Schools in the private sector are known as independent or public schools. They rely for finance solely on fees charged to parents. The majority are boarding schools, although there are some independent day schools, particularly in the London area. Children live at school during term time, only returning home at half term and during the main holidays (Christmas, Easter and Summer). However children may also spend one or two weekends per term at home (or, in the case of children from overseas, with guardian families) - these weekend breaks are called exeats. Most schools have fixed dates for exeats, although some will allow children / parents to choose their own exeat weekends.

As children live at school, there is a wide range of extra-curricular clubs and activities, such as astronomy, chess, computers, debating, public speaking, photography. Music and drama play a large part of school life outside the classroom - children are encouraged to learn to play a musical instrument or join a choir. Sport is also very much to the fore and nowadays the traditional games such as football, rugby, cricket, tennis, netball and hockey are complemented by activities such as aerobics, canoeing, horse-riding, rock-climbing, squash and swimming.

All schools chosen by Intense Educational have strong EFL (English as a Foreign Language) departments to assist children from overseas with extra English for the first term or as required.