Departments

In all departments and classes, one of the most important factors is the teacher/student ratio. There is no common standard. The rule is quite simply the better the ratio, the more time the teacher will be able to apply to the individual.

When touring the various departments:

a) Try to assess the Teacher/Pupil Relationship. Is the atmosphere warm and friendly or chilled by professional formality? There is no standard for the best type of relationship between teachers and pupils but ask yourself what kind of regime will work for the student. Some younger children find it difficult to communicate with a teacher in an informal way, preferring an "English" distance in the relationship. Others are put off by stiff formality.

b) Make sure that you take the opportunity to spend as much time as possible talking to the teachers and the pupils during your visit. Ask them about the lessons, environment, school policies, meals, activities and rules. By doing this you will not only get the answers to many questions, you will also get an insight into the people who the student will be spending more time with than almost anyone else.

The specific advice given in department-specific pages of SchoolsFinder applies only when in context with the type of school, (prep/junior/senior etc).

English

The prime task is to teach technical accuracy and fluency in the use of the English language. Each student should have a sound knowledge of the great writers who form a part of our heritage. English should also, however, be a form of self-expression. Pupils given a staple diet of grammar exercises soon become bored. The student may not leave school as a writer but a good background knowledge to the English language is, of course, essential.

Take a close look at the school library, particularly at the prep school stage. Are attractive modern books available? A studious eighteen-year-old may be capable of ploughing through a dust-covered, worthy tome; a nine-year-old almost certainly will not have that self-discipline. For younger children the library should be a welcoming place, full of exciting and colourful modern books.

Drama may be a strength of the department. If the student is keen on acting, the opportunity to take part in school plays may become a source of considerable self-fulfilment. Drama will benefit self-expression, confidence and communication.

These off-shoots from the main business of the department - which is studying the examination syllabus - serve to make a subject interesting and stimulating. They are also subjects on their own. Many schools teach Theatre Studies and encourage artistic pupils to take the exam in "A" levels. Does the school have a Debating Association, Public Speaking classes or a Poetry Society.

Mathematics

Mathematics today requires far more interaction than was normal decades ago. No longer is it dominated by simple multiplication tables, we now expect the subject to be more relevant to everyday life. Argued by many as the most useful subject in which to be talented, the basic laws of mathematics and the ability to apply them to everyday problems is a skill inherent in the vast majority of successful business people today.

Mathematics can be immediately off-putting for students who find it hard to cross the mental barrier into the numerical world. But they should not lose heart. There are as many successful and happy people who are talented at maths as there are those who are not. However, a good sound base of mathematical skills can only be to one's benefit.

Information Technology

Today, this subject is taught in all Independent Schools from the age of six or seven, and most young children are more adept at using them than many of us. Today they are a part of almost every subject and are fast becoming a way of everyday life.

Schools who understand this subject will have recently re-equipped with modern computers. If schools are using computers which date back to pre 1994, then it is unlikely that they are of much use at all for today's computer software, although to the eye they look almost identical! In well equipped schools you will find Pentium based PC's or Power Macintosh's using powerful software connected to peripherals, which may include a scanner, printers and modem.

It is essential to understand the school's vision of how developments in information technology will impact in the future. Twelve months from today there will be a host of new developments in the field of information technology, and the question will be: "How will the school adjust and adapt to these changes in their teaching methods?"

Some schools make individual computers available to sixth-form pupils to help with the plethora of information they must file away in anticipation of needing it for "A" level revision prior to their examinations. Even at schools for younger pupils, suitable computers and software should be available for use.

In the years ahead, like it or not, the computer will take over more and more of the jobs which have been carried out manually since their inception. That means: writing, drawing, calculating, playing, communicating and many more. An individual without basic computer skills will, to some extent, be "illiterate".

The Sciences

The sciences provide a route to understanding the world around us. Good schools will have well equipped laboratories and in some an additional area for lecturing.

In this subject however, don't be too concerned about the age of the equipment - most laboratory equipment is mechanical and even if it was manufactured ten, twenty or even thirty years ago is often just as good (and sometimes better) than the latest available.

Safety in laboratories is paramount. Protective overcoats and goggles are required. There should be a clear procedure in place in the case of an accident.

Learning any science subject is best supported by practical exercises which can take the form of: Outings to areas of scientific interest, outings to museums and the attending of special lectures/presentations on matters of particular interest.

Design and Technology

In many schools this department will be known as CDT or DT (Computer) Design and Technology. Pupils are taught to design and build products with wood, metal, plastics or textiles. Contrary to popular opinion this is NOT just a subject restricted to Technical Colleges and Secondary Modern Schools.

This subject has a natural cross-over with IT as many of the design tools are computer based.

Home Economics

All schools should, but few do, have Cookery Departments. There are excellent ones in girls' schools and schools which admit girls, but are not common in boys-only schools. Ask which lessons in Home Economics are available, and which year groups take cookery.

Geography

The teaching of geography has changed immeasurably in the last decade or so. As well as being a source of general knowledge, the modern emphasis is on field work and researching why landscapes and centres of population take the forms they do.

There are valid reasons for this change in bias from the book-centred to the practical. It is very difficult for students to appreciate features of physical geography while seated in a classroom. By becoming involved in field trips they can witness first-hand the ox-bow lakes and terminal moraine which seem distant and improbable phenomena when studied in a classroom.

