Read more articles in our 2026 Education Guide
Making the move
Going from a state school to an independent one can be daunting but, as Karen Neville shares, it can also be a delight…
When you’re 11 years old there are many changes in life to negotiate, not least moving from primary to secondary school, from all your lessons taking place in one classroom with one teacher to moving from room to room with fresh teachers each hour.
For many, me included, this might also mean going one step further and moving from state to independent. I remember greeting it with equal measures of trepidation and excitement.
Long before the actual ‘first day’ there was a process to go through which began with an entrance exam. I remember having “homework” to do in my last year at primary school along with a fellow pupil who was applying to the nearby boys’ independent school.
As the only two going through this process/torture we were sat together and supported each other through it, sometimes cheekily sharing answers. We – naturally – ended up dancing together (very gingerly) at the end of school disco too!
Thanks to the encouragement and support of our teacher by the time the exams came round one Saturday morning in January I was prepared for the maths, comprehension and verbal reasoning tests that faced me, if rather “unprepared” for the rows of girls sat around me in very smart, mainly prep school uniforms, pencils poised.
As it turned out, I didn’t need the tutor that was suggested – although this can be a worthwhile option to explore – as I scored among the top 10 per cent. About a month or so later came the interview with the Headmistress, I’d never felt as scared as I did in her study.
When September rolled around, there I was in a green and maroon blazer and razor sharp pleated grey skirt, complete with a tie – once I’d learned how to tie it – and ready, just about, to face the day. We had to wear hats then too!
The day, which I failed to fully appreciate until then, was longer than I had been used to, starting at 8.30am, often with chapel, and finishing at 4pm. I was however more appreciative of the longer school holidays – four weeks at Christmas and Easter and eight in the summer.
Probably the main difference which may sound obvious was that it was single sex – there were just smiling girls faces everywhere and at that time very few male teachers as well. That was quite a learning curve in itself, not seeing any boys. Once in the sixth form there were some shared lessons and drama productions with boys from the nearby school as well as the balls and parties to enjoy.
The curriculum was also very different to that which I had been navigating at primary and while, of course, the syllabus is much the same at any secondary school, to me it felt like a big leap, for one I had to learn Latin!
There are without doubt some aspects of the transition I wish I had been better prepared for. Those pupils going from prep to independent were much more in tune with some of the nuances and practices and looking back now it would definitely have been helpful to have had some sort of mentor who could have guided me through those early days – many schools now have buddies to do just this. I can’t even tell you the number of times I got lost going from one classroom to another and what was the “san”? Turns out nurse in the sanitorium was on hand to treat all manner of ailments.
Prep as I discovered it was called, rather than homework, was also a revelation to me. I’d been at school for seven and a half hours and now I had to do more? The sheer discipline of doing this was a challenge at times I’ll admit but staff were very supportive and recognised that this wasn’t a straightforward step for many pupils, especially those in my situation, to make and offered help and extra tuition where needed. So first big lesson learned – never be afraid to ask for support if you need it.
While there is much that can weigh heavy on your mind, it’s important to focus on the positives and in particular the opportunities an independent school education can offer to ensure you’re excited and happy about the transition.
If you love your sports or are musically-gifted the opportunities are endless to explore these avenues further and develop your talents. While I may have been the “worst lacrosse player ever”, it did teach me a certain strength and resilience, even if not how to run and cradle the hard rubber ball at the same time with any proficiency.
There is a sense of camaraderie that develops among pupils at independent schools, especially among boarders, and ultimately of course, it’s worth remembering that all 11-year-olds are in the same situation when they enter on day one – you go from being a big fish in a small pond to being a small fish in a big pond, but with the right moves and support you’ll soon find it’s all going swimmingly!
