The right school, not the “best” school 

Choosing a senior school is one of the biggest decisions you will make for your child, and it can feel overwhelming. Open days, league tables, entrance exams and well-meaning advice at the school gate all compete for your attention. 

Here is the good news: there is no single “best” school. There is only the right school for your child, the one where they will be happy, stretched and able to become fully themselves. This guide walks through how to find it, and how we help Littlegarth families every step of the way. 

Start with your child, not the league tables 

Before you look at a single prospectus, look at your child. The questions that matter most are about who they are: 

• How do they learn best? Do they thrive on pace and challenge, or do they need time and encouragement to grow in confidence? 

• What lights them up? Sport, music, drama, art, science, the outdoors: the right school will give their passions room to flourish. 

• How do they cope with change? Some children love a big, bustling school; others do their best work in a smaller, more nurturing community. 

• What do they want? Their voice matters. Children who feel part of the decision settle more quickly and with more confidence. 

A school that suits a high-flying, competitive sibling may be entirely wrong for a quieter, creative child. Being honest about who your child is, rather than who you might expect them to be, is the surest route to the right choice. 

What to weigh up when you visit 

Once you have a clear picture of your child, you can judge each school against it. Things worth thinking about include: 

• Ethos and atmosphere. How does the school feel when you walk in? Are pupils relaxed, polite and engaged? Ask yourself whether you can picture your child there. 

• Size and structure. Single-sex or co-educational, day or boarding, large or small, with or without a sixth form. Each suits different children. 

• Pastoral care. How will your child be known and looked after? Who do they turn to when things go wrong? 

• Academic approach. Look beyond results to how teaching is pitched: is it about stretch, support, or both? 

• Life beyond the classroom. Clubs, sport, music, drama and trips often shape a child’s happiest memories. 

• The practical side. The daily journey, fees, bursaries and scholarship opportunities all matter for family life. 

Open days give you the polished version. If you can, return on an ordinary working day, talk to current pupils and parents, and notice how your child responds afterwards. Their instinct is often surprisingly accurate. 

How Littlegarth helps you find the right next school 

At Littlegarth, guiding each child to the right senior school is not an add-on at the end of Year 6. It runs through everything we do, and our results speak for themselves. In 2024–25, our Year 6 cohort of 39 pupils secured seven grammar school places and were offered an astonishing 66 scholarships to independent senior schools (Colchester Gazette). 

Independent, so our only loyalty is to your child 

While many prep schools are becoming part of larger groups or feeding a single senior school, Littlegarth remains proudly independent. That freedom matters. We have no school to “sell” to you and no quota to fill. Our advice is shaped by one thing alone: what is best for your child. 

We know who your child is, and we don’t squash them into a mould 

We believe children should be encouraged to become independent, curious and confident in who they are. We don’t try to fit every child into the same shape. Instead, we take the time to discover their strengths, personality and passions, so that the school we help you find is one where they will truly flourish, whether that is a selective grammar, a busy academic day school or a smaller, more nurturing setting. 

We know the local schools inside out 

Our children move on to a wide range of senior schools, including the Colchester grammar schools and independent schools such as Ipswich School, Woodbridge School, Norwich School, St Mary’s School Colchester and the Royal Hospital School. We have built strong relationships with these schools over many years and understand their ethos, their entrance processes and the kind of child who thrives in each. 

We guide parents every step of the way 

• Year group meetings explain the senior school process clearly: the timeline, the options, the entrance tests and the scholarship routes. 

• Individual meetings give you time with us to talk about your own child and the schools that might suit them best. 

• Ongoing conversations mean you are never left guessing. We are here to answer questions and reassure you throughout. 

We prepare children with skill and care 

• Our 11+ Club gives children focused preparation for grammar school and independent school entrance exams. 

• Verbal and non-verbal reasoning are taught directly, so the question styles feel familiar rather than daunting. 

• Practice tests help children build stamina, timing and confidence under exam conditions. 

• Mock interviews help children learn to talk about themselves and their interests with poise. 

Rich experiences that open the door to scholarships 

Scholarships recognise far more than exam results. Our pupils win awards across academic, sport, performing arts, creative arts and STEAM. That success grows from the high-level experiences Littlegarth offers every day: ambitious sport (our Under 11 rugby team have been ISA national champions four years running), music and drama, art and design, and Forest School in 28 acres of beautiful Stour Valley countryside. Children have real achievements to talk about, and the confidence to talk about them. 

Ready for the next step? 

The right senior school is the one where your child walks through the door confident, excited and ready to keep growing as themselves. Our job is to make sure that when that day comes, they are well prepared, and you feel sure you have made the right choice together. 

If you would like to see how Littlegarth could support your family, we would love to welcome you for a visit. Find out more at littlegarth.org or call us on 01206 262332.