Education | ED06 | Summer 2019

Vinehall School
Joff Powis, Headmaster
What do parents need to consider
when choosing a prep school? Fees,
location, class size, academic reputation
and wrap around care – all are vital.
However, I believe that parents find the
best fit prep school for their child only
once they have visited and experienced
the atmosphere first hand.
They must look beyond the results
and facilities of a school to focus
on what really matters, which is the
happiness of the children, the calibre
of the staff and the strong relationships
between the teachers and parents.
Should they ask about which
secondary schools the prep school
feeds up to? For many parents, entry
into the secondary school of choice is
paramount to their decision to enter the
independent sector in the first place.
I would encourage parents to keep
an open mind in order to allow a
child to grow and develop before a
secondary school choice is finalised. The
‘destination of leavers’ will be proudly
stated on any prep school’s website
and the greater the variety of these
destinations on offer will reflect a prep
school’s strength in developing the
individual child.
Should parents be looking for a school
that plays to their child’s strengths
(academic, sport, arts) at this stage?
How can a parent possibly know
their child’s strengths yet? The
purpose of a prep school is to lay
as many opportunities at a child’s
feet as time will possibly allow.
As their confidence grows, their
interests will spread and new strengths
“The purpose of prep
school is to lay as many
opportunities at a child’s
feet as time will allow”
and passions will be discovered. In a
small, family school, the needs and
talents of each individual child can be
recognised, valued and developed in time
for the next phase at secondary school,
where children will finally specialise.
Is staying with a peer group a child
is comfortable with important at this
stage? To feel comfortable and confident
within your peer group is absolutely
critical in a child’s overall development.
A child’s peers are every bit as important
as the greatest teacher in creating
a sense of belonging, empathy and
encouragement. A sense of place and a
sense of purpose is instilled in us all at a
very young age by our childhood peers.
Of course, the term comfortable
can have an ulterior meaning and
this is where a stimulating learning
environment and high expectations will
support each child to grow and reach
their potential.
Vinehall School, Robertsbridge, East
Sussex 01580 880413 vinehallschool.com
The New Beacon
Mike Piercy, Headmaster
What do parents need to consider
when choosing a prep school?
Research is key and a great deal
can be discovered through schools’
websites. Unsurprisingly, many
schools appear to have similar aims
and it can be difficult to differentiate
– the ‘news’ pages can be revealing:
what achievements does the school
celebrate? Education, however, is a
human business: talk to trusted friends
and family to discover personal stories.
Consider also single-sex or
co-education. Boys learn in a very
different way to girls and, particularly at
prep school age, they will often develop
better learning habits at an earlier stage
in an all boys’ environment – but you
would expect me to say that as Head of a
boys’ school! The proviso is that pastoral
care must pay equal attention to the
gentle and sensitive boy as to the lively
and ebullient.
Should they ask about which
secondary schools the prep school
feeds up to? Yes, absolutely! A good
indicator is a wide range of destination
schools which suggests a bespoke
approach, tailored to the individual
child. The range of schools should be in
keeping with your aspirations for your
child – but beware of aspirations which
may be too ambitious.
Should parents be looking for a
school that plays to their child’s
strengths at this stage? A prep school
is, by definition, ‘preparatory’. There
should be a wide range of opportunity
on offer from the academic to the
co-curriculum, to the arts, performing
arts and sport. If at an early stage your
child shows leanings and talents in a
particular direction then some prep
schools do have specialisms – but beware
of narrowing your child’s opportunities
at too early an age.
There is a temptation to live out our
own ambitions through our children, but
my advice would be to provide breadth
of opportunity at this early stage coupled
with a school’s willingness to support the
pursuit of excellence in any given field.
Is staying with a peer group a child
is comfortable with important at
this stage? Friends are important to
children – they provide comfort and
security – but they should not be
the determining factor in choosing or
changing schools. At The New Beacon
in Key Stage 1 we ‘shuffle’ classes
almost every year to enhance social
development and in response to varying
levels of maturity and development.
Children are more resilient and adaptable
than we, as parents, may think. There is, of
course, socialisation in the classroom but
it is by definition a place for learning and
playtime is primarily for friends.
The New Beacon School, Sevenoaks, Kent
01732 452131 newbeacon.org.uk
surrey-homes.co.uk
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