3 minute read
More than just a school
Attending an independent school involves so much more than achieving stellar exam results, writes REMCO WEEDA, Director of Marketing and Admissions – and a Houseparent – at Scarborough College, North Yorkshire
Studying at an independent school is more than just attending school. It’s buying into a lifestyle that’s distinctly di erent: arguably one that’s more privileged, arguably more altruistic and certainly a lot more intensive. But why is this? Is independent education just di erent because it’s paid for – and o en paid for handsomely at that?
When considering answers to these questions, it’s important to observe and include heritage and tradition. It’s something that many schools in the independent sector are synonymous with and not without good reason. Many of these schools were founded on the premise of highly inspirational, humanistic and holistic educational principles. Heads of these schools are o en seen as custodians of these long-held principles or values, and to see to it that today’s education is more than just an amalgamation of various subjects and teaching to the curriculum.
At Scarborough College, for instance, today’s education is exactly that. Forward-facing in terms of how learning can be improved and also in terms of how a child’s education can meet the demands of today’s societal and global challenges; traditional in the acceptance of its founding principles. Founded as a boys’ school in 1898, the college was established to provide deserving students on the north-east coast with a quality education. e single-sex structure has changed into co-educational learning. e Google-school revolution has taken place, and the demanding International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme was chosen for its sixth form provision.
People o en talk about the lifestyle changes when considering private education. It’s clear that speaking in purely nancial terms, this is true for many families, but there’s more to it than that. School days are o en very long and
Rich heritage and inspiring traditions are mainstays of an independent education
The school days are longer at independent schools
demanding and, as tradition would have it, inclusive of many co-curricular exploits. Many people immediately associate independent education with the provision of sports, the competitive nature of the different private schools and the – often – high standard of coaching on offer.
Attending an independent school is also about having access to top-quality music tuition, whole school productions of a very high calibre, art exhibitions and beautiful evening-filling carol concerts. The days are long and they extend far beyond the four walls of the academic classroom.
Within most of independent education, there’s a genuine sense of exploration, which manifests itself in outdoor learning, adventure schools, domestic and overseas expeditions. Schools have their own allotments, their own farms, their own farm shops and their own animals (including everything from horses to bees). Through programmes such as the Duke of Edinburgh’sw Award, Round Square and the IB Learner Profile, a sense of community and service is created and nurtured. Much may be said about the charitable status of schools in the independent sector, but reading the Independent Schools Council booklet on community partnerships, the value many independent schools bring to their communities and the roles that parents, pupils and teachers play within them shouldn’t be understated.
Studying at an independent school is about more than just attending school. It’s about belonging to a community in the present, but also a community in the future.
It’s about discovering skills that you never thought you had, but then also about understanding how to use these skills to bring about positive changes and not just individual gain. It’s about learning how to learn and creating an awareness of the world around oneself. It’s about wanting to come back to school because of the friendships made (and nurtured) and the many memories that have since been forged into the brickwork or etched into the furniture.
Studying at an independent school is about becoming part of that heritage and part of the fabric of that school. Every single student and every single teacher, past and present, are the story of an independent school. Together, they form the past and shape its future legacy. This is what studying at an independent school is all about.
At independent school, students are part of a community that’s built to last
