From Idea to Registration: Setting Up an Independent School

This practical workshop is designed for individuals and organisations considering registering an independent school in England, including charities, companies, alternative provision providers, children’s homes and other education providers.

The session provides a clear overview of the registration journey, helping participants understand both the formal requirements and the practical issues that can delay or undermine an application.

During the workshop, participants will explore:

• The legal definition of an independent school and when registration is required
• The key registration requirements and the Independent School Standards
• The Department for Education application process
• What to expect from the pre-registration inspection
• Common pitfalls and areas where applications can run into difficulty
• Practical considerations when preparing a school for registration
• Opportunities to ask questions about individual circumstances and proposed provision

The workshop can be delivered face to face onsite or via video conferencing and typically lasts between 1½ and 2 hours, including an extended question-and-answer session.

This course is particularly useful for those at the early planning stage, as well as organisations that have already begun preparing an application and want to strengthen their understanding of the process before submission.