Small Classes Now Top Reason For Going Independent

Class size has become the biggest single reason for parents choosing an independent education for their children.

The latest in a series of four-yearly surveys of parents of children recently admitted to independent schools, carried out by MORI for ISIS, shows that smaller classes are cited more often than any other reason for choosing independent rather than state schools.

A total of 36 per cent of parents, surveyed during the spring term 2001, cited class size as their principal reason for choosing an independent education - up from 25 per cent in the last survey in 1997. Amongst prep school parents, the proportion citing class size was even higher - 46 per cent.

The survey, published today (24 May), also shows that the proportion of160parents choosing independent schools because they find the state alternative unsatisfactory has not significantly changed since 1989.

In the 12 years that ISIS has commissioned these major surveys, the proportion rejecting state schools has remained virtually unchanged - despite initiatives by governments of both major parties to improve standards - at just over 20 per cent.

Amongst the other major reasons cited by parents for their choice were: higher standards (21 per cent), better facilities (15 per cent), sports facilities (12 per cent), a wider curriculum (11 per cent) and better and more committed teachers (11 per cent).

The survey was carried out amongst more than 700 parents from a representative sample of 63 ISC member schools, primary and secondary, and is the fourth of its kind commissioned by ISIS. Published as "Why and How Parents Choose Independent Schools", the survey and its three predecessors give a unique insight into parents' reasons for choosing the independent option during a period of strong growth for independent schools.

National ISIS director David Woodhead commented today: "Educationalists argue about how much difference class size makes. Parents apply a common sense equation - smaller classes mean more individual attention. And more attention means more personal fulfilment. That is what they find in independent schools - and what their fees will buy."

The report gives a detailed picture of the factors which influence parents in choosing schools for their children and of the sources of information they most rely on in coming to decisions.

Parents questioned were those whose children had entered their current independent school, whether preparatory of senior, during the last year. Amongst other major findings were:

• Nearly four out of ten families are 'first-time buyers' (i.e. neither parent attended an independent school) - down from half of all families in 1997.
• About half of all families considered state schools before opting for an independent school.
• A quarter of families have other children in state schools.
• Pupils entering senior independent schools were less likely than in 1997 to have previously attended an independent prep or pre-prep school.
• One-third of prep school parents plan to send their child, especially if she is a girl, to a single-sex school.
• Parents get more prospectuses and visit more schools than in 1997, before making their choice.
• Class sizes, discipline and good quality teachers are the key reasons in the final choice of an independent school, each cited by eight in ten parents.
• Most parents are satisfied with their children's independent school; 80 per cent say that they are very or totally satisfied.
• The image of boarding schools is improving, with parents responding more positively to aspects of boarding education than in 1997.
• Fewer than one-third of parents made advance financial plans for paying school fees.

In the conclusion, MORI states: "Parents are becoming increasingly discriminating when selecting an independent school. They are more concerned about specific advantages that they perceive independent education to offer, such as smaller class sizes, high quality teachers, discipline and an environment which enables children to take a responsible attitude to their work."

"The more modern and positive image of boarding schools could be associated with the perception that they now have a broader intake of pupils, especially among those whose parents live overseas and that they are now less elitist. There is less concern that boarding education has an adverse affect on the child/parent relationship and that it cuts children off from society."

"Parents are less likely to plan in advance which school to send their child to, a finding consistent with the evidently increasing pragmatism of parents in all aspects of school choice. The evident lack of forward planning for the payment of school fees among middle class, independently educated and boarding school parents continues to be a matter of concern, in the light of rising independent school fees."

End:

Copies of the 2001 survey, "Why and How Parents Choose Independent Schools", are available from National ISIS, Grosvenor Gardens House, 35-37 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0BS, price 16330.00. (Tel 020-7798 1500; e: [email protected])

Journalists may obtain copies from the ISIS Press Office (tel 020-7798 1530)

Notes:

The 2001 sample was drawn from 100 schools selected from the ISC/ISIS membership to be representative of the total membership, of which 63 agreed to take part. A total of 1578 parents were sent questionnaires, of which 723 were returned by the cut-off date in February 2001, a 46 per cent response rate. 16 per cent were parents of boarding pupils.