Choosing a school can be an exciting yet overwhelming task. Finding the perfect school that your child will thrive in can be difficult with so many to choose from. There is the worry of location, size and Ofsted standards. Besides understanding the school’s culture and the extracurricular activities on offer, some parents will consider the idea of sending their child to an independent primary school. As a parent, I can confidently say that this was one of the hardest decisions I made.

Many parents struggle with this decision because of its impact on their child’s educational future, and the opportunities available later in life. 

What is an independent primary school?

Independent primary schools sometimes referred to as private or fee-paying schools, are free to set their own curriculum, school hours and term dates. Consequently, they enjoy greater flexibility in deciding how to educate their pupils.

There are various types of independent schools, including those that cater to children with special talents such as dance, or those who cater to special educational needs. Moreover, these schools may vary in single-sex or co-educational pupils. 

Are there different types of independent schools?

Independent schools follow a different structure than that of state schools, children are not educated in key stages, but through age:

Pre-preparatory(pre-prep): Ages 4 to 7

This stage is often categorized as the nursery stage with children as young as 3 years old attending. The goal is to prepare your child to move to a prep-school at age seven (Year 3 or year 4).

Attending a pre-prep school is not simple; your child will need to go through a 30 to 40-minute assessment. This will include testing their overall development, including social interaction, play and speech.

Preparatory (prep): Ages 8 to 11 

At this stage, the aim is to prepare pupils for entry to independent secondary schools. Unlike state schools, prep-schools do not have the SAT’s or Phonic Screening Tests; however, these schools prepare pupils for the Common Entrance Exam. 

This is set by the Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB) and includes core subjects and strong academic focus on English, maths, science and modern languages.

Please note: Areas where there are state grammar schools, prep-schools may also prepare children to take the 11+ exam. 

Senior Schools: Ages 11 to 18 

Senior Schools offer three years of general studies, which is followed by two years for GCSE. This is concluded with two years of AS/A2 or the International Baccalaureate.

All- Through Schools: 

Ages 2 to 5 – 16 to 18 

Alternatively, many independent schools opt to combine the stages of a child’s education (primary and secondary) in one establishment. However, children are not together at all times. 

Schools purposely implement this structure to allow primary school children to access secondary school facilities, including sports centres, music rooms and art studios. Also, children can benefit from the mentorship of older pupils. 

Read more: Private School vs Grammar School: Which is best in 2021?

What is the difference between an independent primary school and a state primary school?

Every year, parents decide whether to send their child to an independent or state school. The first obvious implication is whether or not the parent has the financial ability to send their children to an independent school or not. This is followed by whether there is a real advantage to justify the cost paid each year?

Tuition fees: the annual cost of UK independent schools per child

On average independent schools cost £13,194 per year for day pupils and £30,369 for boarders.

When deciding between state schools and independent schools, the main concern that parents are faced with is the academic potential and performance. Parents strive to secure their children’s academic and career prospects. Research has shown that over 60% of current Oxbridge students are from private schools or grammar schools. Hence, apart from the hefty school fees, the greatest difference between state and independent schools is the facilities and opportunities, as independent schools are consistently the best performing each year.

The pros and cons of an independent primary school education 

If you’re thinking of sending your child to an independent primary school, check out the pros and cons below to support you in coming to a final decision. 

Advantages of sending your child to an independent primary school 

Smaller Class sizes

This is one of the main reasons I considered sending my child to private schools; the class sizes are considerably smaller to state schools. This can be as little as 10 pupils per teacher versus over 25 pupils per one teacher in-state school.

Some children may need individual attention to succeed, and if this is the case, you may want to consider private school as an option. Also, younger children may need more focus and attention, and this allows them to receive this.

Outstanding facilities and technology 

Independent schools offer children facilities and the latest technology to enable them to thrive and create developing talent. This gives independent school pupils a competitive edge in the future job market and helps develop their skills.

Of course, state schools do include facilities and technology. However, this may not be as up to date as an independent school.

A greater element of parental choice

Parents start to worry about getting into a good primary school from the moment their child is born, as it can be a difficult and overwhelming task. There are long waiting lists, and parents cannot be guaranteed the school place you had hoped for. This is especially the case if the school is not in your catchment area. However, this isn’t always the case for independent schools.

Parents have a greater element of choice in which independent school they choose. This can mean that they have the choices of sending their children to:

Montessori Schools

Religious focus schools

All-boys schools

All-girls schools

Boarding schools

Opportunities in higher education 

This is one of the main reasons parents opt to send their children to independent schools as it gives them an increased chance of getting a top university place. According to research, almost all independent school graduates continue in higher education than their state school peers.

Moreover, the research highlights that more than half of independent school pupils are admitted to selective colleges and universities.

Disadvantages of sending your child to an independent primary school 

Expensive 

The biggest factor that put parents off the idea of sending their children to independent schools is the cost. It is not just simply paying the tuition; it is also the cost of uniforms and extracurricular activities. This can all add up, and not every family has that kind of extra money.

This means that the number of families willing to pay has decreased, and according to data, the UK shows that only 9% of the UK school population are independent school pupils. 

Academic pressure

Finding the right school is a challenging task, and sometimes we do get it wrong. Children do not always adhere to strict rules enforced at private schools. They may also feel pressured academically to be as good or better than their classmates.

This, unfortunately, can lead to mental anxieties and sense of overwhelming feelings.

Lack of diversity 

Independent schools’ pupil bodies consist of wealthy, upper-class families. This leaves parents concerned over a lack of diversity and culture. With that said, independent schools are increasingly introducing scholarships and bursaries to solve this problem. 

Bottom line

As a parent, you would need to outweigh both the negatives and positives. Independent schools do have a lot to offer, and it is the right school for some families. However, each child/family is different, and only you can make that decision.

Where can I learn more about UK independent schools?

The Independent Schools Council is a great place to start with, and it offers a Find a School feature to help you with your search. In addition to this, the Good School Guide has more information and advice on how best to choose an independent school for your child.

What are the top 30 UK independent schools?

If you’re looking for a detailed list of the UK’s best performing independent schools, along with routes of entry, location and academic statistics for each, click here.