Independent Schools - The Choice Is Yours

There are many choices to be made when you formerly find out that you are expecting a baby. Should you have your baby at home or in the hospital? Which sort of carseat should you buy? Should you breast feed or bottle feed? The choices that are eventually made are the ones that work for you and your family.

A very major choice as your infant gets older is which school to send them to. Each child is special and their needs and wants must also factor in any selection that you make. Each school, whether it is independent or state controlled, have differing strengths and focuses. It is essential that you select one that suits you and your child.

Usually, there are no more than 20 children in an independent school classroom. A child cannot just "hide at the back" of a smaller class so they get more private attention. Each child gets a improved understanding as any misconceptions can be quickly picked up in lessons. This means that the pace of the lessons and the learning can be quicker than in a class of 36. There are very few bahaviour concerns as often, due to parental influence and background, children at Independent schools want to learn. Discipline at Independent schools is not ordinarily a problem as parents and children have to adhere to codes of conduct otherwise there will be consequences.

Teachers are deliberately selected based on their skills and are very accountable to senior staff if they do not perform. Specialist teachers may be brought in for sports or music.

Learning is accelerated due to low teacher ratios. Independent schools set their own curriculum and are not tied to Government pressure over test results. This means that Independent schools are not teaching to test. They can teach what they feel will best benefit the children. They are only accountable to you and not to the Government.

There is more money available to fund activities of their own choosing. Some schools specialise in the arts, music or sport. Some Independent schools are very religion based, some are not so. A school can be chosen based on you and your child. You shoul be swayed into choosing a particular school because of your childs individual personality.

Independent school may not be as pricey as you think. Some offer aids or scholarships or at the very least allow you to pay in smaller monthly instalments.

The school that you select should suit your child's needs, wants and personality. Go to see a few schools in your search for the right one. If possible talk to other parents about their views of the school and read as much as you can.

A lasting advantage of a private school is the sense of community that develops. Shared values bring students and parents together in a community that last beyond their school years.