International students
an asset or a hindrance?

The demand for spaces in UK schools by international students is, as always, on the rise despite changes in visa requirements in the UK. According to recent figures published by the Independent Schools Council, this year, there are over 35,500 non-British students attending British schools. Whether this trend is due to relocation of families or specific educational choices, what effect does international intake have on British independent schools?

This hunger for a British education is not only concentrated on senior school level. Prep schools are now also becoming more attractive to international parents. What impact does this surge have on schools and their admissions process? How can British schools enhance the whole experience for the parents involved - current and prospective? Are foreign pupils seen as a lifeline and an asset to schools or a setback?

Surely the admission of all pupils must be seen as an asset, if not a lifeline to some schools. Parents from overseas are very keen on sending their children to study in the UK because this is seen as a gateway to a successful university career leading on to an even more prominent professional life and as certain countries in the world become more sophisticated, younger children are being sent over. They are, therefore, prepared to pay full fees, if not overseas fees in some cases. Because of the deep-rooted culture and traditions, the work ethics and the upbringing of certain children, especially those from China, Korean or India mean that their standard of study, their dedication and their respect for their priorities and elders would almost always guarantee great results. This reflects very positively on the students’ education and future career but it is also very favourable for the school attainment as a whole.

So where do the issues lie? There are in fact a number of obstacles facing the schools as well as the parents – current British nationals as well as international parents hoping for a British education for their children.

As more British parents opt for the co-education option for their children, international students can be of great help to single-sex schools. However, many schools worry that this is in fact the reason British parents stay away from single-sex schools. They feel that to get a traditional British education, the schools need to have less and less foreign nationals. Even though many prefer the social diversity, around 4 to 5 years ago, some schools were prompted to place a discreet limit of around 10 per cent on the amount of international students they would accept. As time went on and the recession started hitting schools, this limit setting seems to have been relaxed. Many schools started to realise that the admission of international students is a great opportunity that needs to be embraced and marketed correctly. They also began to realise that international parents as well as the agencies or schools overseas that help with the admissions process find many obstacles within the system and actually need help.

Anglo Schools International Services (ASIS) is a company which provides a complete service for international and UK-based families, helping them gain access to the best schools and universities in the UK. Consultants at ASIS deal with the international market on a daily basis and through their experience they feel there are many issues that need to be addressed in order to make the experience smoother for parents.

‘Schools need to cater properly for international parents taking into account cultural differences. There needs to be an open dialogue between schools and the parents otherwise it is the child who gets stuck in the middle especially if the parents do not master the English language.’

As well as school literature needing to be accessible to parents in different languages and for there to be an open dialogue, there is also an issue with the process of entry into the UK and the visa requirements. There have been a number of cases where schools as well as parents were facing problems because of miscommunication or unclear guidelines regarding the ever-changing visa applications and immigration laws.

‘We work hand in hand with parents, employers (when dealing with relocating families) and prospective schools in the UK to help bridge the gap for those families. We understand the worry of moving your child and concentrate on removing the stress from the whole process. What we would like to see though is for the UK government to drop its plan to throw out foreign students once they have finished their studies.’

David Boddy, Principal of ASIS, commented: “We have been putting pressure on the UK government to recognise the enormous financial and social contribution the international student community makes to Britain.  Only this week we put the case again to leading Conservatives, including the Chancellor.  Most quality graduates will easily qualify for a starting salary over the threshold. I hope International students will now recognise that the door is wide open to those who genuinely want to study at the best schools and universities in the world, get top class work experience when they have finished and then come back home to contribute to their own economy.”

The UK government is expecting around 600,000 international students at its universities and schools by 2020. Leading UK businesses backed the calls by ASIS and other educational groups for the threat to throw out students when they had finished their studies to be dropped. Business leaders said the policy was short sighted as the international student community provided an amazing pool of talent and energy to generate new products and business ideas. 

Are international students an asset or a hindrance? We feel the answer is clear!

Suzie Oweiss

Senior Education Consultant

PS Education and Anglo Schools International Services (ASIS)

www.pseducation.co.uk / www.angloschools.com

UNIVERSITY LIFE BEGINS!

