Education in the Isle of Man

The curriculum content is largely drawn from the English national curriculum, but also draws on the Island's unique geographical, cultural and historic features.

Pre-school

There is no state run pre-school on the Isle of Man, but there are many privately run options to choose from and parents may also be eligible for credits from the Government.

Primary and Secondary School

The Isle of Man school year runs as in the UK. Children start school in the academic year in which they will turn five. The school year starts in early September and runs until late July with holidays at Christmas and Easter and half-term breaks in the autumn and spring.

There are 32 state run primary schools, including one that teaches in Manx, and 5 secondary schools. The schools work on a catchment system and children are expected to attend the school designated to catchment area in which they live. School catchment areas, along with other useful local information, can be identified here.

To register your child(ren) for school, simply contact the administrator of the local primary or secondary to begin the process.

Public School

The Island is home to the highly regarded public schools King William's College and The Buchan School.

The Buchan School is the junior to King William's College. The school consists of three parts (Nursery, Pre-Prep and Prep) with small class sizes for children aged 1-11.

King William's College is an independent boarding and day school for girls and boys aged 11-18 and is rated as one of the best International Baccalaureate schools in the UK.

University

Students follow the same path to university as in the UK, applying for places through UCAS. The Isle of Man Government also offers maintenance grants, loans and tuition fees for university students based on eligibility and certain criteria.

The Isle of Man Government contributes towards university tuition fees for students. Subject to eligibility and personal circumstances, financial support is available consisting of 2 main elements:

• A fees grant to cover tuition fees
• A means-tested maintenance grant towards living expenses.

Students will be required to make an annual contribution of £2,500 towards their tuition fees, however, the Isle of Man Government offers a loan facility to students to fund this contribution.

Higher Education

There are also options for higher education on the Island at the University College Isle of Man.

The University College Isle of Man is partnered with the University of Chester and offers degrees in a range of areas including the arts, business and computer science. It also offers vocational training and apprenticeships centred on practical skills, including health and social care, engineering, plumbing and supervisory skills.

Full-time students who are under the age of 18 on the 1st of September preceding the start of a study programme are not charged fees, irrespective of residency.

Essentials 4 Learning

If you're relocating to the Isle of Man with your family, you can be safe in the knowledge the Island has a thriving and innovative education system. The Department of Education, Sport and Culture's 32 primary and 5 Secondary schools subscribe to an overarching approach to learning and curriculum which values high academic standards, but also the development of a range of skills and capabilities vital for young people to flourish in life. 

Essentials 4 Learning provides broad parameters for schools to develop flexible, exciting and memorable learning experiences and positive learning dispositions. For more on Essentials 4 Learning, you can visit the E4L website.