• The school is future facing, intellectually curious and individualised, and aims to prepare students for an unpredictable world through thoughtful discussion and close attention.

• Will suit families wanting a genuinely small secondary school with a modern, discussion-based way of learning.

Admissions at The Chalfonts Independent Grammar School should appeal to families seeking a more modern and discussion-led alternative to a conventional secondary, with small classes and a distinctive classroom method at the heart of the offer. The school should suit parents who value a forward-looking senior-school environment over a more traditional one-size-fits-all model.

The school’s strongest public differentiator is its teaching model rather than a heavily advertised scholarships culture. Families interested in awards or fee support should ask directly, but the clear draw here is small-group teaching, a modern curriculum and a more individualised senior-school experience.

The overall picture is unusually modern for an independent secondary, with maximum class sizes of fourteen and a teaching approach that combines the Harkness method with a deliberately interactive classroom environment. Parents should still visit because the key question is whether that seminar-style, highly participative atmosphere will genuinely suit their child’s learning style.