Which is better: Selective or Non-Selective Private school

[florencesmith]

Hi Guys,

I am new at this, looking around for good private school for my DD (incase she doesn't get through 1 x public school of our choice).

• What is the difference between Selective or Non-Selective Private school ?
• Which one is better?

My daughter will be 4 next year and I want her to attend pre-prep / preparatory school, I have looked around and found Halstead (Woking) and ACS Egham International School (Egham), nice.

Dont know which one is better though and whether ACS Egham International School is selective or non-selective?

Any idea?

Thanks

A non-selective school takes children of all abilities - some won't take children with SEN though. Basically ability to pay is the main criteria.

Selective schools are usually selecting on academic ability/potential (they often have means-tested bursary schemes for bright children whose parents couldn't afford all or some of the school fees).

Depending on the school and area this can be fiercely competitive. I have a friend who sat her 2.5 year old for a place at a very competitive selective school - there were 15 places and well over 200 applicants. The school help an assessment day where they basically watched the children play and picked them out that way. Her daughter won a place - she is exceptionally bright and ahead for her age so I wasn't totally suprised.

Generally selection is for entry at 7+ or 11+. A good prep school is basically geared to getting children through the entry exams and need not be selective.

It is worth always considering if you have a child who will a) have the ability to achieve the exam requirements, b) be able to cope with the work-load and pace of learning if they were accepted.

I went to a very hot-housing but non-selective prep and a lot of children struggled with the workload, so worth considering the strengths you are after in a school and how it will suit your child as an individula.

In general the selective schools in London are particularly heinous to get into, those in other areas less so.

Hope that helps.