As parents, we spend our lives worrying about our children. From the moment they are born, they bring with them a bundle of decisions and choices which we have to make for them. We go on to spend hours and days worrying and wondering if we chose the correct paths for them – whether we are deciding on nurseries, schools or even playgroups. At a blink of an eye we find that our little bundles are now taller, louder and more confident than we ever were. They are taking major exams, learning to drive and choosing universities and undergraduate courses. We feel very proud and excited and start the search in the same way we did when trying to find the best school for them.....until we realise – hang on a minute! The decision is no longer ours to make! However, no matter how little or large our involvement in the university application process is, we do in fact have a vital role to play. What can we do to help without encroaching on their decisions? How can we equip ourselves in the best ways possible to assist them when needed?

The process for students to start thinking about their next steps after their school years starts pretty early. They are barely finishing their GCSEs and starting their A Levels when they are bombarded with information on how to choose courses, which universities to visit, student finance, and accommodation and so on.  Open days are advertised and most schools organise talks for students and parents as well as trips to university fairs. There is a wealth of information at hand and advisers within the schools are usually excellently equipped to provide all the assistance needed.

As all this research and mind searching is going on, our sons and daughters are expected to concentrate on their current studies and exams. They are under tremendous pressure from us, their parents, from their school teachers and heads and from their social surroundings and environments. They are suddenly on a bridge leaving the comfort of their childhood and about to step into a world where they have to lead the way and be responsible for their own decisions.

So, what can we as parents do to help?

On a practical level:

• ·         Stay calm! Listen to all suggestions, choices and decisions – no matter how far, how near the university choices are. Listen, digest then discuss rationally.
• ·         Start research early – higher education has a lot of options to choose from. Equip yourselves with as much knowledge as possible. The world of UCAS and application is a mind-field. Learn about student finance, the different options, accommodation choices, entry requirements and required grades.
• ·         Know the deadlines – make sure you are aware of all deadlines and that your children are working with their schools on their personal statements and their applications and have a sensible schedule.
• ·         Search for courses – something they would enjoy or be interested in.
• ·         Go to UCAS events and course provider open days 
• ·         Check entry requirements – make sure they are realistic and achievable.
• ·         Perfect your personal statement – get feedback and polish it as much as you can.
• ·         Understand student finance – research all options
• ·         Be prepared for results day and make sure you understand which steps you might need to take.
• ·         Understand what Extra and Clearing are and how they work – chances to apply to more courses.
• ·         Be there when your sons/daughters need you. You may feel that the decision making process has been taken away from you – and it probably has! Let them think and decide but also reassure them that you are right beside them and ready to contribute and listen.

·         These are times of change for students and possibly the first time that they have had to be the decision makers and the carvers of their own destiny. Encourage them, allow them their space to explore but always let them know that you are there. If you are equipped with information, then you are armed to assist them.

Useful links:

http://www.ucas.com/

http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/

https://www.studential.com/

http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/

http://university.which.co.uk/advice/university-parent-guide

Single-Sex or Co-Ed? That is the Question

Co--education or single-sex education? That is an almighty question when choosing a school for your child. However, what are the key factors that should steer you towards the right direction? Should you consider academic performance, the character of your child, your family setup, the quality of particular schools, family tradition or all of the above?

It has been noted in some studies that girls excel in girls only schools as they do not have the problem of being distracted by the boys and boys tend to perform better in co-ed schools as they have to work harder to attain the same academic level as the girls – who generally – are more academically advanced than boys of their age. On the other hand, other studies have shown that there is not very much difference in the level of performance of boys and girls in single sex or co-ed schools. So what do you as a parent, do? Who do you listen to?

The answer is simple. You listen to yourselves as parents who know your children best and look at them as individuals. I write this as a parent who found herself in exactly that predicament. I am a mother of two. In fact, my children are twins – a boy and a girl. We started their educational path the simple way – find a good school, close by and register them both together, in the same class and everyone was happy! Apart from the typical twin related questions of them relying on each other, finding comfort in their own company and being constantly compared to each other, there lay the question of considering what was best for them as individuals. My little children were growing up and I needed to find a prep school for them. I was surrounded by the best of the crop in Surrey. I had some of the best co-ed and single sex schools on my doorstep. However, I needed to look at my children as individuals. I had to forget about how my husband and I were educated and what league tables were telling us and who wrote what about which schools and what statistics. I had to make a list of schools, visit one by one and make decisions based on what I felt was suitable for my son and my daughter – not my twins but two individuals with unique identities and futures ahead of them.

