OVERVIEW
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
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tudying at an independent school is more than just attending school. It’s buying into a lifestyle that’s distinctly different: arguably one that’s more privileged, arguably more altruistic and certainly a lot more intensive. But why is this? Is independent education just different because it’s paid for – and often 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 often 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. The single-sex structure has changed into co-educational learning. The Google-school revolution has taken place, and the demanding International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme was chosen for its sixth form provision. People often talk about the lifestyle changes when considering private education. It’s clear that speaking in purely financial terms, this is true for many families, but there’s more to it than that. School days are often very long and
Rich heritage and inspiring traditions are mainstays of an independent education
