Choosing a School or College

First and foremost, you will want to be sure that wherever you decide to educate your son or daughter, your child will be happy at the school you have selected. To judge the ‘feel' of a school, you should – ideally – visit it in person; indeed many schools insist on a personal visit by the parents as well as the child before they will offer a place.

Academic results achieved in examinations are important, of course, but they do not tell you everything about a school. Do not rely too much on performance indicators ("league tables") since they often convey little more than how selective individual schools may be in their intake. Education should be concerned not only with intellectual rigour but also with breadth of opportunity and experience, and a child may not benefit fully from an education provided in an environment which is unsuitable – either because it is too demanding or narrow or where he or she shares little in common with the majority of students.

Many of the most popular UK independent schools close their admissions registers very early – in a number of cases several years ahead of enrolment – and others hold their preliminary interviews two or three years prior to entry. Some nevertheless reserve an allocation of places for international students who may have passed the normal age deadline.

It is a good idea to visit one or more schools before you make final decisions on choices for applications. Such visits usually need to be booked with the school well in advance, and some schools restrict visiting to Saturdays or to other specific days in term-time.

APEX can advise you on schools suitable for your child's needs, will make appointments for school visits on your behalf, and will help you to make an appropriate short-list.