After many a sleepless night, my husband and I decided to place our children in separate schools. Yes they are twins and yes that would mean two massive journeys a day for me – yes it meant hours listening to the radio dropping off and picking up every day. The drastic decisions did not stop there. You see, my son is a lively, outgoing and confident young man. Almost ten years ago when we were choosing a prep school for him, he was a playful boy who needed a challenge, needed to be around boys as well as girls – not his sister whom he would rely on and get comfort from. He needed his rugby and football playing mates as much as he needed to play and chat with girls. That is why a co-ed school was the best choice for him. My daughter on the other hand, has always been the voice of wisdom. She is a motivated hard worker, confident in her own skin and in the company of other young women. We saw her all girls’ school when she was a mere six year old and saw she instantly felt at home. She joined and ten years on, is still there. She grew up to be an independent young woman and loves the company of her friends yet she mixes with her brother’s friends and feels comfortable around them. Would we have made the same decision had we had two boys or two girls? Possibly not.

It is vitally important to look at your child and make sure your decision is backed up by the correct reasons. Make sure your child will get the right balance of spending time with boys and girls, whether this may be at school or at home. Look at their academic performance and try to assess where they would thrive the most and most importantly, go visit schools and get a feel for them. Try to base your decision on whether that school is the right place for your child. Would it get the best achievement out of them? Would they be happy and thrive there? Would they grow to be all-rounded individuals who always achieve the best they can? Once you take all this into consideration, the question of co-education or single-sex education becomes quite redundant. Treat each school as a separate entity and give your children the tools to be happy, confident individuals.

SEN and Your School

Having a child with special education needs can be very worrying and confusing. Suspecting that your child might need help and hoping that does not go undetected is even more concerning. Without proper help and guidance, parents can feel terribly isolated and lost especially with so many myths and stigmas associated with special needs.

How do you detect any difficulties your child might be facing? How do you make sure his or her school is aware and deal with such needs effectively? There are a number of clues you might pick up on: General distraction is a common sign so is disruptive behaviour, underperforming in class or while doing homework, becoming quite worked up or stressed at simple tasks, forgetfulness, monosyllabic reading, boredom with work, clumsiness, unclear hand writing, hearing instructions but not carrying out step by step.... These are just some examples of signs which may concern you. You know your child best and if these or some of these signs seem unusual to you then it might be time to investigate further.

If you suspect that your child needs help, even if it is a slight concern, then please seek advice. Do not shy away and think it could just be a phase or a bout of bad behaviour. Getting advice and helping your child could be life changing for you and for them. SEN is not a label but a ticket to peace of mind.

So where do you start? School, nursery or your GP will great tools to start the ball rolling. Speak to them and follow their guidance. Many schools routinely test children for learning difficulties and should they feel the need, they advice for a more formal assessment which is then carried out by Educational Psychologists who carry out an extensive number of tests based on activities, discussions and sometimes quite fun workshops with the child. They then produce a detailed report which offers a full analysis that acts as a powerful guide for anyone teaching or tutoring or even mentoring your child. It also helps you understand why your child acts in a certain way, how they process information and instructions thus relieving tension and reassuring you that help is at hand.  On an academic level, such a formal assessment helps in providing your child with extra examination time – the length of which depends on his level of need. It also helps in deciding if and what specialist equipment could offer help and what kind of one-to-one tuition is needed and which techniques your child would benefit from.

There are many tools your child’s school can use to facilitate learning. Read up, do your research and stay on top of what the school is providing. Do not assume your child’s school has an efficient special needs department – state or independent – do your homework! Ask to speak to a SENCo (Special Needs Coordinator) and ask what they offer as well as how much time they are prepared to dedicate to your child. As well as the SENCo, make sure the school head is open minded and welcomes children of all abilities. It is all too common to hear a head say ‘we do not have great SEN facilities because we do not have many pupils that need them’! There are various degrees of SEN and more than can be counted on two hands! SEN is not purely made up of one or two kinds and the techniques to help vary immensely – it all depends on what your child needs and how much intervention is required.

