Choosing the best school for your child
Finding the best school for your child can be a difficult and lengthy process, particularly when the school is in another country and often in high demand. Every child is different, and every school has different qualities and characteristics, which only adds to the challenge.
At Pippa’s Guardians, we are here to offer expert advice on choosing the right school.
We will get to know your child, understand his or her needs and your aspirations and advise on school applications to ensure you make the best possible choice.
This personal service is delivered on line through video calls and emails, helping guide you through choosing the ideal school as well as the application process.
Choosing the best school for your child
Finding the best school for your child can be a difficult and lengthy process, particularly when the school is in another country and often in high demand. Every child is different, and every school has different qualities and characteristics, which only adds to the challenge.
At Pippa’s Guardians, we are here to offer expert advice on choosing the right school.
We will get to know your child, understand his or her needs and your aspirations and advise on school applications to ensure you make the best possible choice.
This personal service is delivered on line through video calls and emails, helping guide you through choosing the ideal school as well as the application process.
The service comprises 5 key stages:
A free initial consultation with the parents.
At this stage you will learn about the School Advisory Service, how it is delivered and find out if it is suitable for you and your child. You will also have an opportunity to ask questions relating to the process.
School reports will need to be submitted in English. An online meeting will then be
arranged to include a discussion about school choice factors, such as single sex or co-educational, religious or non-denominational, location, ethos, curriculum options, examination results, extra-curricular strengths and any special requirements.
Providing your child is old enough and has at least a basic level of English, we will interview your child informally by video call and discuss their academic and co-curricular interests. We may also ask them to sit an informal test to enable us to better gauge their level of English. This allows us to give more tailored advice and guidance to applying to the best possible school.
Following the meeting, the team will prepare a student profile about your child and carry out extensive research on UK schools to identify 5 schools that suit your child’s abilities, interests and aspirations. We will make contact with the admissions departments of possible schools and discuss their requirements and the availability of places. We will provide a report containing a short list of 5 potential schools that meet the requirements.
Visits or online meetings can also be organised with the shortlisted schools where helpful.
A member of the Pippa’s Team can attend these meetings and visits with you if required (additional fees apply)
Once you have decided on which school(s) to apply to, we will offer tailored advice and guidance through the school’s application process and guide you with the completion of any forms. We will help to ensure the school applications are filled in correctly and your child’s strengths strongly identified.
As each school has a different set of entrance criteria, we will compare your child’s ability to the school’s requirements and advise on any areas which could be improved to increase the chance of being accepted. This may include recommendations for tutoring, entrance examination preparation or interview skills practice
Following the school’s decision on your application, a final online meeting is available should you have any further questions. If your child is successful, you will have the opportunity to discuss guardianship services including welfare and academic support during the school year with a Manager from Pippa’s Guardians. If your application is unsuccessful, we can suggest other
alternatives and options available in the UK.
The service comprises 5 key stages:
A free initial consultation with the parents.
At this stage you will learn about the School Advisory Service, how it is delivered and find out if it is suitable for you and your child. You will also have an opportunity to ask questions relating to the process.
School reports will need to be submitted in English. An online meeting will then be arranged to include a discussion about school choice factors, such as single sex or co-educational, religious or non-denominational, location, ethos, curriculum options, examination results, extra-curricular strengths and any special requirements.
Providing your child is old enough and has at least a basic level of English, we will interview your child informally by video call and discuss their academic and co-curricular interests. This allows us to give more tailored advice and guidance to applying to the best possible school.
Following the meeting, the team will prepare a student profile about your child and carry out extensive research on UK schools to identify 5 schools that suit your child’s abilities, interests and aspirations. We will make contact with the admissions departments of possible schools and discuss their requirements and the availability of places. We will provide a report containing a short list of 5 potential schools that meet the requirements. A video call with the parents will then be arranged to discuss the report and schools shortlisted.
Visits or online meetings can also be organised with the shortlisted schools where helpful.
A member of the Pippa’s Team can attend these meetings and visits with you if required.
Once you have decided on which school(s) to apply to, we will offer tailored advice and guidance through the school’s application process and guide you with the completion of any forms. We will help to ensure the school applications are filled in correctly and your child’s strengths strongly identified.
As each school has a different set of entrance criteria, we will compare your child’s ability to the school’s requirements and advise on any areas which could be improved to increase the chance of being accepted. This may include recommendations for tutoring, entrance examination preparation or interview skills practice.
Following the school’s decision on your application, a final online meeting is available should you have any further questions. If your child is successful, you will have the opportunity to discuss guardianship services including welfare and academic support during the school year with a Manager from Pippa’s Guardians. If your application is unsuccessful, we can suggest other alternatives and options available in the UK.
Who delivers this service?
Pippa’s School Advice Service is delivered by Ben Hughes, Managing Director of Pippa’s
Guardians and the Pippa’s School Advice Team.
Ben is the guardian to many overseas students who currently study in 117 boarding schools throughout the UK. Through his guardianship work, he has gained extensive and detailed knowledge of many of the UK’s most prestigious boarding schools as well as their admissions teams. This enables him to provide timely, insightful and knowledgeable information to overseas families on the most suitable schools for their child.
Here in the UK we have over 450 boarding schools so there are a wealth of options for overseas families. Some schools are particularly academic with strong Oxbridge results, other school’s strengths lie within their art, sport or musical departments.
We have co-educational as well as single sex schools, city centre and countryside locations.
Ben has to work extremely hard to secure a place for his students. There are a vast amount of options and Ben can help you navigate these decisions so your child attends the most suitable school for them and they maximise their chances of success in the UK, whilst also enjoying a happy and safe educational experience.
The service is run online via web video and email communication. Support is available throughout the process, to answer those little queries that invariably crop up.
To enrol your son or daughter in this advisory service, please fill out this School Advice Service Form.