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At Eaton Square School, we have opened access to allow more children to benefit from a Preparatory education.
Eaton Square School offers bursaries and scholarships to pupils at 8+ and 11+ with up to 100% remission of fees. (Means tested)
Article from The Independent Newspaper 2005
Over the last 140 years of education, more latterly via the Direct Grant Scheme, phased out in 1976 and even more recently through the Assisted Places Scheme, the access to Independent education has been widened via the provision of funding. In the recent reform of Charity Law, in which the four previous categories of charitable status are to be replaced by ten (the Advancement of Education being one of them), Independent Schools are waking up to the fact that now they as independent institutions must demonstrate more clearly what they are doing for their local communities in order to warrant this status. The recent move amongst many leading senior schools to offer a clearer policy on 'open access', providing the funding via bursaries to allow entry for many pupils whose parents may not have the financial means to sustain fees, is both a pragmatic and a political one.
A recent Independent Schools Council (ISC) survey questioned parents on what qualities they expect from their child?s school.
The following responses were given, listed below in order of importance:
• To encourage pupils to respect each other.
• To pay attention to individual well being
• To develop good manners
• To adapt their teaching methods to each child's needs
• To encourage pupils independent thinking skills
• To teach children in small classes
• To manage the school in a professional and up to date way.
• To encourage pupils to respect adults
• To use ICT effectively
Interestingly enough, to guarantee success in public examinations was nowhere near the top ten responses. Perhaps parents are beginning to realise the fallibility of the regularly published league tables in assessing the real value of education!
The published list certainly matches the reasons why parents choose Independent Preparatory Schools, where there is still the ability to offer both breadth and depth in the early years of education and to concentrate on many of the values already stated. David Kidd, former chairman of IAPS (Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools) recently reported that "Preparatory Schools set standards that are the envy of the state system.."
What parent couldn?t want this start to their child?s education?
Paul David
Headmaster Eaton Square School
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