EDUCAT ION
these days), to multisports pitches and multilevel libraries. Context applies here, as well. There’s no doubt that new buildings (always photographed with all the lights on, ideally across a lake at sunset), can be hugely impressive. The canny parent, however, will want to know who gets to use them and when. A new theatre that stands empty for most of the time because only the super-talented are chosen for the mega summer production might not be quite the showstopper it first appears. And take a second look at that fabulous library. Are there gaps in its shelves or are they stuffed full of immaculate-looking books? If so, where are the queues of pupils arriving in their dozens to relax, read and borrow? It’s also important to look at how well grounds and buildings are looked after by staff and pupils, says John Attwater. “Clearly well-used and loved, even if that means looking worn by the summer term and waiting for annual maintenance, is much better than pristine and unused. But there’s a difference, too, between well-used and neglected or abused: a school and its pupils’ attitude to their environment often reflects their attitude to each other.”
“It is critical the school choice works well for family life, or it will be a source of stress”
homework or permission slip could end up feeling a lot more like a Brothers Grimm special than The Enchanted Wood . “It is critical the school choice works well for family life, otherwise it will always be a source of stress, which will inevitably be transmitted to the child,” points out John Attwater. “Location and accessibility are therefore important, whether for day or boarding schools.” It’s also sensible to get an insight into a school’s culture and see whether – as the song has it – you feel ‘one of the family’. It’s a fair bet that all schools’ literature for prospective parents will stress the welcoming, friendly vibe. Some have a highly distinctive ethos.
Then there’s the location. Countryside schools may offer dreamy tree-lined drives, listed buildings and green acres of fields stretching into the distance. City centre establishments, on the other hand, pride themselves on their ability to couple an urban setting with unbelievably imaginative architecture. Good design can take you a long way when space is at a premium. City centre or fairytale idyll, it’s worth doing a reality check and seeing how well the school gels with families’ lifestyles. Given that more parents than ever before are dual earners with full-time jobs, that last-minute dash to collect an unwell child or drop in that missing violin,
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