How good are private schools?

[Joyfullove8]

I'm looking into different schools at the moment but 'm wondering if there Is some way of finding out how private schools measure progress?? Obviously state schools have sats and while I know league tables based on three assessment areas does not count for everything, it does give me an idea of how well the school is doing compared to others. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Prep school is mainly done by leavers destinations. Do they get pupils into the school/ type of school you want your DC to go to.

They vary. Not all do Sats so that is not a universal benchmark. Inspection reports are available online from ISI but they are far from independent or accurate. Ofsted will inspect Early Years where funding is claimed.

DS’s school is inspected by Ofsted for early years and then by Schools Inspection Service for the rest of the school. So google that or see what links the school have on the website. Otherwise see where the children go on to, are they places with high entry requirements? At DS school majority go to local grammars or selective secondary’s. But really for me it was class size and the fact all children get some 1 to 1 teaching every day, and it’s such a small school I know he’s not going to get ‘lost’ or any issues go unnoticed. This is going to be the best thing to allow him to reach HIS potential, oddly enough I’m not a pushy parent and I’d be wary of him being coached to go to a grammar if I felt he’d struggle, much worse to be always feeling you’re lagging no matter how good the school is. It’s a non selective prep school so the results indicate the children are taught well. Also what clubs/visits/music are offered there, that’s a big bonus to private as well. Specialised teachers for subjects in lower school, so for example science and music are specially taught which doesn’t always happen before secondary.

It’s worth looking at the ISI report plus I would get a copy of the Good Schools Guide - if the school isn’t in there, I might be put off.

ISI reports are really not worth reading and more like a list of what the school does instead of any useful critique of it. Assessment data is not available and neither is progress made from starting point.

Generally it’s destination. Do children get into where they want to go? For some schools that won’t be ambitious. For other schools, the list will be impressive. Choose what meets your requirements.

Small schools are cosy at a young age but rarely stretch when older. My DDs prep had fantastic music, sport, dance, art, drama, clubs galore and was non selective but highly academic for girls who wanted the top schools. Small schools are cheaper quite often because you get far less. My DD never had 1:1 teaching in her prep. I never expected it. Class sizes were 16-20. That’s a good size and 50-60 per year group from Y3 so lots of friends.

Thankyou for your replys. All of them helpful. I've looked at the isi reports but tbh I find they seem to speak positively about all establishments! The schools that I like the feel of and ethos of are both non selective but one is a feeder school to Steven perse and perse school. I know it's a brilliant secondary establishment but it's too far distance for our son to continue onto . But most students follow on so it's hard to compare this school to another one I've ear marked that is only a prep school thst does have an impressive student destination list ! Ahhh it's such a tough choice! Class sizes is important and an interesting point about the size of year group's regarding friendships.
Do you know how the good school guide selects schools as 'one of their schools' ?

I’ve just had a look here and they’re a bit opaque - they said that their choice is “personal”. However, I would expect a private school which is confident that it is doing a good job to approach them and ask to be reviewed.

Are the schools you are looking at Dame Bradbury’s and Howe Green House by any chance?

Bear in mind that a lot of ISI Inspectors are Heads of other private schools and they all tend to network so personally I’m suspicious of the accuracy of such reports.

Do you currently have friends at the schools you are looking at?

Yes dame Bradburys and I haven't looked at Howe green . How did you figure? I know absolutely no one that has been to dame bs. I love their ethos but as we are new to the area it's hard to get any real feedback. Do you know anyone who has been to either?

Lol the feeder for Stephen Perse gave away DB as it’s part of the same group but The Perse is a completely different entity. I don’t know much about DB but have first hand experience of Howe Green.