6 Best tips for choosing a private school in London

Published: 6th August 2018 15:02

Choosing the right school for your child not only guarantees happy school years for them, but also peace of mind for you. With so many private schools in and around London, how do you pick the best one?

 

Which selection criteria should you use to single out the best place for your child for the duration of their formative years? Here’s some of our top tips to help you to find the ideal independent school for your child.

Focus on educational quality

All private schools have a sales and marketing budget to attract potential pupils and their parents. Promotional materials provide a way for schools to promote the image that they want prospective parents to see. However, when it comes to your child’s education, image alone won’t suffice.

Look past the glossy brochure and website claims to get down to the issues that really matter to you, your child’s education and welfare. What are the school’s educational standards? Where do they stand in the school league tables?

Look beneath the surface

Try to find out as much as possible about how the school runs on a day-to-day basis. Ask questions, research online and get in touch with other parents. Although exam results are important, they are not the be-all and end-all when it comes down to your child’s emotional and social development. Have a good look around the class rooms and social areas, are they bare and minimalist or brimming with educational toys and gadgets?

Once you’ve narrowed down your choice to a handful of names, it is important to find out as much as you can about each of the schools on your list.

Does the school meet your requirements?

Are you looking for a school that will nourish your child’s mind or one that will develop their sporting or extracurricular talents?

Ideally, you’ll want a school that will strike a balance between academic work and sporting activities, but some schools are more renowned for producing sporting talent than others. Knowing these differences in advance will help you to steer your child in the right direction, and to pick a school that fully supports the realisation of your child’s goals.

Some private schools for younger children subscribe to the Montessori pedagogy, it’s worth checking whether they have accredited status before arranging a visit.

Visit the school on a normal school day

A lot of choreography and planning goes into organising an open day. Seeing the school on an average weekday is usually a better indication of the school environment in general.

Observe a class in action, if possible, to see how teacher-pupil interaction works, something not always visible on an open day visit. How do teachers manage the students? Are the students engaged and enthusiastic about their learning?

Take your child with you to open days

You’re looking for a school where your child will be happy, so get them involved in the selection. Your perspective will probably differ considerably from that of your child’s. As the parent, it’s your duty to focus on the big-picture items like academic record, the average cost including trips, extracurricular activities and teaching excellence.  However, it’s important to take on board your child’s feelings and point of view. Ultimately, the decision lies with you, but such an important decision is best taken together.

Go with your intuition

Details are important, but sometimes a certain feeling from your first impressions about a school can make all the difference when it comes down to choosing one over another.

When you visit a school for an open day, make a note about your first impressions. Did it strike you as a welcoming, friendly place? Were you able to chat freely with pupils and staff? Two private schools may be almost identical on paper and you may have to rely on that ‘gut feeling’ to choose the one that’s right for you and your child.

Next Steps…

If you are looking to privately educate your child these tips will help you to make the right choice. Open days are a great way to find out more about the schools that you’re most interested in, however, where possible try to get a feel for how they run on a day-to-day basis, ask questions and meet pupils and their parents. Lastly, listen to your child, this choice is all about his or her future.

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