Independent schools - what are the parental networking, PTAs like?

I think secondary is very different from juniors. Kids start to make their own social life and are less reliant on play dates, school events etc. So it’s hard to see why the PTA would be a factor in decision making. Chose the best school for your daughter.

We don't have a PTA group but there is a parent group that organise events plus parent form reps who have gone out of their way to organise activities in the holiday to help the girls all get to know one another. I guess every school is different, my daughter is a day girl at a school where 1/3 are borders so obviously their parents are less involved.
I think secondary school is a bit less full on than junior school, maybe you could find something else outside of school to get involved in and make new friends?

I’m PTA chair at my DS State Primary. I have been a parent volunteer and seem to spend half my life there !!
My DD used to be there too but is now in yr8 at a local Private School - she walks there herself and It’s unusual if I’m there more then once or twice a term. It’s very different at Secondary and I’m as involved as DD wants me to be ( which isn’t much)

Sorry. Didn’t mean to sound harsh.

I think you have to see where your DDs talents lie and support accordingly. We never missed a concert or drama. We went to every House supper, every lecture for parents, etc etc and were quite involved with the pta. Sometimes schools have class reps from the parent body and you could volunteer if it’s on offer. I’m not sure it helps with settling in but there are usually opportunities if you want them but don’t forget your DD will need to make friends. You cannot make that happen and it’s not usually parental friendships that dictate friendships in school. (Although I have seen it in a few cases where like minded people are joined at the hip on skiing holidays, the shoot etc).

Frankly I would not choose a school on the basis of the pta. I don’t know the schools you mention but have they put pta info on their web sites? What do the ptas actually do?

At my DDs school there was a lot of parental involvement and that was a boarding school. Working mums were less likely to be involved but we had lunches, speakers in, quiz night, drinks before Chapel, Christmas shopping fair, annual ball and we always went to theatre and music events where the pta did drinks. Thy did coffees at sports events. Some schools keep parents at arms length so I would see what the web sites say.

The education is what counts and socialising is a long last.