Choosing wisely and planning for their future

Is an independent school the best move for your child?

There are as many reasons for choosing to send your child to an independent school as there are children.

Each child is unique.

Do you think your child is being stretched enough to realise their full potential or perhaps there are areas where they need extra help.

No matter how good their state school is there will always be an element of ‘onesize-fits-all’ in some aspects of school life. If, for some reason, your son or daughter is the one who is finding it hard to make that fit you cannot help but wonder if they would be better off in the independent sector.

Independent education is affordable. Good financial advice, prudence, plus parents and grandparents working together over savings and inheritance all make independent education achievable. One of the biggest mistakes people make about private education is that they cannot afford it and never even consider the idea.

At least £349 million has been given annually in fee assistance in the independent education sector in Scotland; with just under 27 per cent of all pupils receiving some form of assistance.

State school budgets are tighter now than they have ever been and this can make the extra-curricular activities and enhanced pastoral care of the independent sector look like money well spent in providing for you child’s future.

Class sizes can be a key point for children from remote or rural areas like the West Highlands and islands who have attended state primary schools with smaller classes, who may find themselves overwhelmed by the size of secondary schools.

Is your child thriving in their present school?

The 73 independent schools in Scotland, of which 19 are boarding schools, educate 4.1 per cent of pupils nationwide; 52 are main stream, 21 offer additional support.

Independent education is one of the most important decisions you will make for your family and to help inform that decision you can visit the website of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools: www.scis.org.uk.