insideKENT Magazine Issue 71 - February 2018 | Page 132

EDUCATION
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
THE NEW BEACON
WHAT ATTRACTS PARENTS TO INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS? PRIMARILY, SMALL CLASS SIZES
(ABOUT 15 AT THE NEW BEACON, WITH AN OVERALL STAFF PUPIL RATIO OF 1:10) BRINGING
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF EACH INDIVIDUAL CHILD. THE CARE AND
NURTURING OF EACH CHILD WILL IN TIME BRING GROWING CONFIDENCE. EQUALLY
IMPORTANT IS A BROAD, ROUNDED EDUCATION, A ONE-STOP-SHOP, WHERE ALL PARTS
OF THE BRAIN AND CHARACTER ARE STIMULATED, FROM THE CLASSROOM TO THE ARTS,
PERFORMANCE AND SPORT.
There is nothing secretive or
exclusive about such a school –
surely it is what we all wish for
our children? Yet some parents
think it is not for them hence one
of the benefits of an ‘Open Day’:
the opportunity to look round a
school almost incognito, mixing
with and hiding behind other
curious visitors.
For many schools an Open Day
is the opportunity to ‘showcase’
their particular strengths and
pupils’ talents. Enjoy and be
impressed by the all singing and
dancing show, but look closely at
the day-to-day nitty gritty of the
school, take note of the displays
and, if possible, the pupils’ work
– particularly the age group of
your child.
It is the children themselves,
however, who show and tell the
heart of a school. Are they
confident (but not arrogant),
articulate, polite, proud of their
school; do you hear laughter? Ask
them what could the school do
better and see how they respond!
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Following an Open Day, if you
are impressed and think what you
see would suit your child, ask to
go back for an individual tour and
meeting with the Head. Try to
meet as many staff as you can.
Consider what you saw at the
Open Day, trawl the website and
prepare a list of questions. Bear
in mind personal development,
academic structure and the
breadth of co-curricular
opportunity. You are researching
one of the most important
decisions you may ever make: be
prepared. Some schools might be able
to demonstrate ‘Value
Added’. At The New Beacon
we are non-selective at
Reception (how can you
test a three-year-old?).
Roughly two thirds will
travel through to the end of
Year 8 with most gaining
entry to highly selective
senior schools. Many
independent senior schools will be able to show you standardised data
which measures potential on entry which can then be compared with
achievements at A Level, IB or university entry. You are looking for a
school in which your child will be happy, supported and challenged;
a school which will thus draw the best from him or her.
Ask about pastoral care. Who will
have oversight of your child’s
welfare, progress and
development? What is done to
protect children from, for
example, the dangers of social
media? What is the school’s
approach to protecting mental
health and helping children to
manage work and exam
pressure? Don’t let anyone tell
you there is no bullying in a
school; it is simply not true. Ask
how bullying is spotted and what
is then done to help both bully
and victim. Finally, and above all, ‘feel’ the school – perhaps the most important
things in life cannot be measured! If the school ‘feels’ right to you it is
likely the fit will be good for your child.
Mike Piercy
Headmaster
OPEN DAYS
Friday 9th Feb 09:30-11.30am and Friday 25th May 2-3.30pm
Book online at www.newbeacon.org.uk/openday