If you would like more information on this topic or to speak with us directly, please contact us on +44 7878 985564. We are available on the phone, via WhatsApp, or register on our homepage for a free consultation call.
We have a number of recommendations which may help you in constructing your thoughts and how to interpret the level of provision and if it meets your needs.
Proportion of staff to students - top UK schools will have higher proportions of staff to students and this can be favourable in terms of ensuring that each student has the absolute maximum opportunity to highlight any issues they may currently be facing. Good questions to ask include; What is the average class size? What is the student:staff ratio?
Number of houseparents or housestaff - It is always useful to ask how many other students live in the boarding house and how the caring structure works for each house. Are the house parents teachers in school or does the school utilise graduate assistants? How many members of staff live in each house? Are there additional facilities or support staff that help provide for the students during the day? How many students is the houseparent responsible for?
Demonstrated commitment to well-being - Top UK schools and especially boarding schools are very attuned to the importance of well-being and providing environments that are conducive to success. Typical questions you could ask include; Does the school have a dedicated well-being centre? Or does the school have nurses on-site? Are there specialists or well-being counsellors that work within the school?
Curfew and weekends - It is useful to know what the school’s philosophy and position is with regards to what is commonly known as ‘town-leave’, which can occur at evenings or weekends. This is when students are permitted to go off-site and visit the local town. For older students, who are close to safe cities, this provides a wonderful opportunity for a change of scenery and to enjoy some cultural experiences, or even to go shopping. Your own beliefs and philosophy will determine if it is aligned to your expectations and schools can be at opposite ends of the scale with regards to town-leave. Good questions to ask are; What is the town leave policy? Is there a curfew? Which town do the students generally visit?
These are all great questions to ask and there are many more that you should consider asking. This is where an experienced and expert counsellor can provide insight. In addition, they will be able to make sense of how the answers above fit within that school’s culture and how that may translate to your child’s experience.
If you are considering UK education but unsure where to begin, allow us to share our knowledge and experience we have with helping over 400 other families choose the best school for them. We can talk you through a suggested list of independent schools in the UK that match your requirements and we are confident you will be pleased with the results.
Finding the right private schools in the UK is a very important task and one that will shape your child’s future. We do not underestimate the importance of this decision and are confident that we can find the perfect UK boarding school for you and your child, based on your exact needs.
If you would like more information on this topic or to speak with us directly, please contact us on +44 7878 985564. We are available on the phone, via WhatsApp, or register on our homepage for a free consultation call.
This will enable us to schedule an appointment, where we look forward to speaking in more depth about your specific situation, and helping in any way we can. We look forward to helping you on this journey.
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