Author Description

Which school a child goes to is an important decision in every parent's life. The right school cannot be chosen by looking at narrow and often misleading league tables. This book provides the information neccessary to make an informed choice. It offers parents hard facts on over 550 independent secondary schools: fees, assisted places, scholarships and extras; pupils, ratio of girls/boys, day/boarding, state-school entrants/prep-school entrants; staff, the pupil/teacher ratio, the Heads' backgrounds, approaches and policies on discipline; the exams offered - GCSE and A-levels, S-grades and Highers, or the International Baccalaureate; vocational courses, languages, foreign exchange visits, what the pupils go on to do, and many more important areas are covered. There is also advice on issues such as bullying, dyslexia, corporal punishment and expulsion and the mechanics of the education system, such as league tables, COBISEC, the national curriculum and registration requirements.