Remember that help is at hand – from choosing the right school to being educated on how to help your child yourself. Ask for advice and take experts’ help on board.

Hands-on tips:

·        Make sure the school you choose uses muti-sensory learning and teaching styles

·        The school must devour your child’s report and closely monitor and review all their progress

·        There must be a strategic plan between you and the school on how to best approach your child’s needs

·        Make sure you and your concerns are being heard and addressed

There are many choices and many schools which greatly care for children with special educational needs. It is however a blessing finding the right school for your child and once that is achieved, then you can rest and let the journey of helping and properly supporting your child begin. Always remember, your child is not being ‘labelled’, they are being guided and supported. There is a wealth of information and resources that you can tap into. Start by taking the first step and you may well have facilitated life for your child and for yourself beyond realisation.

By Suzie Oweiss

Education Advisor and Director of PS Education,

Specialists in Education and Marketing

We offer a range of services to suit your individual needs from 30 minute advice sessions to tailor made packages. Call us on 07976 602 810 or email info@pseducation.co.uk    www.pseducation.co.uk

Choosing the Right Independent School for your Child – Where to start?!

So here you are – a parent who needs to make that almighty decision which could shape your child’s future. You need to find a suitable school either to kick off your son or daughter’s academic future or to move from one step of their academic career to the next. Where do you begin? What do you look for? And where do you look? What do you base your decision on?

To find the correct school and academic environment, firstly you need to understand what your child is like, where they would fit in best and where their attributes and character would be most nourished and cultivated.  You then need to ask yourself what you would like for your child. Have you decided on which route to take? Private or State? Co-ed or single sex? Faith or non-faith school? Which approach would you like for your child? Nurturing and an academic hot-house? A large school or a cosy small one? What about the facilities? Geographical location? Boarding or day school? Is your child gifted in music or drama? Does your child require learning support? Or are you simply starting out on this spiral staircase and hoping each step is the correct one?

Here we will focus on Independent Schools – fee paying, private establishments:

Finding a school has always been compared to finding a house. It is an elimination process and once you do your homework and walk into the right school for your child and for you as a family, you will know! So now, practically, how do you find THAT school?

There are a number of ways to start your research and there are many resources to help you through. An Education Adviser could be your first point of call. He or she would meet with you and basically do your homework for you – a little like an estate agent but the Education Adviser is commissioned by you and not by the school. They are therefore not trying to ‘sell you’ any particular school.

The second way to approach this is by doing your research yourself. Once you have decided that you would like to take the Independent Schools route, find out which schools are within your reach financially and geographically. Make a list and read up on each one. Look up reviews and Inspection reports. Find out if there are any School Shows in your area or ones where schools you are interested in may be exhibiting. It is always a good idea to visit such shows because you get the chance to see as many schools as possible under one roof and therefore, you gather all the information you need from prospectuses to details of Open events and you are also able to chat to representatives from the schools. Once you go home, you can browse through the literature you collected and make arrangements to visit those you like the look of.

Open events are vitally important and most schools hold one or two such events a year. Some hold more and others hold none. Make a note of the dates and do try to visit as many as you can. For those that do not have Open events, make an appointment to have one to one visits.

But how do you prepare for such visits?

Rule number one: Do not write off any school if you are not one hundred per cent sure it would not be a possible choice for your child. Give every school a chance. Go to Open events armed with research and questions. An Open event is a chance for you to view the school, its facilities, be shown the best of the school and be introduced to students and staff alike. Expect everything to shine, everyone to be welcoming and behave immaculately. However, do try to read between the lines. Students and staff will have been told and trained to make sure every corner is tidy, uniform is neat, classrooms are glimmering, the best work is on display and smiles are worn on every face! You will possibly be shown around by the crème de la crème of the school. You will be expected to ask questions and here will be your chance to dig deeper! Make sure you are satisfied with every answer you receive. Note how students greet teachers. Are they (the pupils) polite, respectful, happy? Do the teachers treat the pupils in a friendly and encouraging manner? Ask the pupil showing you around key questions:

·         Which subjects do they prefer and which do they not and why? What are their teachers like?

