As a parent, deciding on the right boarding school or choosing an independent school that best fits their needs can be challenging. With a wealth of highly established and well-renowned private education establishments across the country, where do you begin your research? The two important areas to look at are your child’s education so they can excel in academic excellence, as well as personal development with extra-curricular activities that can build on their skillsets and passions. One of the many benefits of UK boarding schools and day private schools is the support for your child. From small class sizes to tailored learning and pastoral care, schools offer plenty of advantages including those at Rendcomb College.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing an Independent School
Academic Excellence and Curriculum
At Rendcomb College we deliver a broad and balanced programme across the board from Junior School through to Sixth Form, with exemplary GCSE and A-level results. We thrive when it comes to academic opportunities and follow the common curriculum but do so in our modern facilities featuring the latest technologies. Students get to be surrounded by our 230-acre site with a Forest School, take part in leadership programmes and be part of our 100 strong extra-curricular activities that feature something for every hobby and passion.
Pastoral Care and Wellbeing
We truly understand the importance and value of providing a supportive and nurturing environment for both boarders and day pupils. Everyone’s educational journey is different, that’s why we cater specifically for your child’s emotional and physical wellbeing. Something we believe should run through all prep schools to secondary schools and beyond. It sets them on a path of learning where they feel heard.
Facilities and Co-Curricular Activities
When choosing an independent school, it’s not just about what looks good on paper, but what excites your child when it comes to the facilities and activities on offer that suit their personalities and likes outside of the classroom to build well-rounded individuals. Rendcomb College boasts an impressive range of campus and adventure-focused offerings including mountain biking, clay pigeon shooting, drama and musicals as well as debating.
School Community and Values
At the beating heart of every school is an ethos, characteristics and a culture that runs throughout. When searching for an independent school that matches your same values this is a key starting point as you’ll feel comfortable and confident that your child will have an enjoyable time and will be fulfilled by what’s on offer, but also be inspired by those around them. We believe that young people should be thoughtful, adventurous and ambitious, this is achieved by enabling our pupils to identify their strengths and aptitudes to propel them to a great future.
Location and Environment
Location can be the real decider for parents when looking at a school for their child. With a wide variety of schools scattered across the country in both city and rural spots, there are pros to both. Urban independent schools are great for transport links and having everything you could need for convenience on your doorstep. Meanwhile, rural locations such as Rendcomb College’s stunning Cotswolds grounds bring a real sense of calm, tranquillity, well-being and the opportunity to participate in numerous sports outdoors in nature and gain new life skills.
Boarding vs Day Schools
Many independent establishments offer day schools and the choice of boarding to present parents who work away or live overseas with the opportunity for their children to have a home away from home where they’ll receive the best education and living support in one to make their time memorable and to meet lifelong friends. Day junior and senior schools are perfect for families that live nearby, and thankfully Rendcomb College offer flexible boarding options for students in Year 7 and above based on their circumstances and needs.
Tips for Parents
School Visits and Open Days
To get a real sense of a place away from the school website, open days are a highly valuable opportunity for parents and children to visit schools in person, meet staff and speak with current students to see if they meet your expectations and share the same values. You’ll experience a comprehensive school guide, find out about the usual school day and ask any questions you may have. Rendcomb College has multiple open events throughout the year and also provides personalised tours on request.
Speak to Alumni and Parents
Word of mouth is always great for recommendations, therefore by speaking with other families and alumni, you’ll gain an honest and authentic view of what the school is really like. They’ll be able to offer tips on how best to make the most of your time there, and they’ll be about to share their experience about how school helped them in their future careers.
Understand the Admissions Process
At Rendcomb College we’re an inclusive institution that hopes to make independent school admissions nice and simple. Our usual journey starts with an initial enquiry, followed by an open morning or personalised visit, registration, assessments, offer of a place and acceptance. We provide a number of Scholarships for talented individuals in the field of academia, art, music, drama and sport at Year 7, Year 9 and Lower Sixth Entry, and our new 100% Centenary Scholarships of fully-funded places for up to three pupils joining Year 12. Plus we help towards tuition fees with bursaries that can be applied for during the registration stage.
Why Choose Rendcomb College?
With so many independent schools to choose from, knowing which one is best for both parent and child requires much thought and discussion. At Rendcomb College we pride ourselves on our unique offering that truly makes us stand out. We’re an award-winning school in the heart of the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire, accepting children aged between 3-18 taught by inspiring and supportive members of staff. Awarded Excellent status by the Independent Schools Inspectorate not only do we share a commitment to holistic education, but also a community feel with strong pastoral care. We want our pupils to embrace new experiences, create great memories and thrive amongst our modern, well-thought-out facilities.
Most importantly, we encourage parents to take their time when searching for the perfect independent school for their child. We advise to start nice and early so that you can plan your time accordingly to visit multiple schools and experience what they have to offer as a whole. From classroom sizes to equipment and technology, nutrition of food, quality of boarding set-up, activities outside of the school day, and most importantly how they’ll fulfil your child’s education and support their transition from school to sixth form, university and beyond. We’d love to invite you to Rendcomb College to see for yourself the fantastic offerings we provide and show you around our buildings steeped in history with a contemporary feel.
