The British Boarding Schools Fair in Lagos (November 2026): What to Expect

How do you ask a school the hard questions when its admissions team is thousands of miles away?

Most parents in Lagos compare websites, read prospectuses and wait days for an email reply, while the questions that matter most go unanswered.

The British boarding schools fair, happening on 21st November brings those conversations to Lagos. Admissions representatives from British schools will be in the room, ready to answer your questions in person.

This is the comprehensive detail you need on what the Fair is, what happens on the day, who should attend and how to prepare, so you can arrive with the right questions and leave with clear answers.

Outline

1. – Everything You Need to Know About the British Boarding Schools Fair
2. – Why You Should Meet Admissions Teams in Person
3. – What Happens on the Day
4. – Who Should Attend the British Boarding Schools Fair?
5. – Questions to Ask Admissions Teams
6. – How to Prepare Before You Come
7. – How to Register for the British Boarding Schools Fair
8. – After the Fair
9. – Frequently Asked Questions

Everything You Need to Know About the British Boarding Schools Fair

The British Boarding Schools Fair is a one-day event organised by Brains & Butter, a Nigeria-founded, BSA-certified consultancy that has guided families through British boarding school admissions for ten years. 

It gives parents and students one day to meet admissions representatives from British schools, ask questions in person and compare their options side by side.

Several partner schools within our network have already confirmed their attendance, and the list grows as more schools respond. You can see the current list on our schools page.

Why You Should Meet Admissions Teams in Person

A prospectus tells you what a school chooses to share. A conversation lets you ask what you want to know. The table below shows the difference.

For many families, a single conversation clears up questions that weeks of reading online have left open.

What Happens on the Day

The day is built around four things.

I. Face-to-face conversations. 

Meet admissions representatives from British schools and put your questions to them directly.

II. Honest guidance. 

Learn what daily life is like at each school, how pastoral care works in practice and what a typical term looks like.

III. A relaxed setting. 

The atmosphere is calm and unhurried, so you can ask what you need to ask.

IV. Space for the questions that matter. 

Questions about safety, homesickness and cultural adjustment are welcome, and the  people answering them deal with these topics every day.

A full timetable will be shared by email with registered families as soon as it is confirmed.

Who Should Attend the British Boarding Schools Fair?

Parents and students are both welcome, and the Fair is useful at every stage of the search. Find your stage in the table to see which questions to bring.

Families are welcome to attend together, so your child can hear the answers firsthand.

Questions to Ask Admissions Teams

Conversations go further when you arrive with a short list of questions. These ten cover the main areas worth asking about.

A. Daily life and pastoral care

i. Who looks after my child day to day, and how do students raise a concern?

ii. What does a typical weekday and weekend look like for a boarder?

iii. How do you help students manage homesickness in their first term?

B. International students

i. How do you support students who are new to Britain, both academically and socially?

ii. What helps new students settle into the routine and culture of the school?

C. Entry and deadlines

i. Which entry assessments or exams apply to my child’s age and year group?

ii. What are the application deadlines for our intended start date?

iii. What does the interview involve, and how should my child prepare? Our interview preparation service can help with this.

D. Scholarships and guardianship

i. Which scholarships or bursaries are available, and when do I apply? Our scholarship and bursary advisory guides families through this.

ii. What are your guardianship requirements for students whose parents live outside Britain? Our guardianship service covers this for families.

How to Prepare Before You Come

I. A little preparation helps you make the most of the day.

II. Gather your child’s recent school reports and exam results.

III. Decide the year you would like your child to start.

IV. Write a shortlist of schools. The schools page shows the partner schools within our network.

V. Choose your top five questions from the list above.

VI. Set a budget range, so you can ask about fees with confidence.

VII. Read the Placement Guide before the day, so your conversations start from a good place.

If you would like help presenting your child’s strengths to schools, our student profile creation service is built for exactly that.

How to Register for the British Boarding Schools Fair

Registration takes less than a minute. Attendance is complementary, and registering secures your place.

1. Select Register for the Fair below and complete the short form.

2. Check your email. Your confirmation arrives straight away.

3. Watch for your venue, timetable and guidance on what to bring, which we send by email before the day.

4. Arrive with your questions and your child’s recent school reports, if you have them.

Questions before you register? Message us on WhatsApp at +234 805 100 1199 or email hello@brainsandbutter.com.

After the Fair

Your conversation with us continues after the day.

• – Every family that attends receives a thank-you email and an invitation to continue the conversation.
• – Our team helps you compare what you heard, narrow your shortlist and plan your application.
• – Every step stays clear and unhurried, so you can decide at your own pace.

Frequently Asked Questions

I. Is there a fee to attend?

Attendance is complementary. Registration is required to secure a place.

II. Should I bring my child?

Families are welcome to attend together. Bring your child’s recent school reports if you have them.

III. Which schools will be there?

Several partner schools within our network have confirmed their attendance, and the list grows as more schools respond. See the current list on our schools page.

IV. What if I cannot attend on the day?

Contact our team directly. We can still help you connect with the right schools. Message us on WhatsApp at +234 805 100 1199 or email hello@brainsandbutter.com.