// Quilter Cheviot QUI LT E R CHE V IOT - P R I VAT E EDUCAT ION We all want the best for our
And we will do anything within our means to ensure that they get the best possible education. Which is why many parents will bear the often quite substantial cost of giving their children a private education:
whereas a state school will on average cost the taxpayer around £6,000 per year, independent schools can charge anything from around £13,000 a year up to £40,000 at a top boarding school. Over five years, that represents a substantial investment, but one they are happy to make if it gives their children the best possible start in life.
A UK private education is highly regarded, both at home and abroad, and for good reason. The quality of education, not surprisingly, is high. Only 7% of all pupils in the UK are educated at independent schools, but they go on to represent about 30% or more of the student body at each of the UK’s top 10 universities.
The reasons are well known: good teachers, smaller class sizes, plenty of facilities and extra-curricular activities. No surprise then that independent schools are better at bringing out the best in all their pupils, not just the brightest.
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A quick look at the national league tables will show that nowadays the best state schools compete very successfully with private schools on the exam front, though comparisons of fee-paying and state school exam results should be treated with caution – for example, a growing number of independent schools are studying for the international baccalaureate exams. For parents who can get their children into the best state schools, and so avoid paying school fees, this may be an ideal outcome.
Yet an education can’t be summed up by exam results. Much more important is the child’s personal development, which is where the school’s ethos is crucial. Independent schools pride themselves on the pastoral care that they provide, or the ‘education for life’. As a result, the stand-out characteristics of privately educated children are that they are more confident, positive and responsible than their state school peers. Recent research by psychometric test publisher AQR International has shown that pupils at independent schools are ‘controlled, committed, confident and like a challenge… have good attainment, wellbeing and behaviour… are better at dealing with setbacks and more open to learning as a result’ – all qualities that are highly prized by employers.
The parents’ main challenge is to find the ‘right’ school for their child. So, how to choose? Visiting the school is vital. The first step is to focus on a handful of suitable schools, and to gather as much information on them as possible - their performance, curriculum, activities, etc. Take your child to the open days, but ask if it is possible to visit the school during the day time as well, to see the school at work. Once there, test the atmosphere; see if the pupils are relaxed and happy; watch how the students behave towards each other and their teachers; and don’t forget to ask what your child thinks.
During your visit, speak to the head: this is crucial because everything – teachers’ morale, educational standards, discipline – flows from the head. Speak to the teachers, and you will soon see if they are happy, enthusiastic and committed. For example, ask if they run the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, as this requires teachers to go above and beyond their normal duties and is a good test of their commitment. Back home, gauge your child’s impressions and preferences: if they match yours, you have found the right school for your child. And then have a back-up plan ready, just in case, as the best schools are very selective.
Finding the right school, like most things in life, is all about asking the right questions. That is why we have put together a list of the 15 key questions to ask. Please call David Jupp, Executive Director on 0121 710 3821 or email
marketing@quiltercheviot.com to receive a copy. Have a look before you take what is arguably one of your most important decisions as a parent, and part with a significant amount of money.
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David Jupp, Executive Director
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