independent schools
Choosing an independent school for your child
Choosing the right school for your child can feel like an overwhelming process, with many different factors to take into consideration. You might be thinking about investing in an independent school education – it is a big decision to make but it is a path which provides children with a fantastic start in life.
T
he Independent Schools Council (ISC) represents more than 1,300 independent schools through seven member associations. These schools are diverse, offering many options to suit your child. They include single-sex schools, preparatory (prep) schools, those with specialisms in music, drama or art, schools that cater for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), those that nurture sporting talent, highly academic schools, and boarding schools.
Independent schools remain a popular choice for many families and 2018 saw the number of pupils at ISC member schools reach a record total of 529,164.
Schools within ISC membership are increasingly providing greater amounts of fee assistance so that families from all walks of life are able to access the high quality education that independent schools offer. Transformational bursaries widen access to those who could not otherwise afford the fees and almost £400 million was provided in means-tested bursaries and scholarships last year. The total value of means-tested bursaries and scholarships provided by independent schools has increased by nearly £140m since 2011.
Since ISC schools are independent from central government and local authorities, they are able to follow their own curriculum – offering a wide range of learning opportunities – and be innovative and experimental, better to meet the needs of pupils.
Independent schools often have small class sizes, with the average pupil-teacher ratio at 9:1. This means teachers are able to get to know each child’s strengths and weaknesses and ensure that individual needs are met. In 2017, nearly two thirds of GCSE entries at ISC schools received A/7 or higher and close to one fifth of A-level entries scored the top A* grade.
There are a number of specialist schools for parents to look into, which meet particular requirements that might not be available in schools elsewhere. These range from highly academic, selective schools to cathedral schools offering pupils the experience of singing in a cathedral choir. If your child is a budding actor or a flourishing musician, many schools offer impressive drama and music departments. Importantly, there are many independent schools which offer some of the best SEND provision in the country, should your child need extra support.
Schools that excel at nurturing sporting talent are able to offer children and young people
excellent facilities, often with
provision for activities that are not easily available elsewhere, such as sailing, climbing, fencing or even trampolining. At independent schools generally, sporting opportunities form part of a school’s varied extra-curricular programme, which is much desired by many parents and children.
Independent schools are positive about community links and many have developed mutually-beneficial partnership programmes with local state schools. This helps all children and teachers involved to broaden their experiences, form new friendships and enhance their overall education.
Independent schools come in many shapes and sizes, each with distinct characteristics. Despite the many options out there and the number of decisions to be made, parents can be reassured that their children will benefit from high level academic provision, extensive extra-curricular opportunities, as well as a highly professional approach to pastoral care.
For further information, please visit
www.isc.co.uk
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surreymagazineonline.co.uk
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