independent schools guide september 2012 UNMISSABLE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS GUIDE Independent TheirTheir futurefuture schools specIal As the new school year begins, follow our indispensable guide to startsstarts herehere safeguarding your child’s future Choosing the right school for your child Scan here Scan here to see the It’s the most important decision you will ever make on behalf to see the GDST in GDST in LeadingLeading girls’girls’ educationeducation action of your child. But don’t fret – Vanessa Berridge is here to help action Independent day schools for girls aged 3 - 18 Independent day schools for girls aged 3 - 18 ll educationalists emphasise of school selection. You need to observe that it is crucial to know your how well your child relates to other children, and not impose upon children, and whether he or she is shy them your own ambitions and and retiring, needing nurturing in a Ahopes. It may be difficult to assess a smaller, more caring and less challenging www.gdst.net small child’s academic potential at three school. You also need to think about how www.gdst.net or four, which is why it’s necessary to the child tends to learn, whether he or twitter.com/gdst keep an open mind throughout. But she is more visual than verbal, more twitter.com/gdst there are questions that you should be adept with figures than with words. Does www.facebook.com/TheGDST asking yourself as you begin the process the child have special talents, such as w www.facebook.com/TheGDST A network of 24 schools and two 22academies December 2009 14 September 2012 The Lady 57 A network of 24 schools and two academies 16-page schools specIal 02DISPLAYThe Lady GDST AD advert Template.indd September 2012v4.indd1 1 06/09/201210/09/2012 18:33:31 10:28 The Lady GDST advert September 2012v4.indd 1 06/09/2012 18:33:31 harrow inDepenDent SchooLS SpeciaL BUILDING CHARACTER AND FULFILLING School, steeped in tradition DoS anD Don’tS When POTENTIAL ViSiting a SchooL Do… u Prepare carefully the questions you want to ask. u Try to chat with both pupils and teachers independently. A pupil-led tour is often very instructive. u Try to observe a lesson, but also look at the children out of lessons to see how the school works. u Look at the attitude of the children. Do they relate well to their teachers? Do they look confident and happy? Is there a buzz in the classrooms you visit? u Spend some time with the school’s head and, if you’re looking at a boarding school, then ask to meet the house parents. u Find out about how the school communicates with parents. Is there ‘It’s a myth that it’s necessary to put your child’s a lively parent-teacher association? u Ask about pastoral care and about name down at birth for schools like Eton’ whether there are school counsellors to help with emotional problems. painting, music, ballet or sport? consider what it will give your child u Ask about policies on drugs, alcohol Relatively few pre-prep and prep that a day school cannot. And if you’re and bullying. Beware if the answers schools have competitive entrance thinking of full boarding, you need to sound fudged. tests, apart from in the larger find out how many pupils stay over the u Look at the noticeboards. If the population centres, such as London, weekend and whether there’s a good school advertises a wide range of where the pressure on places is range of opportunities laid on. extra-curricular activities, make sure greatest. Even if there are tests at five Even when choosing a first school, that they really are on offer, and in and seven, you shouldn’t think of these these questions should be kept in depth – not just to a handful of as exams that children pass or fail, but mind, although you may want to children in the first team. Are there as assessments as to the right kind of consider moving a child later on if, say, photographs of matches, concerts, school for your child. an academically selective school plays and flyers for other events? proves too demanding or vice versa. Starting out Location matters, too. If you’re opting Don’t… It’s a myth that it’s necessary to put for a day school, it’s best if it’s no u Forget to ask about the flexibility of your child’s name down at birth for more than 20 minutes away, so that the curriculum, and whether there is schools like Eton. In fact, Barnaby the children don’t have tiring journeys a chance for children to study more Lenon, chairman of the Independent and have their friends at hand, unusual subjects. Schools Council (ISC), and formerly believes Lenon. ‘I despair of parents u Use league tables as your chief headmaster of Harrow, stopped that who send their children some distance yardstick: they’re a guide, but Catholic boarding and day school system when he was in charge of when there is a good school nearer.’ nothing more. admissions at Eton in the mid-1990s. u Be dazzled by a whistle-stop tour All girls, ages 11-18 • 700 acres in Surrey ‘You don’t have to decide at an early Making the choice by the head, which shows off the age,’ he says. ‘Most senior schools now All these considerations will help to school but doesn’t allow you to meet 35 minutes from Central London pre-select at 11, so that your child isn’t narrow down your choice. If you are pupils or teachers. entered for a school which is relocating – from abroad or within the u Be seduced by splendid facilities if inappropriate at 13.’ UK – it may be worth employing an you’re not impressed by the staff. Choosing a school is a series of educational consultant such as Teachers are an even more important sieves. Do you want boarding or day? Gabbitas. ‘You can learn a certain resource. Join us for Open Day If boarding, weekly or full-time? Co-ed amount from school-gate chat,’ says u Just look at the public areas. Try to or single sex? Faith or non-faith? Do Catherine Walters, director of schools get behind the scenes to the Saturday 29 September 2012 you want a school that takes your placement at Gabbitas, ‘but we’re common rooms, cloakrooms and loos. child from five or seven through to 18, professionals. We keep up to date u Go against your better judgement. or do you want your daughter to make about what is happening where, and If you have any reservations about 10am-1pm All welcome the change at 11, or your son at 13? If we have knowledge of the nuances the school, don’t pick it for your child. boarding is a possibility, you should within schools that can make all w Tel. 01883 654206 woldinghamschool.co.uk 14 September 2012 The Lady 59 TheLady_210x297.indd02DISPLAY AD Template.indd 1 1 10/09/201229/08/2012 10:3213:44 Artwork 270mm x 92mm wide:Layout 1 05/09/2012 17:15 Page 1 inDepenDent SchooLS SpeciaL World renowned BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL eton college WITHUS SHE WILL THRIVE ‘Visit two or three schools – can you imagine your child being there, valued and thriving?’ the difference between happiness and a child is likely to be shy at interview, or three, and asking yourself whether misery for a child.’ for instance. If the parents’ aspirations you can see your child in any of them. In the early days, it’s probably best are not realistic, it is my job to tell them. ‘That’s actually more important than to choose a nearby school with a We take pride in getting our children whether the school is single sex or kindly ethos, where children can to schools where they will flourish.’ co-ed,’ he says. ‘Can you imagine your flourish without too much pressure, Having drawn up a shortlist of child being there, valued and thriving?’ even if you believe that your child is schools, you need to look carefully at Crombie also stresses the likely to be an academic high-flyer. their prospectuses and websites. If importance of having a personal tour A child who has learned to enjoy either is unimpressive, the chances are of the school. ‘Don’t just visit on a school and education is likely to be the school is, too. Don’t be over- formal open day, when a special show “School is so exciting. I love the surprises you get in A GDST school less intimidated when moving on, than influenced by league tables, but look is being put on. You need to see every lesson” Amy, Year 1 one who has been pushed beyond his at the schools’ valued-added whether there’s a buzz about the or her abilities while still small. measures, which are often published. school and good interaction between Most parents register for several If Winchester, Eton, St Paul’s or the children and the staff. As a head, schools and make the decision late in Westminster is your first choice, you’ll I most dread showing parents round the day, says Lenon. It is also vital, he need a good second choice, advises during a wet break, but then they says, to listen to the school head, who Lenon. ‘But the applicant-to-place ratio really see how the school works.’ PEN will be familiar not only with your child is probably not as frightening as it Although it’s worth taking your child O but with the schools you are looks,’ he adds.