EDUCATION
with up to six parents. “They have a very personalised tour of the school – we’re trying to group them with common entrance points.” That means, just as an example, separate events for year 7 day pupils and prospective boarders at The Leys, which are designed to ensure ‘a more focused experience’ for both. Families interested in boarding can see the boarding houses – or, if games and PE are their passion, they can speak to the director of sport. The school will also try to pair families with current pupils who are as close a match as possible for age and interests – ensuring that the information parents get is really relevant to them. Similarly, at St Faith’s School, which is part of a Schools Foundation with The Leys, there are currently two events in the academic year, the first for prep-age pupils (years 3 to 8) in November, the second for families whose children would be joining pre-prep. It runs weekly individual tours either with the headmaster, registrar or head of marketing and admissions. HORSES FOR COURSES St Faith’s (below) offers individualised school tours on a weekly basis, while Felsted (bottom right) has a Felsted Unwrapped online series for international applicants
As St Faith’s marketing and admissions assistant Helen Spurgeon explains, parents of little ones aged three or four will often have very different priorities to those of families whose child might be looking for a place in year 7 – and that tailored approach makes all the difference. “They are such different parts of the school,” she remarks. “The pre-prep even has its own uniform.” Parents of younger students have a talk from the headmaster and other members of the senior team, the chance to hear from the head of pre-prep and a tour led by year 8 pupils. It’s a carefully thought through experience that offers the best of both worlds at St Faith’s – not just details of Look closely at the dynamic between staff and students
58 OCTOBER 2023 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
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