Hearing a real farmer explaining how he rotates his crops and plots his finances is far more valuable than a theoretical lecture from a classroom teacher. How much "hands-on" experience is available for pupils in the form of trips of this type? Ask to see the results of their research and investigations.

History

History is not just a matter of learning the dates of the reigns of British Kings and Queens since William the Conqueror. Charismatic teaching will bring the subject alive and provide a true and fascinating understanding of our antecedents. Modern resources make this subject one of the most interesting for younger and older pupils.

There are many ways of instilling an interest in History. Sometimes "living history" groups visit schools. Some classes work on their own research into the fairly recent past by interviewing pensioners and others who lived through momentous twentieth century events. Younger children, especially, love making brass rubbings and dramatising days gone by.

Carefully planned field trips to places of historical interest can also be valuable. A good teacher will ensure that trips like this are an integral part of the syllabus and high quality follow-up work should result.

Foreign Languages

The Englishman shouting single words of appallingly pronounced French to a bewildered shop-owner will not do any more! As more people travel overseas and with the growth of electronic communications, the increasingly international nature of our society highlights the importance of having language skills.

Ask which foreign languages are taught at the school, then ask yourself if they would be the ones which will prove most useful to the pupil in the long term?

The best equipped schools have opened language laboratories, with tape decks, computers, videos and satellite television in foreign languages, enabling whole classes to learn to listen to questions in a foreign language, reply and be overheard by the teacher who can listen in to the efforts of each pupil.

A truly ambitious foreign languages department will offer an expanding range of languages for those with real flair. Most schools organise overseas trips or have exchange schemes, sometimes in holiday periods, sometimes for one or two terms.

Classics

Amo, Amas, Amat - I love, he loves, we love - Latin is no longer a dead language; in many schools there is a resurgence of interest brought about by the realisation that Latin teaches not just the language of a past civilisation, but the language that is behind English, French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese and enables us to learn these languages more thoroughly whilst at the same time deriving valuable strengths in the logic of languages.

It is worth recalling that the Romans invaded Britain around 2000 years ago, and Latin has been thoroughly incorporated into our own language. By its study, we understand far more clearly the structure and derivatives of the words we use in everyday communication.

Art

Independent Schools take pride in their promotion of the arts. Drama, Music and all the various forms of artistic self-expression are particularly well taught. In a well equipped school, art will include Painting and Drawing, Pottery, Screen Printing, Photography and in a very few schools of which Rugby is the outstanding example, Video Photography, and in far too few schools Computer Aided Design.

The department will develop a bias in favour of the art teacher's principal specialisation. However, students need to be exposed to a wide variety of art forms. So specialists should be available - if only on a part-time basis - to teach some of these sub-sections of the Art Department. An Art Department at a senior school should have good lighting and blackout facilities with proper easels available. Ask about sixth form Art Scholarships and whether Art can be taken as a subject for GCSE, for A levels or for GNVQ's?

In schools where Pottery is taught there should be an adequate number of potters wheels and one or more ovens will be required. Photography requires additional and separate space, together with a wealth of equipment and a good darkroom. Video photography is the most expensive of all and few schools find the resources to fully equip a Video Department.

At preparatory school level, children should be encouraged to work from first-hand experiences, reproducing objects and events that are important in their young lives - be they the family dog, holidays, or a memorable football match. As with older students, these children should be encouraged to express their own individuality in art. By doing so they will find pleasure and self-fulfilment.

Music

In most Preparatory Schools Instrumental Music is an extra, for which an additional fee is payable. In many prep schools as many as 75% of pupils are learning one or more instruments. Check whether there are enough practice rooms - they will be small - they should be soundproofed - but they are essential if serious music practice and teaching is to take place.

Orchestral Music

Not many pupils are interested in orchestral music. Not many schools are able to offer the subject. If orchestral music is an interest, then ensure that the school's facilities suit the pupils level of proficiency.

Choral Music

For boys whose voices have not broken, and in some cases for girls, there is a complete list of Choir Schools which are Independent Schools that provide a good education for those who are willing to join the choir. Most Choristers receive Scholarships which substantially reduce the impact of School Fees. But almost all schools have choirs - though not necessarily ones that sing in Cathedrals. In Preparatory Schools singing will probably be part of the Curriculum.

Extra Curricular Activities

Consider the recreational facilities at the school. Generally, these are plentiful at a modern independent school, but it is worth carefully checking that they are available to all.

If a main reason for choosing a certain school is the chance to take up fencing, it will come as a disappointment to later find that this is only available for the sixth form. It is also worth questioning the competitive ethos of the school. Some schools bestow enormous importance on sporting success. The captains of sports teams are held in awe and the scorer of the winning goal in the inter-house football match is the hero of the week. This is fine if the student is a competitive and successful sports person. It is not so good if he or she is interested in the arts and finds ball-games virtually impossible.

So make sure that the school you choose will give sufficient kudos to the talents shown by the student.

Boarding Accommodation

Boarding Schools differ in their types and sizes of rooms and dormitories.

There are schools with dormitories sleeping 48 boys, and schools where all boarders have single study bedrooms. Other schools have a combination of rooms and dormitories.

Ask to see the Common Rooms, sleeping accommodation, games room and recreational facilities. Be sure to find out the school's rules on incoming and outgoing telephone calls.