Choosing The Right School Education
HOICE?
enough for your child, or vice versa. But just because you hated a school 30 years ago, try giving it a second chance. Two of the schools I went to have changed very much for the better since my day and, although I left without a backward glance, vowing never to return, I have, and have been overwhelmed by their metamorphosis from small, non-academic and parochial country schools to schools with fi re and zest and full of high-achieving children. You should also be prepared to take a long hard look at yourself and your motives for paying for an independent education. All of them. It may be hard to admit that the social side of a school is a factor as much as the academic and sporting side is, but whether you like the other parents is something to consider. T ey will be an infl uence on the children your child is growing up with. Equally, if keeping up with the rather
richer Jones’ is an infl uence, you might want to consider the pressures of keeping up with their wallets for over a decade of school trips, schoolfriends’ holidays and sporting interests – never mind the school fees. Perhaps one of the greatest insecurities
faced by parents in large metropolitan competitive cities is whether their child will do as well as one in a rural school. T ey may want to move them out of London in search of a better lifestyle, but, infl uenced by the competitive hot-housing atmosphere, frequently surrounding them in a city, are worried about the impact on their
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www.fi rstelevenmagazine.co.uk Which school?
Age range Do you choose a school which is just pre-prep, or pre-prep and prep, or all through to the public school stage? If you want to avoid exam pressures, choosing a school which non-selectively accepts nursery and pre- prep and has upper schools may well ease the pressure. On the other hand is it as good a secondary school as it is at prep-school stage?
Geography
Metropolitan, rural, distance, north vs south? What is your family background? Do you want your children to grow up in a rural atmosphere? How far do you want to drive on a daily basis? Is the local transport any good?
Attendance Day, fl exi,
weekly, boarding. Consider the family ethos but also the child. Some children thrive on a little independence. Some children would be happier staying at home. Is this your decision or theirs? Flexi has a downside in that children may feel left out but it also gives a mother
a few days’ downtime or an opportunity to soften the
transition from day school to boarding.
Sex Co-ed, single
sex? A perennial discussion with no right or wrong
decision. Consider your child and your family’s make-up. A girl’s school might be a relief for a girl with lots of brothers. Boys with no sisters might benefi t from a female infl uence, or fi nd it overwhelming if introduced at the wrong age.
Culture English, multi-
cultural or international? What is the best way to give them a sense of their own background, and at the same time, prepare your children for an international world?
Education Mainstream,
Montessori, Steiner, Roundsquare? There are many options for practising diff erent educational philosophies and if this is a concern, you will need to
decide what you want before you try to get your child into a school.
Examination GCSEs and A levels, International Baccalaureate, Prep IB, and Pre-U. There are plenty of opportunities to fi nd the
right examination courses for each child. The international baccalaureate, for example, off ers an option for parents who need to move with their jobs, as it means the child can continue the same curriculum in diff erent countries.
School Character Sporting, creative, all- rounder, city, rural, sophisticated, more relaxed? There are schools specialising in the arts, as well as sports, which still place a signifi cant emphasis on an all-round education.
Additional extras
Special Educational Needs (SEN), Languages. As time goes on, other educational issues may arise. If your child qualifi es for SENS, do not despair as there are plenty of resources in and out of schools to help you.
Autumn 2011 FirstEleven 31
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