FAQ
Will my child be forced to be a Christian?
The amount of Bible teaching varies amongst the schools but in an environment where God is actively placed at the centre, the ethos will be overtly Christian. Alongside that is the core Christian philosophy that each person, no matter what age they might be, has a personal choice to make about Jesus as their saviour and therefore a forced adherence to Christianity has no validity.
What is the ‘Anti Bullying’ procedure and do you have many problems with bullying?
The Anti-Bullying policies in our schools are formed using best practice guidance, in addition, the OFSTED reports covering this aspect of our schools have been positive. The question of bullying reflects poor relationships between pupils. Our schools place the highest priority on these relationships working to the benefit of all and are small enough for issues to be noticed early on. This means that any minor incidents of bullying are able to be resolved quickly and satisfactorily.
Are all the Teachers Christians and qualified?
Yes all the teachers are Christians and in keeping with British independent schools of all types, most hold teaching qualifications or degrees. Some staff receive training through the schools themselves.
How much does it cost to send my child to a Christian school?
Independent Christian Schools receive no public funding and so our schools have approached this issue in a variety of ways. Please check with individual schools with regard to their fee structure and admissions policies. Most of the schools have a facility for those that cannot afford full fees, so if you feel that it may be beyond your means, please explore this with the school concerned.
Will my child benefit from small classes?
Individual attention is probably the biggest single benefit to a student’s progress. If problems arise they can be identified early and corrected quickly and children flourish in an atmosphere where they are given more time and attention. The exact size of classes is dependant on the school concerned, although it is almost always the case that they will be smaller than the national average.
Will my child be happy?
Each child has specific needs and happiness cannot be guaranteed. However the staff are ultimately concerned with each child as an individual and with their development.
What are the academic standards like?
Academic standards are high in all our schools but each individual child is important to us and not all are highly academic. We aim to allow and enable our students to reach their own potential academically, spiritually and in every other way. GCSE results across our schools are consistently above the national averages. Many of our schools are frequently among the highest achieving schools in their areas.
Can small schools teach a full range of subjects?
Sometimes small schools cannot offer as wide a range of subjects as their larger counterparts. Resources are sometimes limited but our schools aim to look at their students so as to identify and develop their gifts and abilities. Small schools have a flexibility that larger schools may not, so sometimes this allows specialist subjects to be taught on an individual basis.
Shouldn’t my child be salt and light?
Our belief is that in issuing this teaching, Jesus did not intend that we compromise the nurture of our children. The social and family structures of the time were very different to today. Our concern is that children are susceptible to the influence of their peers and adults in authority over them and can become like those they associate with. Children spend a minimum of 6 hours in school each day but generally only 2 hours in church each week. In today’s busy and demanding world we need to consider how to provide effective teaching and modelling for our children each day. Christian schools are not the only answer to this dilemma but they are a part of the answer.
Won’t my child be protected from the ‘real’ world?
There is an increasing body of evidence to show that children and young people from Christian schools cope substantially better beyond the school boundaries than others in their age group. Our view is that the reality of life is found in Christ. It is the world without His influence that Christians need to prepare their children for. A school without the truth of God at its centre will not adequately be able to prepare its pupils for a life in God’s Kingdom.
If you have any further questions, please contact the CST office.