Why use an education consultant?
Choosing a school is an important decision, but it can also be difficult to navigate. School websites, league tables, inspection reports and online reviews provide useful information, but they rarely tell the whole story or explain how a particular school might suit an individual child.
An experienced education consultant can provide an independent perspective, helping families understand their options, identify suitable schools and make decisions based on the needs, abilities and character of their child.
Our role is not simply to provide information that families could find themselves. It is to interpret that information through the lens of professional experience and provide clear, impartial advice.
Why choose us?
Rutherford Henderson is founded on current experience of working within independent education. Our advice comes from practitioners who understand schools from the inside, rather than from published information or historical experience of the sector.
We combine detailed knowledge of leading independent schools with an understanding of teaching, academic expectations, pastoral care, admissions and the wider school experience. This allows us to consider not simply whether a child can gain entry to a school, but whether that school is likely to be the right environment for them to flourish.
Our approach is deliberately personal and discreet. We work with each family individually and make recommendations based on the child, rather than promoting particular schools or applying a standard formula.
Are your recommendations independent?
Yes. Rutherford Henderson does not receive commission or referral fees from schools. We are consultants acting for you, rather than agents paid by a school.
Our recommendations are made solely on the basis of what we believe is appropriate for the individual child and family. We will identify both the strengths and potential drawbacks of a school and will not recommend a school simply because it is well known or highly selective.
Why is your advice different to researching schools ourselves?
Families can find a considerable amount of information about schools online. The challenge is knowing which information matters, how reliable it is and how it applies to your child.
Our value lies in bringing together that information with professional experience and judgement. We can help families distinguish between what a school says about itself and what its educational environment may actually mean for their child.
Can you help us if we already have a shortlist?
Yes. You do not need to start from the beginning.
We can review a shortlist of schools you are already considering, identify their relative strengths and weaknesses and help you determine which are most appropriate for your child.
We can also provide tailored questions and points to consider when attending open days or meeting schools.
Can you help us get our child into a particular school?
We can advise on the admissions process, likely considerations and how best to approach an application. We can also help families understand whether a particular school is a realistic option.
However, no reliable education consultant can guarantee admission or claim to influence a school's decision. Our role is to provide independent advice and help families make the strongest and most informed application possible.
At what age should we seek advice?
There is no single ideal age.
Most boarding schools start at 13+, though some start at 11+. Typically, age 9 is when the process of school selection begins, for a move at 13.
Sometimes families will require advice for moves at other stages of school career, perhaps due to relocation or difficulties at a previous school. We can assist families with children at any age.
Early advice can be particularly useful where there are several possible routes and families want to understand their options before making commitments.
Is there any advantage to registering for a school at birth?
Registering early can be sensible for particularly competitive schools, but it does not guarantee priority or a place. Schools have different admissions policies, registration windows and deadlines, and none will allocate places on a simple first-come, first-served basis.
The more important consideration is understanding when registration is necessary and which entry point is likely to be most appropriate for your child. We can help families navigate these decisions and ensure that important deadlines are not missed.
Why is admissions tutoring valuable?
Schools can identify pupils who have been coached to 'pass' an admissions interview or task. Our admissions tutoring is about developing genuine interests and experiences. It introduces pupils to ideas, literature, culture, sport, art, and current affairs beyond the school curriculum. It encourages them to make connections between subjects, develop informed opinions and engage confidently with unfamiliar ideas.
This can be particularly valuable for pupils who have had fewer opportunities to engage with the culture of British boarding schools. Our aim is not to teach children facts to repeat in an interview, but to develop genuine curiosity, confidence and a broader intellectual outlook that will benefit them throughout their education.
What are your principles for choosing a school?
We believe that choosing a school should be about more than academic results, reputation or league-table position.
The right education is one in which a child can develop academically, personally and socially, in an environment suited to their individual character and aspirations.
Our purpose is to help families make those decisions with greater confidence, better information and the benefit of experienced, independent judgement.
Is everything confidential?
Yes, absolutely. We treat information provided by families with the utmost discretion and maintain the highest standards of confidentiality and data protection. We know our families demand privacy, and we are privileged to have excellent relationships with our families.
We will never contact a school or share information about a child without the family's knowledge and appropriate consent. Where required, we can withold some details from schools until further into the application process.
Does Rutherford Henderson have a charitable commitment?
Yes. Rutherford Henderson is committed to donating a proportion of its profits to organisations and bursary funds that widen educational opportunity for children.
In this way, we hope that our work can contribute not only to helping individual families make good educational choices, but also to making excellent educational opportunities more accessible to those who might otherwise have limited access to them.
