Choosing the Best Independent School for Your Child

What to Look for When Choosing an Independent School

When parents begin comparing schools, it’s easy to be distracted by impressive raw results or big-name university destinations. But those numbers often lack crucial context.
At Tranby, we believe the true measure of a school lies in its value added (VA): the progress a child makes from their academic starting point to their final results.
Like many leading independent schools, we use the CEM system to forecast outcomes from Year 7, Year 10, and Year 12. The difference between predicted and actual grades gives us a clear picture of impact.

This year, our predicted value added (VA) at GCSE places us in the top 20% of schools nationally. Our A-Level VA is also predicted to place us in the top 30% of colleges and Sixth Forms nationally. These results tell a deeper story, one where every child, regardless of their starting point, makes excellent progress.
When considering independent education for your child, ensure you ask 'what is your value added?' 
If your child is naturally highly intelligent and can achieve academical excellence with ease, they are always going to do well. However, for those children who don’t fit this mould, choosing a school that brings out the very best in them is vital. 

What is the Difference Between ‘Mean Grades’ and Value Added?

When comparing schools, it’s crucial to understand the difference between mean grades and Value Added (VA).
Mean grades reflect the average result students achieve in their GCSEs or A Levels. While this gives a snapshot of attainment, it can be misleading. For example, a single student achieving a full set of grade 9s or A*s will raise the school's overall average, even if others in the cohort performed less strongly. In this way, mean grades often reflect who a school admits, rather than how well the school supports every student. It is easy to shout about A* results when you are admiting A* pupils.
Value Added, on the other hand, is a measure of progress. It compares a student’s actual results to the grades they were predicted to achieve based on their prior. As an example, a student's expected grade might be a B when they join us, but on results day they have achieved an A.

A higher VA score means students are doing better than expected. It’s a sign that the school is genuinely helping pupils to flourish, no matter where they started.

Questions You Should Be Asking When Choosing a School or College

When considering a school or college, ask for more than headlines. It's normal to have your interest piqued with headlines such as “four students accepted into Oxbridge,” but if there are 1,000 in the year group, how well did the other 996 do?

Why Starting Independent Education Early is Important

One of the biggest myths around independent schools is that you need only consider them from Senior School. But the reality is, some of the most powerful foundations are laid in the early years and primary education stages. At Tranby, our children develop a love of learning from Preschool onward. To love to learn is a skill in itself. Like all skills, the earlier it’s nurtured, the stronger it becomes. Our smaller class sizes mean children are truly heard, not lost in a sea of 30 peers. Teachers can respond to individual learning needs, give personalised attention, and develop confidence, curiosity, and communication skills from a younger age. The children who start with us early don’t just ‘cope’ with secondary school, they thrive in it.

Why Choose Tranby?

At Tranby, we’re proud to offer a deeply personalised, all-through education that balances academic rigour with emotional intelligence, curiosity, and confidence. Whether they’re exploring our woodland in our Preschool setting, discovering their voice in the Prep School, or exceeding academic expectations at GCSE and A-Level in Senior School, our pupils love to learn, and love where they learn.
A Tranby education is an investment, but it's one that pays lifelong dividends.