Whether you want to get your child into the best local state school or can opt for private education, you need to know what to look for in choosing the right school
STATE SCHOOLS
A good place to start is by looking at the school’s Ofsted report. Ofsted inspectors look at all aspects of the school, from its pastoral care to quality of teaching. While an Outstanding grade is wonderful, standards can go up or down in the years between inspections, so don’t dismiss other schools.
What the school’s academic results like? Do they generally go up year on year? Or are the results stronger in one area, such as the sciences, rather than another which could affect your child’s potential.
Look at their website to get an idea of what subjects they offer at GCSE and A Level and the kinds of facilities they have that would suit your child.
For secondary schools in London, you can list six choices, including academy and free schools – and remember, you can choose a school outside of your local authority. Make sure you put six down as if you put less and just include the schools you really want, there is a chance you make be given the least popular choice. Schools don’t know where you have placed them on the list.
If you want your child to go to a very popular school, they will have a catchment area or maximum distance from the school for applicants, so you may not want to waste an option on a school your child is unlikely to get into.
Some schools, such as grammar or faith schools, will have admissions criteria, so make sure you check these out before applying. If you have a sibling at the school, this may help your application, but not always.
Just as importantly, look at independent reviews, talk to families whose children are already at that school and find out their likes and dislikes.
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
There is much an independent school can offer, not least a sizeable bill every term. Class sizes tend to be smaller, although not always by much, but it is the calm focus and expectation of learning that is attractive to parents, as well as often excellent facilities, whether that is state-of-the-art laboratories, a large performance theatre or onsite playing fields.
While private education used to be an option for just the wealthy, this is no longer the case. A parent could just as easily be a secretary as a lawyer, with around 32% of pupils having fee assisted places*. Some schools are now aiming to have 25% of pupils fully funded by bursaries, giving bright children who would not normally have had the chance to attend, the opportunity to do so.
While you obviously want your child to get the best academic results they can, choosing the right school to suit their needs is more important than just going for the one that tops the League Tables. They could get better results from a smaller, more nurturing school, that maybe takes pupils with all levels of ability, than one that gets the highest A Level grades.
Most independent schools have superb sports facilities. Many have great playing fields and sports halls on site whereas other schools bus the children to sports centres and grounds elsewhere – which means you could be doing a lot of picking up after sports events.
Check what extra-curricular activities are on offer during the lunch hour and after school. Clubs and organisations are a great way for children to mix with others outside their class and helps them to pursue new interests.
Fees average around £13,600 per year, although this rises to £15,900 for London schools.
Scholarships are mainly available for academic skill, music, sport, drama or all-rounders. If your child excels in a particular area enquire about the exams. They are not means-tested but based purely on ability. However, there is a shift to giving bursaries rather scholarships.
Bursaries are means-tested and are awarded to families where it would not normally be possible to send the
child privately, due to the cost. Schools are actively partnering organisations to help children get a partial or fully funded place. Different levels of bursary may be offered – often from around 25% upwards, but each school will have a different policy, so ask early on.
Pippa Duncan