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Teach 17 interviews Alex McLusky Alex McLusky is the founder of Beyond the Prospectus, an independent education consultancy helping families find the right school for their child. Drawing on nearly 25 years of experience as a teacher, tutor and parent, she encourages families to look beyond league tables, reputations and glossy marketing. In this interview, Alex discusses school culture, pupil wellbeing, admissions and why finding the right fit matters more than choosing the

Consultants in demand as parents seek advice on private schools

Congratulations on your child starting Year 7! The transition to senior school is an exciting milestone with a very busy first year. For those of you experiencing this for the first time, or if your child is attending a different school from an older sibling, here's some advice about what to expect: Schools place a significant emphasis on pastoral care, induction, and co-curricular involvement during these first three terms. 🍂 Autumn Term: Settling In & Induction (September

Excellent results. Outstanding pastoral care. Exceptional opportunities. Happy, confident pupils. Sound familiar? Spend enough time looking at independent schools and the same phrases appear again and again. They may all be true. But when every school sounds excellent, how does a parent work out what makes one different from another? Perhaps we need to stop accepting the adjectives wheeled out on social media — and ask what sits behind them. “Excellent results.” How were they

There is no doubt that schools take mental health more seriously than they did a decade ago. Many now have counsellors, wellbeing leads, mindfulness programmes and dedicated pastoral teams. These are all positive developments and have undoubtedly helped many young people. But I sometimes wonder whether we're asking the wrong question. Instead of asking, "How do we support pupils when they are struggling?", should we also be asking, "Why are so many pupils struggling in the fi

According to today's TES, recent survey data suggests that more than a quarter of secondary schools in England do not offer any vocational qualifications at Key Stage 4 (for pupils aged 14–16). I suspect that the proportion is even higher among independent schools, where the curriculum is often centred on more traditional academic pathways. The TES also reports that technical pathways are more commonly offered in disadvantaged areas. That raises an interesting question. Do fa

"...a family starting Reception this year at an average-priced school is looking at roughly £410,000 by the time their child finishes sixth form. At a sought-after London day school, that figure climbs towards £670,000." — Antonia Medlicott, The Times When families are making a decision involving this level of financial commitment, they deserve more than a polished prospectus and a couple of hours at an open morning. Schools quite rightly invest in presenting themselves at th