Supporting parents to make informed choices
Message from David Smith
Over the past three years, I have worked with many South African, and other overseas families, relocating to the UK and requiring support and guidance with school placements. It is a privilege to help and support you on this exciting journey that you are about to take. Having worked in leading UK schools, I can offer you detailed and impartial advice on the many options available to you. As a father of four children, I understand just how important it is to ensure that our children have a rewarding and challenging educational experience and that, above all, they are safe and cared for. With my academic and pastoral experience, I can guide you through the many questions that you will inevitably have.
No two students are the same. As such, David Smith Education works with many schools with varied profiles so that the right educational environment for your child can be identified. Due to the great variety of UK schools, they cannot be ‘ranked’ in a simple list. What is right for one child would not be right for another. So, how do you decide which school is right for your child?
With experience of teaching in co-educational, all-boy, all-girls, day and boarding settings, A Level and IB, selective and non-selective, I am able to provide you with a detailed understanding of the range of options available within the UK educational sector. With links to many schools, I can advise you on the best options for your child and support you through each stage of the application process through to enrolment and beyond.
With extensive professional experience in different settings, guidance can be offered on: single-sex or co-education, day or boarding, interview preparation, 6th Form admission, A Level or IB, special educational need provision and university applications, including Oxbridge preparation.
Selecting the right school can appear a daunting process, especially when you are far away, but I can support you each step of the way to ensure that you find the right school for your child.
To start a consultation, please contact me at [email protected] and I will be delighted to help.
Dr David Smith
Biography of Dr David Smith, BA (Hons), MA, M.Phil, PhD, PGCE
Dr David Smith is a highly qualified and experienced educationalist based in the United Kingdom. Having been a boarder at an all boy HMC school, David went on to study at four universities including Cambridge and London. His degrees include a Masters in International Education and a PhD Doctorate in Political History. David is a member of the London Livery Worshipful Company of Educators.
Over a 30 year career in education, David has taught History, been a Head of Department, Housemaster, Registrar, Head of International Recruitment and Deputy Headmaster in leading UK schools. With experience of teaching IGCSE, A Level and IB, leading Oxbridge preparation and interviewing, David has a detailed understanding of the UK education sector and can help you to select and apply to the right school for your child. With four children who have all been to schools and universities in the UK, David can advise both professionally and as a parent having faced the same questions that you are asking with informed and impartial advice about the best option for your child.
Working with UK, international and corporate clients, David can provide guidance to families relocating within or to the United Kingdom at each stage of their child’s educational journey.
Case studies on School Consultancy
I have worked with a wide range of clients from South Africa, and other countries, requiring support with school placements for their children. These have included admissions to leading UK prep schools such as Caldicott and Summer Fields and senior independent schools including Radley and Harrow. Our preparation work includes arranging tutorial support for ISEB assessments and school admission tests, and interview tutorials. We also support families considering maintained schools across the country, including selective grammar schools, sixth-form colleges, state boarding schools and schools supporting students with educational needs.
We have also help students with university applications and this has included arranging transfers from South African universities to UK institutions. A recent example was a 1st-year student at Stellenbosch University who has now continued her studies in the UK for a Law Degree.
With all families, we ensure that the children are closely involved in the process. At the start of each enquiry, an interview is held with the children so that we can fully understand their interests and hopes for their new school.
I would be happy to discuss your particular needs with you and advise on the most appropriate academic pathway for your child to ensure both current and future academic ambitions can be realised within the UK system.
To start a consultation, please contact me at [email protected] and I will be delighted to help.
