It’s that time of year again (or at least it should be), for parents to start seriously tackling the school application process. It’s time to get your names down, there is no such thing as too early.
As school placement specialists, we, Nosce, know that the art of choosing the right school for your child can sometimes feel better suited to a psychic.
Nursery
What’s even more panic-inducing, is that this stressful adventure now begins earlier than ever, great London nurseries are what Bolt is to sprinting, simply streets ahead. Acorn, Miss Delaney’s and Willcocks will all require organisation, determination and effort! Superb nurseries are dens of inspiration where surroundings are gorgeous, staff are joyful and skills are valuable. Inevitably the best ones are just a little bit fashionable, Pippa Poppins anyone?
In 2021 the obsession with the right nursery was lauded as the first crucial step on the educational ladder, and while attending one may not be a fast track to Oxbridge, getting the right ‘big name’ nursery can substantially help your chances of getting into some of the best pre-prep and junior schools. Early registrations are a non-negotiable as places are often allocated by ballot or (even worse) first come first served, which means registering as soon after birth as possible.
If you are asked to attend some sort of assessment in order to secure an early year’s or nursery place then please exercise caution, if you are paving the way for Harvard or Morgan Stanley, keep it to yourself during the tour. Nursery heads have radar for pushy parents. They are looking for tenderness, a sunny, positive outlook, glee and literacy, so you are much better off sending little Harriet to the 4+ armed with her alphabet and a well written first name than anything else.
PrePrep and Prep
When deciding on your shortlist, whether you choose to seek help from a consultant or not, my most important piece of advice is this: do yourself a kindness: try not to be swayed by big names or league-table positions and look at schools outside the ridiculously competitive “big name” bubble. St Phillips, for example, is a tiny exquisite gem of a boys prep in Kensington, but it’s rarely on anyone’s first “draft”.
When it comes to “getting it right” you can be sure of TWO things:
1) following the crowd “just because” (no matter how tempting) is almost always a disaster and
2) that nothing is more important than really considering what you hope for five years from now. “Academic hothouses’ aren’t always bad, the schools sitting right at the top of the league tables like Westminster, St Paul’s, Winchester, NLCS and Wycombe Abbey can be fantastic for a child genius, a space in which doing well and being ambitious are always readily rewarded, but they can be utterly torturous for the victim of a ruthless parent and excessive tuition that has produced results which are unsustainable.
Feeders
Look at where a prep school feeds to and beware of ‘selective reporting” on ‘Leavers Destinations” bits of the website. If a school only offers a list of seniors pupils have previously moved on to, but fails to give actual numbers, that’s probably because the actual numbers are low.
If your senior school aspirations are ambitious, getting into the right feeder is half the battle. So If you’re hoping for Eton, get into Sussex House in Knightsbridge, or consider a boarding prep for two years – like Summerfield’s, Ludgrove, Horris Hill or Caldicott.
Look at the evidence for whatever schools are on your radar. If 30 per cent of pupils are off to St Paul’s, your chances of moving there or somewhere equally stretching are better than a prep where 80 per cent go to somewhere obscure that is close by.
Senior Registrations and Applications
Be realistic about academic capability and prioritize. Are manners and a perfect uniform at the top of your list or would you rather have a 21st-century dose of warmth and familiarity?
Be tactical, apply somewhere that is likely to have wiggle room on the waitlist. Do you prefer green space or a stratospheric Harrow-like reputation? Would you rather see great A-Level results or great sporting facilities? must it be both?
You’ll (usually) find more space, better facilities, less pressure and comparable results if you are brave enough to walk the road – ever so slightly less travelled and might also find you get more bang for your school-fee buck.
Be Prepared
Make a realistic shortlist, two from the top, two from the middle, and a safety school.
Check dates on the website and don’t be late, deadlines are not optional. Register three years ahead to avoid disappointment – Eton expects you to have your ducks in a row by 10 for entry at 13.
if you are already late then employ some strategy.
Offers usually go out at the beginning of January so the 3rd week of the month is a good time to ask registrars about their waitlists. Time this request well – admissions offices don’t like stalkers!
Tuition, I’m afraid, is a necessary evil. Every school that tells you it’s unnecessary – ignore this advice – it’s a trap – everyone is getting it, and unless your child really is an academic overachiever and a natural whiz at exams, who never gets nervous, choosing not to get any help at all, could really harm your chances.
The key is not to overdo it – quality over quantity.
You will do far better with a premium grade tutor with competitive prep school experience for 1 hr. each week or two weeks than a graduate with no classroom experience who charges £20 an hour – The best tutors aren’t cheap – but they are usually worth the cash.
Don’t be afraid to employ a little strategy – sometimes it works.
Our consultants are particularly well placed to shed some light on the shortlist, registration and application process.
As well as contributing to various publications, having held head positions at some of the UK’S LEADING PUBLIC SCHOOLS they are able to provide definitive, impartial advice about the best independent schools in the UK.
Tapping into that invaluable expertise (not to mention an impressive black book of contacts), Nosce Education offers bespoke one-to-one consultations which are the ultimate solution for unanswered questions. Whether you’re seeking the perfect prep school through virtual open days, can’t decide between full and flexi-boarding, or simply require general advice, Our consultants will have the answers – or know the right person to ask.
The consultation process will begin with a short written Q&A so you can share some details ahead of your meeting, followed by an individual 45-minute Zoom session and a follow-up featuring key takeaways from your discussion
A session with a Nosce Consultant is priced at £195 plus VAT. Please call 0207 971 1458 or email enquiries@nosce.org.uk at which point Nosce will liaise with you to organise your virtual appointment to a session with one of our Consultants
Miss Oriel Octave – Director of consulting and Nosce Education editor, Mr Simon Northcote – Green (Previous Head at Dulwich College) or
Mrs Jaqueline Northcote- Green (previous deputy head at City of London School for girls).
Please call 0207 971 1458 or email enquiries@nosce.org.uk at which point Nosce will liaise with you to organize your virtual appointment.
Visit the website for more information.
Specializations: School Placement | Tuition Design | Long Term Education advice | School Strategy and Consulting | 7+ | Nursery and Early Years placement | The Eton List |
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish.
