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Photo: Royal Grammar School, Guildford
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 o
you find the sweat runs down your brow, as your
pen hovers over your cheque book and this happens
three times a
year? Do you walk miles
tracking down an elusive and expensive piece of clothing or
equipment, only to find it lingers forgotten at the bottom of a bag
for the entire year? Do
you find yourself trailing children around the supermarket when
everyone else appears to be miraculously child-free?
You do! Then the
chances are that you too are a parent of privately-educated school
children.
How did we come to be in this position?
Making a decision about which school - state or private,
rural or urban, traditional or modern, large or small, near or far,
single-sex or mixed - is a veritable nightmare.
You may find that, like myself, the topic can dominate
telephone conversations and family outings while you debate
educational ideals wondering if you have suddenly become more of a
bore along the way.
 In
reality your decision will have very little to do with political
and educational ideals and more to do with practical needs.
Your child’s happiness, your finances and the location of
the school are likely to be more important.
The decision is particularly difficult in our area where the
choice and range of good schools - state and independent - is
particularly enviable. If
you are swayed by league tables, you’ll find many Surrey schools
are at or near the top. Reports
abound in our local papers of pupils’ achievements.
A
visit to a short list of schools is essential and should help
your choice, but be aware of slick PR operations especially in the
private sector. Advertising
and brochures are often glossy and more professional than ever.
A smiling secretary greets you.
The Head’s office is cosy, the chairs are squashy and a
reassuring voice reminds you of a friend rather than a salesman.
A confident older pupil will show you the marvellous
facilities and you will come away having made a decision - that this
is definitely the best school you’ve seen yet (until you see the
next one).
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