5 things to consider when choosing a school for your child

Choosing the school your child will be completing their studies in is a very stressful decision to make. The school days of a child’s life can either be the worst or the best depending on the school that they attend which is why this decision is one of the biggest to make for your young one. There are multiple options to look at from boarding schools to private schools to single sex and coeducational schools. With the choice being so vast, it can be difficult to know what to focus on when it comes to finding the right school for your child. There are plenty of obvious things to keep an eye out for such as exam results of schools, league tables and what kind of reputation the school holds. Here is some advice from the best independent schools in Surrey on what to consider when choosing a school for your child.

1. Is a private or state school the right choice for your child? For many parents, the decision between choosing to send a child to a private school versus a public one is usually down to the cost and affordability of it. If this isn’t the case for you, this may be one of the first decisions you make. Start by making sure that you understand what state schools are like. Things have changed drastically from what state schools used to be when you were a child. They are now among some of the very best in the United Kingdom and parents can now comfortably send their children to school without worrying about having to afford private education. However, if you are interested in schools that specialise in sports or music and would like your child to be surrounded by that type of education, then it may be worth looking into a private school for your child.
2. Should your child go to the same school as their friends and siblings? One thing is for sure when sending your child to the same school as their siblings, your life will be a lot easier. You will already be familiar with the teachers and the school run will be less of a hassle as there is only one school to get to in the morning. Your child may also struggle if they don’t get to move on to the same school as their peers. But remember this is not the only option. It is not always the right path for your child to follow their siblings and peers as each school provides to different needs of students.
3. Consider how they will get to school. One thing that parents consider is how their child will manage at school now and tend to forget about the rest of the years they will spend at the school. It is important to consider the long term as well. Will you be happy to drive your child to school every day 4 years down the line? The location of the school plays a huge role in how convenient a school is for both parent and child.
4. How broad is the curriculum? You want to send your child to a school that will offer as many subjects as possible to them. This will help them gain a wide range of skills and experience that will come in handy when it comes to applying to universities and jobs in the future.
5. What does the school prioritise? The ethos of the school plays a very big part and can reflect the attitude of the teachers. You probably already have a very good idea of what’s right for your child, so it is important to send your child to a school that will support what they need.