Choosing the right school for your child can be a daunting task. Taking the time to visit is so important, as it allows you to get an honest feel for how a school operates.
Here at our independent school in Devon, we warmly invite parents to visit our facilities and ask questions of our staff. We understand that looking at independent schools throws up different considerations to state schools, and we are here to support you in making the best decision for your child.
Questions to Ask Independent Schools
If you’re visiting an independent or private school for the first time, it’s worth considering what makes these different to state schools. Because there are differences in how they operate, this can change what questions are worth asking.
While some of these questions would apply to any school visit, here are some we’d suggest keeping in mind when visiting an independent school in particular:
- What Makes This School Different?
- What are the Facilities Like?
- What Extracurricular Activities are Available?
- How Do You Support A Child’s Wellbeing?
- How Do You Reinforce Good Behaviour?
- How is Academic Performance Monitored?
- How Much Communication Takes Place Between Teachers and Parents?
- How Do You Prepare Pupils For the Next Stage of Their Education?
What Makes This School Different?
One of the main differences between private schools and state schools is that private ones don’t need to follow the national curriculum. Instead, private schools follow their own bespoke curriculum designed around achieving certain outcomes.
Understanding why an independent school has designed its curriculum in a certain way can provide a lot of information about the overall ethos and focus of the school. For example, the St Peter’s School Baccalaureate® is designed to prepare pupils to gain entry to highly successful senior schools.
Another way to understand an independent school’s ethos is to ask about the Head, who embodies and leads the approach of the whole school. They will often have their own educational philosophy, which can help you understand the underlying beliefs of the school and its teachers.
You can hear from our Head, Charlotte Johnston, and learn more about the St Peter’s ethos on our about page.
What are the Facilities Like?
Many independent and private schools pride themselves on their facilities, and this is often a big pull factor for parents choosing a private school.
Most school visits and open days will allow you to see the facilities for yourself. However, you may want to ask about the details. Beyond large music or IT spaces, ask what equipment or programmes children can access. This can often reveal how much resource and focus are being placed on particular subjects by the school.
What Extracurricular Activities are Available?
Beyond questions around facilities, it’s also worth asking how available these are outside of usual learning hours.
Can pupils spend time after school using the music or art facilities, and are there enough sports teams for children of all abilities, not just those hoping to represent the school at a high level, but also children who might want to play recreationally?
You can learn more about the St Peter’s Prep approach on our activities page.
How Do You Support A Child’s Wellbeing?
Pastoral care is such an important part of a pupil’s life at school. Whether it’s support around exam pressure or caring for mental health year-round, how much care and attention a school puts into general wellbeing should be a big consideration when choosing a place to send your child.
How Do You Reinforce Good Behaviour?
Beyond understandable concerns about things like bullying, asking questions about behaviour is a good way to get to the heart of a school’s ethos. A lot can be learned about day-to-day life at a school from its approaches to setting boundaries, rewarding good behaviour, and communicating behaviour issues with parents.
How is Academic Performance Monitored?
One of the main focuses for any parent is academic performance, so it’s worth asking about how the school tracks and reports on the development of pupils. You may want to know how regularly pupil performance is assessed outside of exams and how you will be kept informed as a parent.
How Much Communication Takes Place Between Teachers and Parents?
You may also want to ask about how easy it is to communicate with the school about how your child is doing, especially if you have concerns or may require extra care.
Ask about the regularity of parents’ evenings and how they work, and also what processes are in place if you feel the need to speak to the school more informally about an issue.
How Do You Prepare Pupils For the Next Stage of Their Education?
Many independent schools like ours put a lot of focus on preparing pupils for their next stage of education. Whether you have a path in mind for your child or want to know that all options are available to them, asking schools about their approach can shine a light on this important period for your child’s development.
Many of our pupils at St Peter’s Prep leave us at Year 8 with specialist scholarships to leading higher education institutions. You can learn more on our academic excellence page
Many independent schools will be happy to answer all these questions and more to help you make the best decision possible for you and your child. If you have any questions for us at St Peter’s Prep, feel free to contact us, or visit us for our next open event.
