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Bristol Grammar School is an independent day school. Clifton College offers day and boarding places. Compare the right year group and residential arrangement before comparing fees.
The first question is whether the child will sleep at home. Bristol Grammar School, or BGS, is a co-educational independent day school on University Road. Despite its name, it is not a state grammar school. Clifton College offers day, flexible and full boarding places.
BGS is the more relevant starting point when you want independent day education and have no boarding requirement. Clifton deserves closer attention when weekly care, boarding or an international residential arrangement matters. A day pupil can also attend Clifton, but the cost is substantially different.
BGS’s Senior and Sixth Form fee from autumn 2026 is £7,422 per term, including VAT. Lunch is included through Year 11. Add the acceptance deposit, compulsory insurance, examination charges when applicable and other stated extras.
Clifton’s 2026–27 Upper School Years 9–11 fees are £12,950 per term for day pupils and £19,835 for seven-night boarding, including VAT and meals. Sixth Form has different rates. Prep School also has different day and boarding bands, so a Year 7 comparison should not use the Upper School figure.
Clifton requires an acceptance deposit but the reviewed fee page did not state its amount. Ask for it in the written offer, including any additional deposit for a family normally resident outside the UK. Learning support, English-language support and public examinations can add to the bill.
BGS holds Year 7 assessments in January. The reviewed admissions page had not yet named the two January 2027 Saturdays, so confirm the dates before making travel arrangements.
Clifton lists Sixth Form and Prep/Upper open events on 2 and 3 October 2026 respectively. Entry assessments differ by stage; ask for the requirements of the actual year group. A school visit does not establish a place or a visa entitlement.
Use University Road for BGS and the correct Clifton building: the Prep School is on The Avenue, while main reception is on Guthrie Road. If boarding is needed, ask how many nights the package covers, what happens at weekends and holidays, and who supports a homesick or unwell pupil.
Also compare state schools if fees or local continuity are decisive. The Bristol hub, United Kingdom guide and school profiles contain the official links.
Friendly orientation, not formal admissions advice. Always confirm dates with the school.
Bristol Grammar School is a selective, co-educational independent day school from Reception through Sixth Form. Its subject range makes it worth considering for a child who wants academic choice while living at home. Senior and Sixth Form fees are £7,422 per term from autumn 2026. Admissions pages still describe the previous entry round, so families applying for 2027 need a new timetable.
BristolClifton College is a co-educational school in Bristol for pupils from age three to 18. Day education runs throughout. Regular boarding starts in the Prep School, with flexi and full boarding available through Sixth Form.
LondonAlleyn’s is a selective co-educational day school for ages 4–18. This guide explains the different junior-school routes, the 11+ and 16+ processes, and the costs that sit outside tuition.
CheltenhamCheltenham College is a selective co-educational senior school for ages 13–18. It combines day places, full boarding and limited day boarding with GCSE, A-level and vocational routes.
Start with the qualification your child would actually receive. Then check its subjects, language demands, and recognition in the countries where they may study next.
7 minStart with your child and the family's likely plans. Define the non-negotiables, verify the school's claims, compare three realistic options and visit with specific questions.
7 minTuition is only one line of the budget. Separate charges from advance payments, record what each figure includes, and ask the school to confirm your calculation in writing.
7 minA useful visit should help you picture your child’s school day and resolve the questions that matter to your family. Ask for concrete examples, then separate what you observed from what you were told.