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With September looming, we’re starting to get that back to school feeling. So to mark the new term, we’re going right back to the very basics to bring you the top things to bear in mind when choosing a private school. We’ve taken a look at the first things to consider if you’re brand new to the independent school system or have recently relocated to the UK from abroad – and if you don’t know where to begin, we’ve rounded up how to kick off your search from the very start. If we can help further or provide bespoke advice, do get in touch via our – we are here to talk! 

• First things first: think about what type of private school you are looking for. Single sex or co-ed? Day or boarding? An all-through school – where your child can stay from Reception all the way to 18 – or a standalone prep or senior? If you’d prefer single sex, do pupils have much interaction with local girls’/boys’ schools? If it’s all-through, is the transfer from the prep to the senior school automatic or do pupils have to reach a certain academic threshold? If you’re thinking about boarding, is it full, weekly or flexi?  

• Think about the location and setting. Are you looking for a history-packed mansion in the deepest countryside or would you prefer your children to spend their school days in an urban setting? How much outside space is there? Is there a fabulous woodland for tree-climbing – or at least a garden or café where older pupils can hang out with their friends? When choosing a private school, bear accessibility in mind too. As a parent, you will be spending a lot of time travelling to and fro. Are there reliable public transport links nearby? If you’ll be doing the school run, how long will it take?  

• What are the facilities like? If you’ve got a particularly creative child, is the art block the shiny new centrepiece of the school or tucked away in a dark corner? Are you looking for a place with a recording studio and velodrome, or are you happy with a spread of well-loved classrooms and a clutch of scruffy sports pitches? Find out how often (if ever) pupils travel off site – do they have to pile into minibuses to reach the local swimming pool, or is everything they could possibly need on campus? 

• What is the admissions process like? Find out how selective the school is: do prospective pupils attend a gentle taster day, or do they need to jump through a series of tricky pre-tests, interviews and exams? How early do you need to apply? Very few (read: virtually no) schools still insist on names down at birth – but, of course, the earlier you approach a school, the more chance there is of them having a place for your child. 

• When choosing a private school, consider its academic results. It’s important to think about the long-term pathway too, so consider subject options: does the school offer A-levels or IB, or a combination of both? What about vocational courses including BTECs? Are pupils able to study purely creative courses, or do sixth-formers have to choose from set blocks of subjects? 

• Does your child have Special ÍÑ¿ã°Éal Needs, or are they in need of extra support above and beyond what might be offered in a standard classroom setting? Some private schools are particularly well known for the strength of their SEN department; find out if they can help pupils with more severe learning difficulties, or whether they are better equipped to accommodate those with, for example, mild dyslexia, dyspraxia or dyscalculia. 

• What is the co-curricular provision like? Is the school particularly renowned for sport/music/drama/art? Can particularly talented pupils apply for a scholarship? On the sports front, is there a place for both an aspiring Olympian and an enthusiastic member of the F team? When choosing a private school, check out what is offered above and beyond what you might expect: country boarding schools (both prep and senior) often offer riding, fishing, shooting, polo, rowing, sailing and more.  

• Do your research on leavers’ destinations. For prep schools: which senior schools do pupils tend to go on to? Give some thought to your child’s overall path: if you’re considering day-school options at senior-school level, you probably won’t want to send them to a full-boarding prep, and vice versa. For senior schools: how many pupils go on to university – and which ones? Do many opt for vocational courses, or head to art, drama or music school? 

• If you are considering choosing a private school that offers boarding, make sure you fully understand the different options. Is it full, weekly, flexi or a combination of all three? Find out what happens at weekends: at some schools, a full programme of activities is laid on; at others, there’s a mass exodus to London. How often do children come home for exeats? Consider Saturday commitments too – and make sure you know what you’re signing up for. Some schools offer enrichment activities; others still have a full day of lessons and matches every Saturday (with parental attendance expected!).  

• Look into the school’s pastoral care provision. Every school shouts about pupil wellbeing, but what evidence is there of it in action? Do pupils join a house system, or get assigned a tutor/mentor/pupil buddy to keep an eye out for them? Find out what else there is: weekly lectures and workshops? Parental talks and access to a school counsellor?  

• Fees only get more expensive, so when choosing a private school, think about whether you can afford it in the long term. Find out what sort of fee assistance is available. If you’re taking steps into this world for the first time and find the fees overwhelming, it doesn’t necessarily mean that a place is unobtainable – many schools offer bursaries ranging from anything from five to 110 percent. Don’t be afraid to ask too many questions: does my child have to be particularly gifted to qualify for a bursary? How intrusive will the experience of means-testing be? (For more information, see our financial-aid page .) 

• Swot up on the school community. What are the other parents like? Is this a world you’ll feel comfortable in? Private schools will always be home to some super-wealthy families – but most are hugely welcoming to all, and possibly more diverse than you think. When you visit a school, scope out the pupils: are they enthusiastic, interesting and interested – and good ambassadors for the school?  

• And finally… use Talk ÍÑ¿ã°É! We are here to guide you through the decision-making process and give you the confidence to choose the right private school, armed with the most up-to-date insider knowledge. Each school’s page on the Talk ÍÑ¿ã°É website provides parents with all the information and data they could possibly need to help them choose a private school: our detailed editorial review, videos, images, academic results, contact details, term dates, open days, fees and much more. We are all parents ourselves – we know how hard this is, and we can make it easier for you.