INDEPENDENT SCHOOL APPLICATIONS – WHY PAY MORE?

With families hedging their bets by sacrificing multiple registration fees and putting children through numerous entrance exams to secure places at the most popular independent schools, it is our role as Education Consultants to advise on more cost effective ways!

With the ever increasing popularity of independent schools and the competition for places at an all-time high, parents understandably want to ensure they secure one of the sought after places for their child. This is causing parents to 'spread their bets' and according to a recent report in the Times Education Supplement, some families are applying to 'up to nine schools', three times more schools than they were in 2010. The worst area for this is inevitably Greater London

Registration fees are standard practice for applying to any independent school. The fee is normally non-refundable and something that the school requires in order to process an application and mark exam papers, in fact without this payment the registration will be null and void.

With this influx of applications to multiple schools, the schools themselves are undoubtedly finding it increasingly more difficult to manage offers to prospective students. With the more affluent families also in a more commanding position to accept one out of multiple offers, schools can find themselves either over or under-subscribed.

As independent and impartial education consultants with years of experience, we are here to help families make the best decision on both an academic and economic front:

• We recommend the best fit of school for each child
• We have every UK independent school on our database and choose a smaller selection of the right profile instead of a scattergun approach.
• We look at the schools' vacancy situation and entry threshold rates.
• We can assess the child's current ability and therefore likelihood of passing the entry exams.
• If a child has particular gaps in their ability, we can recommend tuition to bring them up to speed before the admissions tests.
• We have a unique eGuide on How to save money on school fees distributed to our bespoke advice clients

We are then in a position to find the best-fitting school for each individual family and proceed with applications in the most financially viable manner.

WHY ARE PRIVATELY EDUCATED STUDENTS SO EMPLOYABLE?

Academic Achievement

There is much talk in the press about the disproportionate number of privately educated children in the professions, so what is it that makes these young people so employable? Solid academic qualifications are clearly one factor. Many parents investing in private education for their children are looking for a ‘top’ school and start by targeting schools at the top of the league tables. Pupils in the UK’s top private schools achieve spectacular results, but of course this is never the whole story. High A-Level grades are key to winning a place at a top university but an independent school education equips students with far more than this, and it is that “extra something” that is so valued by employers.

“Soft Skills”

Private schools, and especially boarding schools, are an ideal environment for young people to develop the “soft skills” which will enable them to access those sought-after positions in later life; the ability to get on with people of all ages, a broad general knowledge that makes them good and confident conversationalists, excellent teamwork skills, and most importantly a sense of self-belief and purpose as they step out into the world.

Teamwork and Personal Development

Pupils at the UK’s private schools benefit from small class sizes and extended school days where most of their waking hours are spent in the company of adults whose sole purpose is to advance the development of the children in their care. This may be through supervised clubs and activities, extra learning support or simply time spent together outside the classroom. With a vast range of extra-curricular options children also benefit from the chance to develop skills in a multitude of sports and creative areas, fostering discipline, commitment and a sense of personal achievement. Teamwork skills are honed on the sports pitches and in the staging of performances and productions which are part of the fabric of private school life.

The Art of Conversation

Boys at Winchester College have regular, timetabled “Div” lessons in subjects of general academic and cultural interest, not so that they can gain an additional qualification, but to ensure they become genuinely well-educated young men, confident to converse on a range of issues with anyone they meet.

Confidence and Networking

Couple this excellent, all-round education with the opportunity to form close friendships with children of the global elite and it is easy to see why parents consider their £30,000 + per year a great investment. The cultivation of academic excellence, combined with outstanding social skills and an abundance of self-confidence can’t be measured in a league table.  It is ultimately statistics showing the high representation of privately educated pupils in top jobs that demonstrates the real value of these exceptional schools.