The British public education system is in crisis. Issues like overcrowding, lack of funding, violence and bullying, low achievement levels, teacher strikes, and teacher shortages are some of the reasons more parents choose independent schools.
Parents are lucky to have so many school options to choose from. Between state schools, private schools, and independent schools, it can be a difficult choice.
For help deciding whether to start an independent school at the primary or secondary level, read the information below.
What Is an Independent School?
An independent school, also known as a private school, is not funded by the government. Instead, they charge students a fee to attend.
In fact, independent schools and private schools are slightly different. An independent school is governed by a board of trustees, while a private school is governed by its owners. As a result, private schools can be more exclusive than independent schools.
Types of Independent Schools
Generally, independent schools are either all-boy schools, all-girl schools, or religiously-oriented institutions.
Independent schools are further categorised by student age. These include pre-preparatory schools, preparatory schools, senior schools, and all-through schools.
Finally, parents need to choose between a day school or a boarding school. This depends on the level of support the child needs.
Why Choose an Independent School?
The lack of government funding is often seen as a positive attribute of independent schools. With no government funding, there is very little government control. An independent school is free to set its own curriculum or be more exclusive than a state school.
One reason parents choose an independent school is for a particular curriculum. For example, an independent school may use the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, and graduates can apply for university anywhere in the world.
Additionally, fee-paying institutions often have more resources than state schools. This is because they have better funding.
At the Primary Level
Choosing between sending a child to an independent school in their primary years may seem early. Often, parents don’t worry about academic achievement until secondary school. By that time, however, it may be too late.
The primary years lay the foundation for all learning done in later years. Skills like place value fluency (learned in year 2) can affect that student’s math performance for the rest of their academic career. It’s ideal for students to have the smallest class sizes and the most resources to maximise learning.
Households with two working parents may wish to enrol their child in a primary independent school because they don’t have time to support their learning as much as they’d like.
At the Secondary Level
Students who excel in primary may be able to wait until secondary to enrol in an independent school. At the secondary level, social relationships are typically what derail students.
Additionally, many independent schools are especially geared toward competitive university preparation. Because they are so exclusive, they can afford to be academically rigorous. Students with a strong primary foundation are better suited toward waiting until secondary for independent school enrolment.
The Next Steps
Once a parent decides to send their child to an independent school, it’s time to start weighing the options. Contact different independent schools in your area and ask about their academic programmes and resources. Make sure to schedule a visit to each school.
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