More often than not, nothing is more important to parents than their child’s education, and this of course means different things to different families. If you’ve decided to take the plunge into private education, you need to know how to choose a private school for your child.
You may have thought that choosing to go private was the hard decision, but choosing a school is even harder and there are many aspects to consider.
If your child is already at one of the UK’s many preparatory or pre prep schools, you may already have an idea of which private secondary scholar college you would like them to move into. However, if your child is at a state primary school, your options are varied indeed. Another situation could be that your child is already at a high school or grammar school, but you wish to move them to a private school.
The academic record of the UK is very strong, meaning that there are many options to consider – grammar schools, independent schools, private schools that may or may not offer boarding facilities…. The list may seem endless!
The important thing to remember is that you need to find the right school for your child, meaning that it is a very personal search indeed.
Read this blog to find out more about the process, what steps you should follow in order to choose a public or private school for your child and some of the top factors to consider on your quest to find the right school for your family.
First steps you should follow to choose a private school for your child
1. Recognise yours and your child’s needs.
This is all about priorities, and we’ll cover this in more detail below, but the basics of this is identifying your day-to-day requirements from a school.
2. Do some ‘virtual research’.
With so many options out there, your computer is your best friend in your search for a private school. Whether you are initially searching by location, ethos or boarding facilities then your online research should at least help you to create a shortlist.
If you’re researching british schools from outside the UK, remember that the language used for schools may be different. For example, a “public school” generally refers to a specific type of private school rather than a state school, as is the case in locations such as Hong Kong and the US.
Similarly, a private college usually means a private school where a secondary education up to the age of 18 is provided, rather than a university or other higher education academy.
3. Visit the school.
This, of course, is an absolute must if you are to get a proper feel for the school you are considering. It will give you the perfect opportunity to form your own opinion on the school’s offering, environment, extracurricular activities and facilities. You should also take the opportunity to have some candid conversations with teachers and maybe even pupils about their experiences at the school.
You may be able to visit a school during pre-arranged open days or you might have to book a private visit. Most private schools will have a friendly admissions team who will be able to help you organise this. While you are there, ask yourself the following:
Do you like the ambiance of the school or college?
How do the student body and teachers interact?
Can you see examples of pupils’ work?
4. Make it a team effort.
No young person simply wants to be told what to do, so involving your child in the search for their new private school from the beginning should result in finding an option that suits you all.
What are your priorities for a private school education?
Getting your priorities straight is very important, not least because it may be easy to get carried away with the glittering facilities at some private schools.
Before you start your search, make a checklist based on the following three criteria, and make sure you and your child agree – or can at least compromise – on what’s most important!
1. Practical requirements.
These are the priorities that are non-negotiable. These might be things like tuition and fees, location, financial support such as scholarships or bursaries, any additional support that may be required, boarding availability and intake ages.
For example, at Malvern College, our pupils start at aged 13, so we won’t be suitable for pupils wanting to join directly with us from primary school. In this situation, we would recommend for families to consider The Downs Malvern or Abberley Hall – our associated prep schools where many of our pupils start their academic journeys.
2. Preferred requirements.
These are the requirements you have that aren’t essential but would ensure ‘best fit’ for your family. These are factors like religious and cultural values and event dates.
3. The ‘cherry on top’.
These are the final things to consider and may be very important to your child, or they may help you to make the final decision between two schools. Factors like what A level subjects are offered in the school’s sixth form, how often a particular sport is played, student clubs which appeal to your child, and the annual school trips.
What are our top 10 factors to consider when finding the right school?
Make sure you don’t miss any of these points when considering how to choose a private college or school
1. Reputation
What does the school have a reputation for? Sporting heroes, academic prowess, artistic flair? And what values are they known for?
If the values they want to instil in their young people align with your own hopes for your son or daughter then it could be a great sign that you have found the right school for you.
2. Location
If you will need to take your child to school every day, is the school-run manageable for you? Or if they will be boarding, is it somewhere you can still access easily if needs be?
3. Academic record
Most private schools will have pupils who are very high achievers so try to look beyond the top-line results. What are the leaver destinations? What kind of alumni do they have? What are the class sizes like? Are they too focused on results, rather than developing the ‘whole child’?
4. Pastoral support
When young people join a private school, they’re not just joining a new school, but a new community. The pastoral support given to them during their formative years is just as important as the academic tools.
Here at Malvern College, we take this very seriously and always prioritise the wellbeing of our diverse community. Our values of tolerance, mutual respect and care for others are always at the forefront of our minds and every young person is nurtured and cared for.
5. Curriculum
What curriculum options are the schools offering? When choosing a school, make sure that they have a breadth of subjects and courses available – every child is different so their academic journey will be unique as well.
Malvern College prides itself on its all-round education and offers the choice of either the IB (International Baccalaureate) or A levels in Sixth Form. This means that children can join us when they are 13 and don’t have to decide on their sixth form courses until much later. We are also a ‘SAT Centre’ so pupils who want to go onto an American university can take their exams here.
6. Boarding options
For some families, this may be a deal-breaker in the search for a private school – they need full-time boarding and its one of their ‘practical requirements’. For others, the idea of a boarding school may not have crossed their mind. However, many private schools do offer the option of flexi-boarding which could be a great option to have. Our housemasters and housemistresses are always welcoming and very often it doesn’t take long for our day pupils to request the odd overnight stay!
7. Co-curricular opportunities
The co-curricular opportunities offered at private schools are simply incredible. Parents usually can’t believe how much there is on offer.
Malvern College, for example, offers everything from music masterclasses to academic societies, to links with local sports teams, to the Combined Cadet Force, mountaineering and white-water rafting… the possibilities are boundless.
8. Holidays and school term dates
Many parents simply forget to check this little detail so it’s worth having it on this checklist. Some private school’s term dates will be slightly different so be sure to check that the school you are considering has dates that work for your family.
9. Parent communication
How does the school communicate with their parent body? This is of course even more important if your children are boarding as you will want regular updates on both their academic progress and pastoral wellbeing. Check to see what reporting system the school has and how they would contact you if needed.
10. School facilities
Whether pupils want to pick up a paintbrush, compose a score, conduct a science experiment, pen a novel, score a try, serve an ace or explore a mountain, the facilities that we have here at Malvern College are extensive.
It is these ‘extra facilities’ that the young people visiting us often get blown away by, so it is important to have a good look around when you are trying to find the right school for your child. Make sure they have the facilities that will best cater to your child’s talents and gifts beyond the traditional classroom.
When choosing a private school, the final decision often comes down to a fleeting sensation, and the right feel for the school but to get to this ‘lightbulb moment’ you must do your research and not get distracted by other shining lights. Hopefully our guide on how to choose a private school for your child has set you on the right path.