60% success rate versus the national average of 16%. To give your son or daughter the best chance of success in this highly competitive process, we will guide them through every part of their Oxbridge application, introducing specialist tutors where needed to prepare them for interviews and all entrance tests, including the UCAT, ESAT and TMUA.
University Admissions
Our education consultants have first-hand knowledge of leading British universities and we regularly help students gain places at Imperial, Edinburgh, Bristol, Durham and other Russell Group universities.
US College Admissions
We have the specialist knowledge that will give you the best chance of success when applying to a US college. In the past few years, our US advisors have helped students gain places at Harvard, Princeton, MIT, Stanford and Berkeley.
Academic Assessments
Assessing your child’s academic attainment is an important starting point as it benchmarks your child’s learning within a broader framework, thus informing all our advice thereafter. We offer a number of assessments which provide us with in-depth analysis, enabling us to advise on next steps for your child, from which schools to realistically aim for, to how best to prepare them for exams and whether or not additional tuition is required.
‘We are very happy with Simply Learning Tuition & Consultancy, who are helping us through a school search process. They are very responsive and Nathaniel takes a lot of time to understand our children to try find the best fit school for them both. Nathaniel and his team at Simply Learning also found amazing tutors for both of our children, who are doing a wonderful job of helping them build their confidence and achieve their potential. I highly recommend them.’
Mrs B, April 2025
"It is all now achieved thanks to your continuous efforts and support and on behalf of the family and myself really appreciate it." SLT placed two brothers in a North London Prep School by identifying the family's needs and recommending the best school for them, then arranging online interviews and assessments for the boys (who lived in the Middle East).
Eli, Family PA, Prep-School Placement
Our Process
– We start by finding out about your child; by listening to them, their personal experience of education, what they dream about and what they need from a new school.
– We then create a shortlist of schools or universities based on your values, aspirations for your child and the practical factors driving your decision.
– We share our own knowledge of each school and make additional recommendations based on our visits and meetings with senior staff, students and parents.
– We simplify the complexity of the application system by managing deadlines, deposits and other entry requirements.
– We schedule visits and steer discussions with the school to ensure the best chances of your child securing a place.
A Considered, Considerate Service
We measure success on using our expertise and relationships to help you to find the right school for your child. We take a strong ethical stance on school and university placements and insist on an accurate assessment of your child’s abilities. Our own ability to steer an application relies on our integrity with school admission teams, something that our clients benefit from. When we recommend a child for a school, they will be well prepared and above all an excellent fit for the school. We never take introductory fees from a school and will always offer completely impartial advice.
When our assessments identify a shortfall in a particular area, such as a language or curriculum gap for international students, we introduce a carefully organised course of academic tuition, or other suitable support. Our tuition team can provide the full range of support, for scholars to Eton, Harrow, Westminster and other academically elite schools to students who need to improve their written or spoken English.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are our education consultants?
We have a core in-house team led by SLT founder and director, Nathaniel McCullagh. We also work with a wide network of external education consultants and leaders in their field including former Heads, teachers from leading London independent schools and UK boarding schools, Oxbridge and US college admissions tutors, wellbeing experts and specialists from across the academic spectrum.
Whether you are a UK family, a family relocating to Britain or a resident abroad, we can help you find the right school or university place for your child.
How can an education consultant help with a school search?
We offer unrivalled expertise in navigating the British education system. Our consultants are the finest in their field and will give you the specific information you need for every step of your journey. Much of our in-depth knowledge comes from years of experience and developing relationships; you simply won’t find this inside information in guides or on the internet.
As a result, our education consultants often end up becoming our clients’ trusted advisors for each ‘next step’: whether that’s nursery or pre-prep placement, moving to prep school, getting into the best senior school or choosing a university.
Why use our educational consultancy services?
Because we are not a hands-off agency but a hands-on consultancy. We will deliver an unmatched level of care for your family, whether your child is undergoing tuition or not. When you work with SLT, you are not hiring an individual tutor, but a full team of experienced specialists who will be at your disposal whenever you need them. All managed through one point of contact at our SLT head office.
How is our education consultancy different from traditional school advisory services?
We provide a highly personalised, concierge-style service tailored to each family’s ambitions, values, and lifestyle. Our advice is grounded in first-hand knowledge of leading schools and close relationships with senior leadership teams.
Can we improve your child’s chances of gaining entry to top UK independent schools?
Yes. We guide every stage of the process, from positioning and school selection to interview preparation, ensuring your child presents their strongest possible application.
Do we have relationships with leading schools and admissions teams?
We have built many long-standing relationships with leading schools, enabling us to offer informed, up-to-date guidance on fit and expectations.
Can we support families relocating to the UK or between international schools?
Absolutely. We specialise in supporting international families, helping them navigate unfamiliar education systems with clarity and confidence.
Can we advise on education across multiple countries?
Yes. We regularly support families globally and can design education pathways that work seamlessly across different curriculums and school systems.
How do we design a long-term education strategy for your child?
We start by getting a full 360° of your child; their personality, ambitions, and family circumstances as well as their academic ability in order to then create a tailored pathway from early years through to university.
Can we advise beyond school placement (e.g. Oxbridge, US universities)?
Yes indeed. We support applications to leading UK and international universities, including Oxbridge and competitive US colleges.
Can we support non-traditional or highly flexible education routes?
Absolutely. We design highly personalised solutions including home schooling, hybrid models, or travel-compatible education programmes.
Do we work with children who have specific learning or pastoral needs?
Yes, many of our tutors are SEND specialists and we have many strong connections with SEND specialist schools.
How do we ensure discretion and confidentiality?
We operate with the utmost discretion. We have a number of regular high-profile clients who we have worked with for years. All our work is strictly confidential.
Do we offer ongoing advisory support or only one-off placements?
We often work with families for many years, providing continuity from nursery through to university.
How do tutors fit into our consultancy offering?
Where appropriate, we introduce exceptional tutors to support entrance exams, academic development, or personalised home schooling programmes.
What results can families expect from working with us?
We aim to place your child in the right school for them, ensuring they go on to thrive and achieve their full potential.
What are our fees for education consultancy?
Our fees reflect the highly personalised nature of our service and vary depending on scope. We are happy to discuss this confidentially following an initial consultation. You can see an indicative list on our fees page.
The Positives of Prep SchoolIn our increasingly cash-strapped times, some parents are questioning whether to start their child’s independent school journey at a later stage. Nathaniel McCullagh, founder and director of Simply Learning Tuition, says there are many reasons why it’s still worth paying for prep school.
How to Maximise Your Child’s Education: SLT’s Top Tips for ParentsMany parents have been more involved in their child’s education than ever before. We have been thinking about how we can help parents keep up the momentum. We have compiled 12 tips, appropriate for all ages, and are confident that if you focus on one of these a month, you will see a positive impact on your child’s attainment.