How do I choose the right school for my child?

I understand the difficulties for parents in finding a place - and the subsequent pressures on children to perform - in what has become an exceedingly competitive school system; I look at each child individually to identify the best environment for them. The topic of school admissions is shrouded in secrecy, so I wanted to share my top five tips for choosing the best school for your child, not the school that all your friends are sending theirs to.

5 tips for choosing a school:

Visit the school and trust your instinct – you know your child better than anyone else; your gut feelings when visiting the school will usually be well-founded.
Inform yourself – there will be more than one ‘right’ school! Research and inform yourself about the options available.
The importance of expert advice must not be underestimated - talking to someone with experience in the independent school sector will give you the opportunity to find out information that you may not come across otherwise.
Headmaster/Headmistress – Do you like him or her? Does he or she know the names of every child in the school? What is their vision? Make sure that you’re singing from the same hymn sheet.
Does the school fit with your family life? - Does the school fit your family logistically (i.e. you don’t have to drive halfway across London every morning during rush hour)? Does it match your family values and even your family’s financial situation? Remember, when your child joins a new school your whole family are joining a new community. It’s to everyone’s benefit if it’s a community you enjoy being part of.