·         Would they prefer their ‘worst’ subjects had they been taught be someone different?

·         How long have they been at the school and how long do they intend to stay there for?

·         If they are leaving, why?

·         If they are staying when some others are leaving, why are they staying?

Take away as much information as you can and make sure you have met all the relevant staff – from Principle or Head, to Heads of Departments and pupils. Make a note of every detail down to the entrance of the school, the parking and how you were greeted upon arrival to how they bid you goodbye.

So, Open Day ticked off your list – what next? I always suggest and favour visiting the school on a normal academic day. At this stage, eliminate the schools you do not see your child fitting into and concentrate on the ones you particularly like. Make an appointment to meet with the Head and to have a personal tour of the school. Such a visit will help you see the school in action and on a more natural level. You will get a feel of how a day at the school actually unfolds. Once again, go prepared and ask all the questions you would like answers to. Remember that you are the one making the choice. You are about to entrust that school with your child and their future. You are asking them to help you mould your son or your daughter and make them that well rounded, happy person you wish them to be!

What do you look out for on a personal visit? Read on:

·         Make sure you meet the Head and not just the Registrar or the Marketing Director.

·         Ask to speak to pupils - NOT the house captains/head girls or head boys.

·         Ask to see ALL the facilities. If they say 'we are sure you are not interested to see such and such at this stage.' Say: 'YES, actually I would like to see it!'

·         Which subjects are popular and where the best results are.

·         The universities sixth-formers go on to and the courses they follow.

·         The head - is he/she impressive? How do they interact with the pupils? Does he or she know most of them by name?

·         If the school does not have a senior section, ask which schools they feed into. If it does have a Senior School, ask roughly how many stay and how many leave. Those that leave, why do they leave and where do they go? If you are looking at a Pre-Prep school, ask what they expect of their pupils and where do they aim to send them on to.

·         VITAL to ask about 'setting' - when do they start setting the pupils? How many sets are in each subject. Which subjects do they set them in?

·         At what age do they start languages? Which languages do they offer?

·         Which sports and which schools do they play against?

Armed with a wealth of information, you will hopefully leave with a pretty good idea on whether that particular school would be right for your child or not. What about my son or my daughter, I hear you ask! What about what THEY would like?! Experience has proved to us over the years that children (especially those of a younger age) can be very impressionable. One of the most common marketing tips to schools is to entice the children before the parents – make sure all the fun stuff is out when a child visits, hand out fun stickers, get them to see the playground in all its glory and make sure the child whole-heartedly says ‘Mum and dad I love it here!’. My advice is to take your child to either the Open event or the personal tour – not both! Ideally, if you have not made a decision, do not take your child to a school more than once unless you are sure in your head and heart that you are happy for them to get emotionally attached to it. Once you feel closer to a school then, by all means, take your child again and make sure they love it as much as you do! Remember that as much as we should give responsibility to our children, some decisions should remain ours to a large extent and we must not burden our children with them. Please be sure of what you would like for your child before you put them in the driving seat.

Choosing a school for your child can be very worrying and stressful. However, it is a process which brings back great satisfaction and rewards. Do your homework; invest time in finding out all you can about the possible schools on your list. When in doubt ask, ask and ask again! Remember that you are the one interviewing and investigating. Most of us as adults still get that feeling of ‘what have I done Sir/Miss?!’ when we sit in front of a Headmaster or Headmistress but believe it or not, they want to welcome you and your child into their school and offer you the best of their knowledge and education.

By Suzie Oweiss

Director of PS Education,

Specialists in Education and Marketing

We offer a range of competitively priced services to suit your individual needs from 30 minute advice sessions to tailor made packages. Call us on 07976 602 810 or email info@pseducation.co.uk    www.pseducation.co.uk

PS Education Marketing Seminar

Plans for the PS Education Marketing Seminar are under-way! A seminar for Independent School heads, Marketing Directors and SMTs as well as suppliers to schools. Watch this space!

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