CHOOSING & APPLYING
new country, and just thinking about the to-do list becomes exhausting. However, careful planning and good advice can help to take the pain out of the process for assignees and their families.
W DO YOUR RESEARCH First things first: parents need to roll up their sleeves
and get down to some serious research. Casting the net wide to start with can help families to understand what they really want from a home and school, and what they would be prepared to compromise on.
There are many excellent schools to choose from in
the UK, so much so that international families can often feel overwhelmed with choice. Making an initial shortlist based on practical matters is a good starting point. “When we work with international clients considering education in the UK, we always suggest they begin to shortlist their options based on a number of core logistical components,” says John Ing, director of Dukes Education Group, a consultancy that provides families with education guidance and private tuition.
“Parents should first make decisions based on where in the UK they will be living, considering whether an urban or rural environment would be more suitable, whether they are looking for a day school, boarding or a flexible plan for accommodation, and whether they are seeking a single-sex or coeducational system.”
Often, homes in the areas surrounding good schools – regardless of whether they are fee-paying or state-funded – can come with a hefty price tag, so it’s vital that families are realistic about what they can afford.
It is likely that oversubscribed state schools in England will require families to live close to the school if they are to stand a chance of being offered a place. It’s important, therefore, to ensure that the chosen home is both affordable and falls within the designated area of the chosen school. Likewise, deciding between state schools, independent fee-paying schools and an international school will depend on budget, as well as on other considerations, such as the length of the assignment and the standard of education in the area.
WORKING WITH EDUCATION CONSULTANTS When parents have settled on a budget and a geographical area, they will need to create a clear picture of what is most important to them and their child. If you are using the services of an education consultant, remember to specify if you are looking for a state education, as some will
hen it comes to a successful relocation, finding the right school is often ‘make or break’. Throw into the mix a new house, a new job and even a
only cover private education. Make sure they are familiar with supporting relocating families. Consultants who deal specifically with relocation clients will understand the time frames and requirements of a move, including home search, orientation, removals and visa issues. They will be used to dovetailing their support with relocation management companies and destination services providers.
CHOOSING YOUR IDEAL SCHOOL The first step is to prepare a wish list of the ingredients that will make up a perfect school – for example, proximity to home, availability of sports facilities, music or theatrical opportunities, or just good and consistent exam results. Many independent schools pride themselves on their extra-curricular (or ‘co-curricular’) activities as much as their academic success. One such school is Haileybury, a coeducational independent day and boarding school near Hertford that offers more than 100 co-curricular activities. “We call them co-curricular because we see them as important as the academic curriculum,” explains Donna Cresswell, the school’s director of external relations. Activities include Model United Nations, Duke of Edinburgh, bee keeping, African drumming, Mandarin club, scuba diving and much more.
“Our music, sport, drama and art are major attractions of a Haileybury education. The diversity on offer helps the pupils discover their passions and provides balance to their academic studies,” she says. “It also provides great material for inclusion in their university applications.” Andrew Gillespie, director of studies at d’Overbroeck’s, a co-educational independent secondary school in Oxford, advises parents to take the whole school into account when making a decision. “Parents are rightly interested in the academic success of students and what alumni have gone on to do, but the key factor for any parent is that their child will be supported, encouraged, looked after and helped to develop their skills. So look for a school where your child will be allowed to be themselves and where they can develop.” Once they have established their wish list, it’s time for parents to start gathering prospectuses and brochures and browsing websites.
At this point, it may be worth suggesting that parents compile a spreadsheet of schools available to them and the information that can be gathered before visiting, including the facilities, the curriculum taught throughout the school, details of exam performance, the latest inspection rating, the pupil-to-teacher ratio, and the numbers, types and costs of extracurricular classes.
Families will then be able very quickly to eliminate schools from the long list of those available to them and start
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