Which British School

Creating a Student Profile

A WBS Student Profile introduces your child to British boarding schools as a whole person, not just a set of grades. It brings together their reports, personal statement, interests and a short personal video. A detailed, well-prepared profile makes a stronger impression on schools and improves the chances of finding the right placement.

This guide explains what to prepare and how to complete each section. You don’t have to finish the profile in one go: you can save it and come back to it at any time. The profile is only sent to schools when you select Profile Complete at the end.

Documents to prepare

Save each document as a PDF so it can be uploaded. Any document not in English must be translated.

  • The last two school reports
  • Letters of recommendation and certificates (these can be scanned together into one PDF)
  • A recent head-and-shoulders photograph
  • UKiset report, if your child has taken it (see below)
  • Educational psychologist’s report, if available

Information you will need

  • Full name as shown on the passport or ID card, and date of birth
  • Preferred locations and type of school (for example boarding or day, co-educational or single-sex)
  • Year of entry and start date
  • The student’s personal statement
  • Interests, hobbies, sports and musical instruments
  • Strengths and areas for development
  • Level of English, with a CEFR level or IELTS score if available
  • Preferred course (for example GCSE, A level or IB) and subject choices for Years 10 to 13, if decided
  • Languages studied and spoken
  • Recent grades in English, maths and science, if your child is entering Years 10 to 13

Personal statement

For a British boarding school, a personal statement matters as much as grades and achievements. It should give schools a clear sense of who your child is and what they hope to gain from studying in the UK. Selective schools use it to decide which strong candidates will add most to their community. Non-selective schools sometimes weigh it more heavily than grades, because they will support the right child academically.

Topics to include:

  • Personality and character, likes and dislikes
  • Hobbies and interests, such as sport, music, art, debating or travel
  • Ambitions, at school and for a future career
  • Achievements and awards they are proud of
  • What they would bring to a school community

The statement should be in your child’s own words. Schools can tell when it has been written by an adult.

Personal video

A short video lets schools see and hear your child, and it is often what makes a profile stand out. Some schools only consider profiles that include one. Keep it to three or four minutes, with your child speaking English to camera. They could read their personal statement, talk about an interest, or be interviewed by a parent or teacher. The video can also show a musical, sporting or artistic talent, which helps with scholarship applications.

To add a video:

  1. Record it on a phone, tablet or computer, somewhere quiet with good light.
  2. Upload it to a video site such as YouTube or Vimeo. Choose an unlisted or private-link setting so only people with the link can view it. If YouTube is not available in your country, use a local service that schools can open from the UK.
  3. Paste the video link into the Personal Video field of the profile.

Schools also use the video to judge spoken English. If a student is strong academically but needs more English, a school may offer a place on condition that they first complete an English language course.

Year of entry

Enter the year group your child will join. In England and Wales this depends on their age on 31 August before the school year starts. Use our School Year Calculator or the Ages and Courses table to check. Some schools accept a student one year older than usual, for example a 17-year-old starting A levels in Year 12. This is at the school’s discretion.

Course level

From Year 10 there is a choice of courses, and not every school offers every course. If you are unsure, select every course you would consider, so the profile reaches all suitable schools. The main options are:

  • Years 3 to 9: the school’s own curriculum, broadly following the National Curriculum (Key Stages 2 and 3)
  • Year 10: two-year GCSE or IGCSE
  • Year 11: one-year GCSE or IGCSE, or a pre-sixth form (pre-A level or pre-IB) course
  • Year 12: A levels, the IB Diploma, the IB Career-related Programme or BTEC
  • Any year: an English language course

Read more in Qualifications and Courses.

Academic achievements

For entry to Years 10 to 13, enter the latest grades in English, maths and science, exactly as they appear on the most recent school report. If your child’s school does not use letter or number grades, leave this blank. You must still upload clear school reports that show the student’s progress over the last year.

English level

You must give your child’s level of English, or the profile cannot be sent to schools. Students who speak English as an additional language and are entering Years 10 to 13 should also give a CEFR level or IELTS score. Our guide What is my English Level? explains how the levels compare and links to a free online test.

UKiset

UKiset is an entrance assessment designed for international students applying to British independent schools. It measures reasoning skills and English, and gives schools a standardised score to compare applicants. Some schools require it, so we recommend international students take it before completing their profile. Visit ukiset.com for test centres and registration. Our tutoring team can help your child prepare.

Special educational needs

British boarding schools are known for their pastoral care, and many have a dedicated SEN co-ordinator and learning support department. If your child has a diagnosed learning difficulty, record it on the profile and upload the educational psychologist’s report. If you suspect a difficulty that has not been assessed, select the type, and schools will discuss it with you. The UK Government has more information on SEN support.

School location

Unless you need a particular area, select several regions, or all of them. The wider the search, the better the chance of finding the right school.

Interests, sport and music

British boarding schools offer an exceptional range of activities and look for students who will make the most of them. List the sports and instruments your child plays now, and any they would like to take up. Include interests and hobbies too.

Need help?

Our team can prepare the profile with you as part of our School Placement service. To register your child, go to Register my Child, or email info@whichbritishschool.com.

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