Register an independent school: application guidance and checklist
Updated 1 July 2026
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 online application form to register an independent school.
3. Checklist of supporting documents
Once you have submitted the application form we will contact you to request the following information:
- 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 will be supplied)
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
- 16 plus programme of activity for SEN
You must show how you will meet the required independent school standards for each part of the checklist.
4. Processing your application
The registration process can take around 6 months from receipt of a complete application. A complete application includes the online application form, and all requested supporting documents and information.
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, and have completed our internal checks, 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.
5. 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.