What are the benefits of choosing a private primary school?

Whether you’re already based in the UK or you’re an international family relocating to Surrey/London, choosing a private primary school education like ACS International can come with a wealth of advantages for you and your children.

Whether your child is at the beginning of their primary school experience or they are midway through, understanding what you need in a primary school needs to factor in logistical and practical considerations, along with the quality of the education and facilities and the level of nurture and support available. Many families opt for a private primary school education over a grammar school or state school, because of the broader curriculum and high-quality pastoral care on offer.

Let’s look at some of the reasons why choosing a private primary school in London or Surrey is a great option for you and your child.

Smaller class sizes

Private primary schools tend to offer much smaller class sizes. The benefits of learning in a small group can’t be emphasised enough, and bigger class sizes have been found to harm pupils’ progress. Smaller class sizes mean the child gets a much more personalised approach to their learning, getting the attention that they need at the stage it most matters. Teachers, staff and pupils find this sort of environment calmer, quieter, and more conducive to learning, which means that morale tends to be higher across the board.

A holistic approach to learning

Private primary school students learn in a real-world context, which brings subjects to life and demonstrates their relevance to real-world applications. Children at ACS International are encouraged to ask questions, solve problems and develop skills like critical thinking, rather than simply learning rote and relying on a strong memory to get through assessments. This helps the child develop a true love of learning, which will set them up for a successful academic career and beyond. Children are given room to learn through play, investigation and experimentation, with learning spaces that are designed specifically to facilitate this. A curriculum that focuses on an inquiry-based approach helps children understand not just what they learn, but how they learn.

“The best part about teaching at ACS Cobham Lower School is the flexibility we have to match the curriculum, instruction, and learning opportunities to the needs of today’s children and today’s world.” – Liz McVey, EAL/Student Services Teacher

A focus on building a growth mindset

Private primary schools like ACS International offer a strong academic foundation, but we also prioritise a focus on wellbeing, creativity and confidence. Our curriculum is carefully designed to lay the groundwork for future success, academically, socially and personally. Developing skillsets across wellbeing, creativity, and confidence is a crucial first step towards developing a growth mindset, and plants the seed for future career readiness.

Specialist teachers and world-class facilities

A primary school is only as good as its teachers and facilities, and at ACS International, we are proud to offer an exceptionally high quality of both in abundance. We have specialist teachers who are trained in subjects like PE, forest school, art and technology. Across our Lower Schools at Egham, Cobham and Hillingdon, pupils enjoy well-equipped science labs, libraries, art studios, performance spaces, digital learning hubs and sports/swimming facilities. We make sure children regularly experience and interact with nature, with plenty of access to treehouses, fields, forest schools and other outdoor learning spaces.

A broad co-curricular programme

Children who attend a private primary school often have far more opportunities to get involved in a broad range of co-curricular activities like sport, music, drama, languages and coding. This gives your child the chance to try new things and discover hidden talents, while also benefiting from new experiences and learning new skills. Engaging in co-curricular activities also helps children develop their readiness for later life (for example, a recent study found that girls who play after-school sport in the UK are 50% more likely to later get top jobs).

A close-knit, inclusive community

At ACS International, we welcome children from all around the world, and exposure to global cultures and perspectives is the norm from day one. This goes a long way to ensuring our community is a nurturing and supportive one where every child feels a strong sense of belonging. This is especially important to children from expat families who need an education that is consistent and multicultural. Our community extends to the families of our children, and we provide a range of extended day club options both before and after school. We understand that this gives busy families plenty of flexibility, and connects children, parents and staff beyond the classroom.

Explore private primary schools in London and Surrey

The best way to get to know our private primary schools is to book a visit to one of our three Lower Schools, each conveniently located near the city of London and well-connected by public transport.

We’d be delighted to show you round and help you find the right private primary school to suit your child’s needs. Enquire or book a visit today.