How to Choose a Private School: A Parent’s Checklist

Knowing how to choose a private school is an important decision for any family. With different teaching approaches, academic results, facilities, extracurricular activities and fee structures, finding the right school involves much more than looking at league tables or choosing the highest-ranked option.

Parents searching for private schools near them should consider how well each school matches their child’s individual needs, interests and learning style. A school with excellent examination results may not necessarily be the best environment for every child, while a smaller school with a more personalised approach could offer a better overall experience.

The best way to make an informed decision is to compare schools using a consistent set of criteria. This guide explains how to choose a private school, what to look for during school visits and which questions to ask before making an application.

How to Choose a Private School: 10 Things to Consider

Before applying, compare schools across several important areas. Looking at academic performance alongside pastoral care, facilities, teaching and affordability will give you a more complete picture of what each school offers.

1. Consider Your Child’s Individual Needs

The first step when choosing a private school is understanding what your child needs from their education.

Some children thrive in academically competitive environments, while others benefit from smaller classes, additional learning support or a broader range of extracurricular opportunities.

Consider your child’s:

• Academic strengths and areas for improvement.
• Preferred learning style.
• Interests outside the classroom.
• Confidence and social development.
• Need for additional learning support.
• Long-term educational goals.

For example, a child who enjoys mathematics and science may benefit from a school with strong specialist teaching and STEM facilities. A child with a passion for music, drama or sport may prefer a school offering extensive opportunities in those areas.

Rather than choosing a school based solely on its reputation, consider whether its environment will help your child develop academically and personally.

2. Compare Academic Results and School Performance

Academic performance is an important factor when comparing private schools, particularly if your child is approaching GCSE or A-level examinations.

Look beyond headline rankings and investigate how pupils perform across different subjects.

Useful indicators include:

• GCSE results and the proportion of grades awarded at 7–9.
• A-level results and the proportion of A* and A grades.
• Progress and attainment across different year groups.
• University destinations and higher education progression.
• Subject-specific performance.

It is also worth considering how consistently a school performs. A school with strong results across a broad range of subjects may offer a more balanced academic experience than one whose reputation relies heavily on a small number of high-performing departments.

Ask how the school supports pupils of different abilities and helps them make progress.

You can explore our guide to the best private schools in the UK to compare well-known schools and their academic performance.

3. Check Class Sizes and Teaching Quality

Class size can influence the amount of individual attention pupils receive.

Many parents choose private education because they want their child to benefit from smaller teaching groups and more opportunities to interact with teachers.

However, class sizes vary between schools and year groups, so it is important to check the actual figures rather than assume every private school offers the same experience.

During your research, consider:

• Average class sizes in primary and secondary years.
• Teacher-to-pupil ratios.
• Access to subject specialists.
• Additional academic support.
• How teachers monitor individual progress.
• Opportunities for one-to-one feedback.

Ask how teachers identify pupils who are struggling and what happens when a child needs additional support.

A good school should be able to explain how it adapts teaching to different abilities and helps pupils reach their potential.

4. Review Pastoral Care and Student Wellbeing

Academic achievement is only one part of a successful education. Children also need a supportive environment where they feel safe, confident and able to develop positive relationships.

Pastoral care should be a central consideration when deciding how to choose a private school.

Find out how each school approaches:

• Bullying prevention and reporting.
• Mental health and emotional wellbeing.
• Form tutors and pastoral support.
• Relationships between pupils and staff.
• Transition support for new pupils.
• Safeguarding procedures.

Ask whether pupils have a dedicated tutor or pastoral contact and how parents are informed if their child is experiencing difficulties.

During a school visit, observe how pupils interact with one another and whether staff appear approachable. A welcoming atmosphere can tell you a great deal about the school’s culture.

5. Compare Facilities and Extracurricular Activities

Private schools often provide a wide range of facilities and extracurricular opportunities, but the quality and availability of these differ.

