Every family has a different reason for choosing a private education. Your child may excel in sports or arts and you want to accommodate their training schedule in their school day. Perhaps your child is gifted or has special needs. Maybe you attended private school as a child and want your children to enjoy the same experience.

No matter what the reason, deciding which private school to send your child to is a tough decision. Every school is unique, and with so many from which to choose, selecting a school is an involved process. Several aspects of school and child must be considered before arriving at a final decision.

What you need to know at the start

Good decisions are best made without time restrictions. Research your options ahead of time and discuss them with friends and relatives.
Schools may have lengthy waiting lists and complete their enrolment by early spring.
Most private schools have websites and written information packages to help you with your research. Link to more than 200 websites here.
Students may be required to write an entrance exam.
Many schools will want to interview you and your child.
Students may only be able to enrol in set years, such as Kindergarten, Grade 7 or Grade 9; in other grades, openings only come available if a student leaves.

Start to Finish: Involve your child

Visit websites, read brochures and tour schools together.
Get your child to list what's important in a school.
Allow your son or daughter to ask questions of school staff during visits.
Reassure your child that self-worth does not rest on the outcome of an admissions test.
Ask open-ended but direct questions. Print a list of questions.
Listen to concerns, desires, fears and expectations.
Ultimately you must take the responsibility for choosing a school, but share the reasoning behind your choice with your child.

Advice from private schools and teachers:
What independent educators want parents to bear in mind

Your child would likely prosper at more than one school. Don't be disappointed if your child does not get into your first choice.
Don't stress your child out about the entrance exam; be prepared to deal with less than stellar results. Most schools will consider more than just test scores.
Be honest and upfront. Don't withhold pertinent information about your child. The goal is to ensure their needs can be met at the school.

What private schools want

To ensure they will be a good fit for your child and your family
To know your child wants to attend the school and is not just being pressured to do so
A clear sense of your child's ability
Your child to become a participating and integrated member of the private school community
You and your child to fully understand the school's philosophy, vision and expectations at the outset