Interview with Melanie Sanderson, managing editor of The Good Schools Guide
Thanks for talking to us Melanie. It feels as though The Good Schools Guide and Kensington Mums come from the same place; we both want to provide parents with the best possible information to help them on their parenting journey. And everyone knows that The Good Schools Guide has been doing it for a long time! We’d love to hear a little bit about The Guide and your role within the organisation.
I’ve been with The Good Schools Guide for about 8 years. Before that I was a PR executive and in between these jobs, I found time to have two sons. I first started working for The Good Schools Guide as a reviewer. I already had a keen interest in education and writing, so it was a dream to be asked to visit schools and write-up my findings. The Good Schools Guide was founded in 1986 by two working mums who made their way around 250 schools for the very first edition. There is still a strong tradition of having working mums on our team, only these days we have 30 writers and currently review 1,300 schools. I’ve been managing editor for two years now and although the pandemic has definitely presented challenges, we’ve visited schools when we’ve been allowed to and have conducted many virtual visits and interviews to make sure that the Guide has stayed as up to date and relevant as possible.
What makes The Good Schools Guide different to the other guides out there?
We’re the only schools guide which doesn’t charge schools to be included. We select schools, junior and senior, state and independent, on merit alone and we visit each and every one we review. We also speak to staff, pupils and parents…sometimes in secret so as to get really honest insight. This approach has allowed us to be impartial and it is the reason parents have trusted us for 35 years.
How many schools have you visited and what do you think makes a good school?
I’ve visited too many to count. From ancient schools with gothic architecture to modern schools with plate glass walls and everything in between. Any school where a child can thrive is a good school. It’s not all about A level results or the success of the 1st XV, the best schools are places which give children opportunities to develop and experience new things in a safe and positive environment. No two children are the same and so it stands to reason that no single school could possibly be perfect for all children. Finding the one which is right for your child is the key.
So, what would you say to a parent who’s starting to think about choosing a school?
Look at your child and ask yourself what are they like and what do they like. Think about how you might expect them turn out in their late teens or early 20s and what their ambitions might be. Putting it simply, do you view school as a route to academic achievement, a good university degree and onto a successful career, or are you more interested in your child spending lots of time developing their talent on a stage or sports field? London has an incredible range of schools on offer and almost certainly something which will prove a good fit for your child.
And what are your top tips for the school search itself. How can parents find the right school for their child?
Nothing beats going to visit a school. It’s not been possible for much of the last 14 months and although the virtual open days have been good, they are a poor substitute for visiting a school in the flesh. Talk to those in the know. Communities like Kensington Mums are perfect for this. Since the dawn of time, parents have discussed their respective schools at the playground, dinner parties or playdates and a great deal of intelligence gets exchanged in this manner. But for those parents who value an impartial view written by experienced experts, I would recommend the new editions of The Good Schools Guide London North and London South.
Between them, these books feature reviews of nearly 350 state and independent schools including many which would appeal to families based in Kensington and other central locations. Our writers have really got under the skin of the schools they’ve visited so these books are a tremendous resource. And for mums and dads who prefer to look at a screen, all our reviews are also available with a subscription to our website.
For more information on the Good School Guide, check their website.