Consider which facilities are genuinely important for your child.

Academic facilities:

• Science laboratories.
• Libraries and study areas.
• Computer rooms and technology resources.
• Art and design studios.
• Specialist classrooms.

Sporting facilities:

• Sports halls and gymnasiums.
• Playing fields.
• Swimming pools.
• Tennis and athletics facilities.
• Fitness and training areas.

Creative and extracurricular opportunities:

• Music lessons and orchestras.
• Drama productions.
• Art clubs.
• Debating and public speaking.
• Coding and technology clubs.
• School trips and educational visits.

A school does not need the largest campus or the most impressive facilities to be a good choice. What matters is whether pupils have meaningful opportunities to use them.

Ask how many activities are available, whether they are included in the fees and whether all pupils can participate.

6. Understand Private School Fees and Additional Costs

Affordability is one of the most important considerations when choosing a private school.

Published tuition fees are only part of the overall cost. Parents should also investigate additional expenses that may apply throughout the academic year.

These can include:

• Registration and application fees.
• Acceptance deposits.
• Uniform and sports equipment.
• School lunches.
• Transport.
• Educational trips.
• Music lessons and extracurricular activities.
• Examination and administration charges.
• Boarding fees, where applicable.

Ask the school for a full breakdown of expected costs rather than relying solely on the advertised tuition fee.

You should also consider whether fees are likely to increase during your child’s time at the school. The cost of private education can change between academic years, so it is important to assess whether the commitment is sustainable over several years.

7. Check Admissions Requirements and Entrance Exams

Different private schools have different admissions processes. Some accept pupils based on previous school reports and interviews, while others require formal entrance examinations.

The most common entry points include:

Not every school uses all these entry points, and assessment formats can vary considerably.

Some schools may also request:

• Previous school reports.
• References from the current school.
• Interviews with the child and parents.
• Written assessments.
• Scholarship or bursary applications.

Check application deadlines well in advance. Competitive schools may require registration many months before the intended entry date.

For families considering grammar schools as an alternative, it is also worth understanding the differences between selective state education and private education. Our guide to grammar school vs private school explains the main differences.

8. Visit the School and Attend an Open Day

One of the best ways to decide whether a private school is suitable is to visit it in person.

School websites and prospectuses can provide useful information, but they cannot fully communicate the atmosphere, teaching environment or day-to-day experience.

During an open day, look at:

• The condition and organisation of classrooms.
• How pupils interact with teachers.
• The behaviour and confidence of current pupils.
• The quality of learning facilities.
• The range of extracurricular activities.
• The general atmosphere around the school.

Try to speak to teachers, admissions staff and, where possible, current pupils.

Ask whether the school offers individual visits or opportunities for your child to spend time in lessons. This can help you understand whether they would feel comfortable attending.

9. Consider Location and Daily Travel

Location is particularly important when searching for private schools near me.

A school may look ideal on paper, but a long or difficult daily journey can affect your child’s routine, sleep and time available for homework or extracurricular activities.

Consider:

• Distance from home.
• Journey time during school hours.
• Public transport connections.
• School bus services.
• Drop-off and collection arrangements.
• Traffic and parking.
• Boarding options, if relevant.

Do not rely only on the distance shown on a map. Test the journey during a typical school morning if possible.

For families comparing several local options, creating a shortlist based on realistic travel times can make the decision much easier.

10. Investigate School Culture and Parent Communication

Every school has its own values, expectations and approach to education.

Some prioritise academic competition and traditional structures, while others place greater emphasis on independent learning, creativity or wider personal development.

Think about the environment in which your child is most likely to thrive.

It is also important to understand how the school communicates with parents.

Ask about:

• Parent-teacher meetings.
• Progress reports.
• Homework communication.
• Online parent portals.
• Contact with form tutors.
• How concerns and complaints are handled.

A strong relationship between parents and teachers can help identify problems early and ensure children receive appropriate support.