Bermuda Parent Bermuda Parent Fall 2014 | Page 38

SCHOOL big kids BY BVS EDUCATION A Helping Hand Can Make A F Difference! or generations many Bermuda families have chosen to send their children to school in Brit- ain. Prestige, outstanding educational opportunities, internationally recog- nised qualifications and the compara- tive competitiveness of fees means that this trend has grown consider- ably in the last ten years. However, with over 2500 independent UK schools from which to choose, the process of selecting the right one for your children can be something of a minefield, especially for parents new to the world of independent education. Niall Browne, of BvS Education, a seasoned former independent school and Bermuda teacher, offers some pointers: 1. Find the right school for your child It is vital to find the school in which your child will be 36 happy and will thrive. Friends and acquaintances may offer school suggestions based on their own children’s success (or otherwise!) but, just because this school was right for their child, there is no guarantee that it will be right for yours. Choose a school based on your child’s talents, interests and needs, even if this is wildly different to that chosen by others. Unless your child is happy and comfortable at their new school, they won’t perform well in the classroom or the Rugby pitch.