An independent school education is an increasingly effective way for parents to give their children a leg up in life, writes Sarah Labram
Choosing a school for your child, particularly at secondary level, can be a difficult and stressful process. When I meet prospective parents, I always advise them to use both their ?head? and ?heart? when deciding on a school for their child.
Parents need to assess obvious criteria such as size, location, quality of teaching and leadership ? plus academic results, pupils? university destinations, facilities and the range of extra-curricular activities on offer.
However, equally important, I believe, is the ethos and atmosphere of the school ? the ?vibe? you and your family feel when you enter a particular school or the ?this just feels right? reaction that can also happen when you are buying a family home. Pupils from St James Senior Girls’ School love their lacrosse
Do Use Your Head and Your Heart
So, why would I advise you to opt for an independent school" It is very important to stress from the outset that there are great state schools with high academic standards.
However, on the whole, independent schools offer smaller class sizes and more favourable teacher to pupil ratios. In 2015, at A-Level, 49% of subjects taken at independent schools were graded A*/A compared to 26% nationally ? and a third of GCSE entries at independent schools, were awarded an A* (7% nationally).
The recent census commissioned by the Independe...