It is somewhat unsurprising that the British Independent Schooling System is an internationally recognised global export. The sector attracts interest and customers to our shores from all over the world as well as to international franchises from the most established Independent Schools countrywide.
The dilemma for any prospective parent still remains, “how to choose the best school for my child”? Some parents choose a school because they have been educated at a particular establishment themselves. Others are attracted by the reputation and kudos of a sub-set of schools. That said, there are a large number of excellent educational establishments to choose from.
The Logistics of School Life
The first considerations when choosing a prep school for your child are largely logistical. Further decisions may need to be made based on a combination of what type of school you are seeking (in terms of day or boarding schools) and then whether co-education or single sex is an important factor for the family.
The matter of how accessible the school’s location is for your family will often be important. This can be a factor for access to daily transport, and supporting fixtures or performances, as well as wrap around care options.
Once these aspects have been determined the style of school in terms of ethos and size is also a key consideration. Parents must focus on the school that is going to be the best fit for their child rather than hoping that sending them to a certain school will turn them into a particular type of pupil. Whilst a pupil is undoubtedly moulded by the school environment, to send a child to a school that does not suit their individual profile is not going to make for a happy experience.
Click here to read the Pupil Aims and Outcomes at The Downs Malvern.
There may also be other considerations for your family as a whole - are you planning for all of your children to attend the same independent school and, if so, do you need to explore Pre-Prep options? What kind of senior school do you see your children attending and which prep schools will help them best on this path?
Parents will often naturally narrow down their options through their own analysis of what’s important to them and their sense of the school’s reputation through word of mouth, website and social media searches. Once a smaller field of schools has been identified it is down to conversations and visits to truly inform.
Visits and Open Days
There is no substitute for visiting a school; meeting staff, pupils and (in some cases) existing parents. The scrutiny of the website will give you a ‘feel’ for the school and what it can offer your child, but the visit will establish whether your preconceptions are borne out in person. Many schools appear to offer a similarly appealing educational experience. However, it is worth seeing for yourself if the school ‘does what it says on the tin’!
At all times ask yourself, can I see my child at this school, happily learning and thriving? Also worth considering is whether this a community I want to be a part of. Whilst the levels of parental involvement differ from school to school, your needs as a parent must also be met. If a child is going to be at a school for the duration, it is also a significant period of time for the parents to be supporting that child and school in unison.
Those Important Questions
Each family will have their own non-negotiables in terms of educational experience as well as aspects they are less focused on. It is worth drilling down on the granular detail of what matters most to you as a family in terms of education. Some common examples can be:
How the school supports a specific learning difficulty
How they extend and stretch the most academically able of children
What their sporting pathway looks like if you have a child aspiring to represent their county
How the school encourages and supports those with talents for the Arts.
Make sure that you ask those tough questions. Any school worth their salt will be willing to answer the questions that matter most to you.
Click here to book an Open Day at The Downs Malvern.
The Broader School Community and Experience
Beyond the aspects which have particular appeal to you as a family, you must look at the broader experience of the child. How do their peers conduct themselves around school? Do the children seem genuinely happy to be there? What do the pupils say about their school? Are they naturally polite, open and enthusiastic? Can you see your child interacting happily with these children who will ultimately be a huge influence on their lives?
Whilst you cannot influence your child’s specific cohort within a school, the ethos and attitude will be on display with each interaction you are able to witness. It is this which will influence their behaviours and attitude to learning.
It is also worth noting how the teachers interact with the pupils. Is there a sense of mutual respect and collective purpose in the activities and lessons you are able to witness on your tour? What evidence are you seeing that strong pastoral care is a priority? You should also ask about life beyond the classroom: what are the pupils engaged in during their free time, and importantly what are the range of activities on offer and how are they selected?
Co-Curricular Activities in Preparatory Schools
One of the most appealing aspects of a modern prep school education is the depth of experience the pupils gain alongside the formal curriculum. The co-curricular offering is, in many schools, an integral part of the education. Finding out about the range of options, the timings, possibilities and level of uptake is key to understanding how your child’s day is shaped outside the hours spent in the classroom.
One of the strengths of a good Prep school is to give all pupils a taste of everything from a young age and see which activities and interests gain most traction with each individual. From there they can support, challenge and extend the child within these areas.
In many schools the academic teachers support the co-curricular programme by offering expertise in a range of areas. This is often augmented by external tutors or specialists who compliment the skill set of the teaching staff. It is worth asking which activities are included in the school fees and which attract an additional termly cost. In doing so, you will get an idea of the range and availability of activities as well as avoid any nasty surprises down the line.
It is my opinion that a good Prep school will have a balance of activities run by the teaching staff and some other activities led by professional coaches. This both gives staff a valuable perspective of pupil’s interests beyond the classroom and means the parents are able to choose from a healthy mix of optional extras. It is worth asking the question, ‘who monitors a pupil’s involvement and helps them get the balance of participation right’.
In Conclusion
Ultimately, every parent wants their child to be safe, happy and engaged in their learning. The question you need to ask of the Head, staff and through your interactions with the pupils is; “How is this school going to know, understand and be able to get the very best out of my child during their time here”?
Andrew Nuttall, Headmaster
The Downs Malvern is a vibrant, happy prep school on the Worcestershire / Herefordshire border where boys and girls aged 3 to 13 thrive and learn to excel at their passions. Learn more about life at our school and find out if it could be the right fit for your child.