As a parent how do you 'assess' private schools?

[handlemecarefully]

I don't want my dd to go to our catchment state primary school (a tiny 'village' school with just 37 pupils total, and 2 classes of mixed ages), so I am looking for a prep school, and have already visited a couple.

I have an idea of how to 'rate' state schools (i.e. I have found Ofsted site and looked at the comparators on key stage results etc), but how do you get comparable information on the academic achievements of pupils at private schools?

ISIS PROB prob have a website then you can look them up, but am not entiely sure atm whether school put info there or it gets reviewed.

the school websites should have results.

If the school has a preprep with early years provision they will be reviewed by ofsted like any other nursery. you can read the report on the ofsted website and although it will only cover the nursery/reception bit, it will give you and idea of the rest of the preprep.
ISIS do reports along identical lines to ofsted (in terms of what they cover, how it is formatted etc) which are available for review on their website.
Each school is different in what "results" they post on their website - they don't have to do the various key stage tests that the state schools do but many of them do anyway and will show you the results. otherwise I guess you are looking for results at CE, numbers of scholarships won to senior schools that you rate etc.
But obv the most important things are looking at the school, comparing it to others and also listening to local reputation which can be v important. I'd also say never go to a school which is privately owned by an individual who is also the head, and I'm not too keen on schools privately owned by an individual full stop (whether they are the head or not). Also look for good credible and independent board of govs and some sort of pta, some way of getting parents' voices heard.

Good luck!

I'm not sure you can look at academic achievement of primary age children. Achieving the standards set by the government means what exactly? You will have an idea of what education you would like for your children and this is what you should focus on. A child may have strengths in many areas and if you are in the position to choose a school where these strengths will be nurtured that should be a good starting point. Visit state schools (possibly under the pretext of moving) and private schools and make comparisons. I don't think it's fair to rate either form of education just by comparing key stage results - how accurate a reflection can they be given the range of abilities in any year group? I'm not for or against either but would love to choose the best environment for my child.

Agree with PPH. Also an increasing number of private schools do SATs so have a look at the results (you'll have to ask though). You need to ask the schools questions about whether they are truly mixed ability or selective early on IMO. For example a local girls' school doesn't assess at age 3 or anything but gives those girls who don't get level 3s at KS1 an additional year to try and bring them on and if they're still average/below average parents are asked to withdraw them as the school does not see itself as "able to meet their needs".

DD's school does very well in 11+ etc. and although it will say to parents in y4/5 if they think the child may struggle to get into an academically selective school nobody is asked to leave and they help find a more appropriate school for that family.

Also have a look at the extra-curricular stuff offered.

Do think that you need to go and look round the schools though. Somewhere can sound great in a prospectus/ word of mouth but be completely wrong for you and your child.

Most important to visit, I think, and make sure that how ever good it is it will suit your children. Most private schools do SATs and GCSEs/A levels so ask for the results. They are also inspected by the independent schools inspectorate, ask for a copy of thei last report.

Agree with what Marialuisa and PPH have said, never think of a school with a "proprietor", whether or not they are currently head. Look for evidence of institutional or head membership of one of the independent sector regulatory bodies (IAPS for example), it ought to be on their noticeboards and literature. If they are members of any of these bodies, then the ISI will have done an inspection recently, which is on a par with Ofsted in its thoroughness (ds' school was ISIed last term and they were in for a week and very rigorous).
My personal view of independent education as we chose it was a route OUT of SATS and the national literacy and numeracy strategies. Yes, we looked at 11+ performance and onward destinations, but also to see how the school served its "less academic" pupils. We were also keenly interested in its policies on SEN and of course bullying.
I like the "value-added" approach to education whatever the sector, I think looking at things from this and the pastoral viewpoint will give you a clearer picture. For this reason we preferred a school that did not select on academic ability and placed strong emphasis on mutual support and peer mentoring.
Just looking at their ads will give you whopping clues as to whether the school emphasises academic achievement above all else...

pph and Marina, interested in your comments on schools owned by individuals. Ds1 is down for pre-prep at such a school. On the face of it good reputation, excellent facilities (superior to those at other similar schools locally), and is a feeder into a range of good schools. What aspects in particular should I be looking out for? There is a separate headmaster, but the school has been running since before WWII (and has been owned by the current couple for 30 years or so).

Its just that the owners can do more or less what they like without a board of directors/governors.I would be far keener at primary age to make sure my child was in a "happy" school which provided a decent education and good pastoral care than an academic hothouse.

what's wrong with your local primary - it sounds nice?

Thanks for all the advice, I'm a 'virgin' at these matters and need steering in the right direction.

Enid - I don't think it would be good for dd to be in a cosy tiny infants / junior school of 37 and then at 11 suddenly make the transition to a whopping great secondary school. Plus I baulk at the idea of just 2 classes to encompass all children from 4-11. Also our catchment secondary school is Downton (about 8 miles away) and frankly its shite...GCSE results below national average etc, and dd would probably be eaten alive there. If she has the academic ability I would like her to go to Salisbury grammar school which has an incredible reputation - and she has more chance of making it there (assuming she has the ability) if she has attended a prep school IMO. Not to say that there aren't some excellent state infants and juniors - just none that my daughter would get into due to accident of geography.

HMC, you obviously know your local school and whether it is right or not for your children, but I just wanted to make a couple of general points about small schools for anyone else reading this. My dd is at a school of 29 pupils, with two classes. It is an excellent school, fantastic teaching (great staff/pupil ratio!!) and very involved parents. The children have no problems at all integrating at senior school and in fact are noted for being better skilled and more confident, mature and responsible than pupils from the alternative school. Looking further ahead, they also achieve better results by the end of their school careers. In this area, small schools are 'clustered' with other small schools and they work together to provide other opportunities for the children, as well. More info here for anyone interested in knowing more - NASS

My two go to a really good private school, I looked at a fair few before deciding, it's a well known school, the best in the area, but more importantly, it felt right, my boys seem very happy there and are doing well acedemically.

It is a small school with two classes each year of up to 22 pupils.

Yes, small can be best for primary age - my dd's school is approx 50 pupils from Reception to Year 6 (one class per year) but puts on amazing plays etc (and the best thing is every child gets to join in everything - it is totally inclusive).

My son goes to aprivate prep where the head is also the owner.She is also an inspector for private schools.Very enthusiastic person.
Works the kids hard but tey have fun too.
It depends what you are looking for ie purely academic/pass 11+ or well roundedetc.