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Types of School

There are many choices within the private and independent sector. You can choose to send your child to a day or boarding school, for full or weekly boarding. You may feel your child would be suited to a school with an academic, artistic or sporting specialisation or one which supports a particular cultural or religious ethos.

Day or Boarding School?

Most children at independent schools are day pupils, however about 14% do opt to board.

Modern boarding schools offer many advantages including a wider choice of schools and access to a wide range of facilities and activities.

Most boarders think it is more fun to board than be a day pupil. Boarding arrangements are normally very flexible and permit frequent contacts with home. Most boarding schools have day places too, so children can start off as day pupils and convert to boarding later if it attracts them.

Great importance is attached to the creation of a friendly, family environment in which children are able to settle and feel at home. The schools create a close-knit community where children can study and also enjoy a rich variety of extra-curricular activities. Some schools offer weekly boarding and all encourage a close relationship with parents and family.

Weekly or flexible boarding has become a popular option in recent years. Children go home each weekend and this often suits families where both parents have jobs.

Some schools offer occasional boarding which means children stay the occasional night (or nights) on a one-off basis; this could help parents who may be considering a move to boarding for their children or who are going to be away for a short time and would find it advantageous to know their son or daughter can be well cared for on the school site.

For more information on boarding you might also find the Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA) website useful.

Single-sex or Co-educational?

The independent sector can still offer junior schools for boys or girls only. At the secondary stage, some parents believe their son or daughter will make more progress without the distraction of the opposite sex. On the other hand, you may think it is more natural if boys and girls are educated together and most independent schools now are mixed.

In many areas of the country, only the independent sector can offer the choice of single-sex schools. There are more girls' schools in the independent sector than in the entire state sector in England.

Powerful arguments are advanced in favour of both single-sex and co-educational schools. You must make up your mind on the basis of what will suit your child.

Prep Schools

Most prep schools prepare pupils for entry to independent senior schools. Many use the Common Entrance examinations for boys and girls, principally at 13-plus or 11-plus. Some parents choose prep schools simply to give their children a good foundation without necessarily intending them to go on to independent senior schools.

Prep schools cover the primary, middle and (increasingly) the nursery stages of education; nursery and pre-prep departments usually cover the age range 2-7 within prep schools that may cater up to 11 for girls and 13 for boys.

Today's prep schools take the best from both traditional and modern educational methods. The National Curriculum often forms a foundation which is greatly extended to include other subjects, activities and sports to ensure a broad and balanced educational experience. Unlike state primary schools, prep schools employ specialist teachers to teach individual subjects, especially to older pupils. They have smaller class sizes than state schools - typically between 15 and 20 to a class - so that teachers can give more time and attention to individual needs. Prep schools tend to include the introduction of foreign languages from an early age, stream pupils by ability so that the brightest are not held back and slower learners are given more time, test progress on a regular basis, set higher expectations and provide a longer teaching day than in state primary schools.

Prep schools belong, predominantly, to one of two professional associations: the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) or the Independent Schools Association (ISA) http://www.isaschools.org.uk/

Senior Schools

Senior schools cater for pupils aged between 11 (or 13) and 19. Many of them also have their own, or linked junior schools. There is a wide choice of senior school types as described above. Many schools are small, while the larger ones are often divided into ‘houses’ of between 40 and 60 pupils each. Traditional grammar schools usually cater for day pupils only and they select children for their academic ability by examination for entry at 11+.

Many schools, including so-called "public schools", admit both boarders and day pupils of a wide range of abilities. Most stay on after 16 into the sixth form and go on to higher education. Schools offer a wide choice of examination subjects at GCSE and GCE, AS and A levels; an increasing number now offer vocational (VCE) courses too, some provide the International Baccalaureate (IB) alongside or instead of A-levels.