Introduction

It is scarcely surprising that John Catt Educational, publishers of Which School? produce a second, special publication entitled Which London School? Living in London is different. It has advantages and disadvantages and that also applies to going to school in London. One answer, of course, is not to do it, but to sign on with one of the many excellent Independent schools in the counties that border on London, which is why the guide has the sub-title “& the South East”. London is an elastic term when it comes to property and education, but it falls into four fairly clear categories - Central London, Inner London, Greater London and… the South East! So perhaps a better way of defining our purpose is to say that this is a London parents’ guide to schools – how to choose them, what to ask them, how to get your money’s worth and, above all, how to get the best for each child. It’s not cheap and a great many London schools are “selecting” schools not “recruiting” schools. In other words, “don’t ring us, we’ll, maybe, ring you.” This guide should certainly help you to draw up a short list.

What are the factors? Location and transport are crucial. It’s bad enough for parents to have a hellish commute to work, it’s disastrous for children. The school day is surprisingly stressful: even the best schools, perhaps especially the best schools, are demanding, competitive places with a great deal of peer pressure to go with the efforts of teachers to get the best out of all their pupils. So choose with the journey in mind. Then, from that list, decide on single sex or co-ed and, finally make as honest an assessment as you can of the “candidate’s” ability. A lot of London schools aim to recruit as many very able pupils as they can and they must make the judgement at a particular age through a particular process which may not be the best time or the best selection method for your child. Real care taken in the short-listing process may save parents and children much heartache later on. Read the prospectuses and study the web-sites critically, allowing for the inevitable marketing hype. Later on in the Guide there are some questions we think you should ask which may help to get behind the glossy presentation. Above all remember you will be paying for this, you will be the customer and so, once you have signed the contract and embarked on the educational partnership, you will have rights as well as obligations. It is very important, therefore, that all three sides to the partnership – the parents, the school and the child - are happy with what they are undertaking.

London schools reflect London life. Getting there and getting back can be a nightmare. There’s not always the kind of space you would like to see for your children. The other kids – and their parents – can be problematic. Society’s problems are in many ways more acute in schools than out of them. Crime, drugs and above all drink are going to be issues as your children grow up wherever they are at school, even if they are issues you and they and the school address successfully. But you can expect the school to encourage and endorse good and sensible behaviour. You are not on your own and you should not fall for the old trick of “But Mum, everyone else is allowed to do it!” Schools are quite happy to be old-fashioned and even unpopular when it comes to doing the right thing and it never does any harm to err on the over-communicative side. If you are in doubt, ask! Schools are also good at tackling the big social issues and you might be surprised at the sensible discussions and attitudes you would find children displaying in PSRE classes. Finally, schools are good at dealing with crises and at providing listening ears and wise voices for children in difficulty. All these things should apply in schools across the board, but they may be particularly reassuring to London parents because they may feel that everything is just that bit more intense in the capital.

In the end, if living in London, however you define London, is the right thing for you and your family, there is no reason why going to school in London shouldn’t be the right thing too. Some of the best schools in the world are London schools and the variety on offer is spectacular. One of the great benefits of that is the opportunity to create a bespoke education for your children. Although you might well find one school that is going to provide just the right environment for one of your children throughout their school career, you are not necessarily going to find that it works equally well for all your children. You might also find that a school works well at one stage but less well at another. Ultimately, the great justification of Independent Schools is that they offer choice. Don’t be afraid to exercise it!

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