Private schools - a quick summary

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Just wondering if anyone could help. We're currently considering private education for our children.

We're unsure whether to start from primary or secondary because of the obvious expense. But I was wondering if a anyone could give me a quick synopsis of how far in advance and the key stages when we would we would need to start seeing schools / putting names down etc for both primary entrance and secondary?

Thanks!

It all depends on the area you live in, the options you have and your children. For example we live in a grammar area so options at secondary mean some will invest more at prep in hope to get grammar but like the idea of an all through school to take the pressure off if their DC don’t make the grade or they want to stay in private sector.

Some areas have some fantastic state options, some don’t. That will make some want to focus more on or private than others. Some have DCs who need the boost from selective at primary or at secondary, special needs teaching in small groups etc and again means private is preferable. I was sucked into the idea of private and it had its advantages (specialist language and science teachers at primary level) but lots of angles that led us to a w eventually pull our DD out of the Indie to home-ed for a short while at end of Y6.

We don’t know your children or your circumstances, or the schools you are choosing between, so really it is your decision.

ThAnks so much for your reply Petra, that's useful information. I suppose I specifically meant what are the key ages we would need to start thinking looking at schools, then putting names down etc. So obviously with state, we would be having to choose the schools by the January preceding their 5th birthday.

How does that work in the private system for both primary and secondary?

It varies from school to school there are no fixed dates in the independent sector you need to read their individual admissions policies.
Some preps have nurseries and reception classes and some finish at the end of Yr 2, others start in yr 2 some in yr 3, some preps finish at the end of yr 6 others yr 8. Some prep mainly prepare their pupils for the 11+ entrance exams both state and independent schools others for pre testing in yr 6 the13+ entrance exams. It’s the same with senior schools some start in yr 7 others year 9. Secondly some are very oversubscribed and some struggle to put bums on seats this will also affect the “key stages”, some require early registration possibly to reduce the number of applicants others don’t. Where you live will also impact on “key stages” and what sort of independent school you considering and even if you have boys or girls for example traditionally boys senior boarding schools start In Yr 9, in contrast girls senior boarding schools often have entry at yr 7 and 9.
This all means there are no fixed key stages like you would find in the state sector.

Really helpful! Thank you so much. I guess I just need to draw a king list and do the research for those schools.

MAny thanks again!

Most private schools hold their entrance exams in January so Jan of year 6 for a year 7 entry or Jan of year 8 for a year 9 entry with names down beforehand.

It depends on the schools you have in mind. Go on the website to look at the admissions criteria. If they admit pupils on an interview/exam basis then it doesn't really matter. A couple of years before your intended start date should be fine. If the admit on a wait list basis then you need to enrol asap to get as high up on the list as possible.

"Jan of year 8 for a year 9"
Many traditional boarding schools which admit in yr 9 use CE or an equivilant which is sat at the beginning of June.
There are no hard and fast dates on either registration or entrance exams etc.
I personally prefer the term "independent schools" rather than private school it sums up exactly what they are and that within reason they can act independently in any matter if they so wish.

private primary here in NW London - girls schools you just put names down the Autumn before a Jan assessment for a Sept start. some of the boys schools want names down before the child is one year old, so you really do need to ring the schools.

At our local private primary you put your name down at birth. Both DSs were registered- DS1 at 10 days and DS2 at the point we knew he would most likely survive (he was very very premature) and that was around 7 weeks.
Almost all secondary schools have entrance examinations and registration prior to that.
Primary schools will have predefined entrance points, sometimes selective ones at 4+ and 7+.

It is often helpful to think of secondary choices first and work backwards from that. Our school choice was based on: affordability, distance to home, the feel of the school, discipline within the school, how academic it was (not all private schools are indeed academic), and leavers' destinations. We also asked around locally to see what the intake of the school was like. As professional working parents we didn't want our sons to stand out like a sore thumb.

It's really how long is a piece of string OP. Depends totally on what sort of school you're after. Some will have parents phoning the school as soon as they have the birth certificate if looking for a Reception place, others you may be able to manage a couple of terms before, or even less in an emergency if they have no waiting list.

A couple of questions that might narrow it down a bit, are you in London and for Senior school are you considering your most local Indy schools or also any 'big name' schools either at 11+ or 13+?