independent schools
TOP FIVE REASONS TO CHOOSE AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FOR YOUR CHILD
In the quest to find the right school for your child, you will, no doubt, have gone through the motions of attending open days, rifling through school prospectuses and asking endless questions to teachers and school staff. The quality of education provided to children shapes their life chances, attitudes and sense of ambition. Deciding whether to put your child through an independent school is a big one. Here are the top five reasons why choosing an independent school education for your child is a good idea:
1 ACADEMIC SUCCESS
Annual exam results for the independent sector demonstrate that the academic side of school life is a top priority, with the grades achieved by pupils helping to pave a foundation for much that is to come. Exam results in 2017 revealed that almost half of A-level entries at Independent Schools Council (ISC) schools were graded A* and A, whilst nearly two thirds of GCSE entries (62.9%) were awarded an A/7 or higher – more than three times the national average of 20%.
2 BALANCE
Independent schools offer an excellent education but they also offer extensive extra-curricular activities. In addition to creative arts, sports and volunteering opportunities, many schools also offer activities such as CCF training, debating and even sailing lessons, to name just a few. These activities enable children to broaden their experiences outside the classroom and mean they are given a more balanced school life.
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3
INDEPENDENCE
The excellence of independent schools stems largely from their independence from central government and local authorities. This means that schools can be flexible with their curriculum and offer subjects rarely taught outside the independent sector. Independent schools have saved many subjects that are now vulnerable in the state sector - Latin, Greek, music, modern languages, and history of art for example. Because our schools are able to operate independently, teachers can be innovative and experimental in their lessons - better meeting the needs of pupils.
4
PASTORAL CARE AND THE SCHOOL
ENVIRONMENT
Independent schools are well known for their high classroom standards and excellent pastoral care. With an average pupil-teacher ratio of one teacher for every 8.6 pupils, teachers get to know each child individually and are therefore able to cater to
specific needs. Independent schools also offer specialist education for specific types of pupils, for example nursery schools, schools for pupils with special educational needs, schools for pupils with high ability, single sex schools, boarding schools, music and dance schools, cathedral choir schools, and schools with a specific religious ethos.
5
FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES
No two independent schools are the same – some have extensive sports facilities with professional coaching offered to pupils, while others are strong in music, dance or drama and might have performing arts theatres or music studios to aid pupils’ creative talents. Many of our schools excel at the traditional sports like football and rugby, but there are also a number of more unusual activities offered to pupils, such as fencing, rowing and rock climbing. Pupils also appreciate the value of jogging, gym sessions and recreational activities.
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