Grey Parrot Education

23/06/2026

Not every child who is quiet, hesitant or slower to respond in class has an additional learning need.

Sometimes they are processing two languages, adapting to a new country and translating an entire world in their head.

That was one of the most thoughtful takeaways from my visit to EIFA International School this morning.

I met with Head of School Stéphane Kuhn and Registrar Coralie Moyne to learn more about EIFA’s bilingual French–English provision, admissions approach and school community.

What stood out was the care taken to distinguish between the natural experience of learning across languages and genuine additional needs, while still making sure that children who do require support are properly understood.

That level of nuance matters, particularly in an international school where pupils may arrive from different countries, cultures and education systems.

The other thing that came through strongly was the sense of community. EIFA felt warm, personal and genuinely international, rather than simply describing itself that way in a prospectus.

This is why school visits are such an important part of my work. You can read about a curriculum online, but you only really understand a school when you meet the people, walk the corridors and see the environment children experience each day.

Thank you to Stéphane and Coralie for the warm welcome, the thoughtful conversation and the tour, especially on a 33°C London morning! 🥵🇫🇷🇬🇧

20/04/2026

Is your school application list getting out of hand? 📝

I recently heard from a mum who was registering her child for nine different schools.

Nine. That is nine registration fees, nine assessment days and nine different sets of criteria to juggle. 😵‍💫

When you’re in the thick of it, nine feels like "safety." But in reality, a scattergun approach often leads to:
❌ Diluted focus for you.
❌ Burnout for your child just as exams start.
❌ High costs (especially with the 20% VAT on fees now in effect ).

There is a better way.

I advocate for the Rule of Three (Plus One). It’s a strategy designed to find the "fit" without the frantic "application arithmetic."

In my latest blog, I break down: ✅ Why 9 isn't the magic number for safety.
✅ How to build a balanced list (The Stretch, The Fit and The Banker).
✅ Why 7+, 11+, and 13+ deadlines are earlier than you think.

Stop following the herd and start focusing on your child.

Read the full guide here 👇

Feeling overwhelmed by your spreadsheet? Let’s talk.

How many independent schools should you apply to? A practical guide for parents navigating 7+, 11+ and 13+ admissions in the UK.

19/01/2026

School interviews aren’t about perfect answers.

They’re about fit, authenticity and how a child thinks in the moment.

This piece looks at what schools actually look for at interview and why over-preparation can quietly work against children.

👇🏾 Read the full post here

https://greyparroteducation.com/what-schools-look-for-at-interview/

05/01/2026

💭 How we talk to our children before assessments matters more than we think.

As assessment dates approach, many parents find themselves walking a tightrope wanting to encourage confidence without adding pressure, support without stress.

This piece explores:
✨ how children actually experience assessment conversations
✨ what builds real confidence (and what quietly undermines it)
✨ practical ways to keep the focus on wellbeing, not just outcomes

It’s calm, grounded and written with real families in mind not perfection.

👇🏾 If this feels familiar, you may find this helpful.

You’re not doing this wrong. You’re doing your best.

https://greyparroteducation.com/how-to-talk-to-your-child-before-school-assessments/

01/01/2026

One year on from VAT on private school fees and for many families, the weight hasn’t disappeared.

What I’ve seen over the past twelve months isn’t panic. It’s parents quietly recalculating, making sacrifices, asking difficult questions and wondering how long they can realistically keep going.

This piece looks back at what we were told and what actually happened. It brings together real data, lived experience and the decisions families are now making behind the scenes.

If this has been part of your reality, you may find this helpful.

📖 I’ve shared the full reflection here 👇🏾

One year after VAT on independent school fees UK came into effect, we examine the real impact on families, bursaries and school choices.

31/12/2025

A school choice insight.

Before looking outward, it helps to look inward.

Understanding how your child learns, what interests them and how they navigate social spaces often tells you far more than league tables ever will.

Schools don't shape children in the same way.
Children experience schools very differently.

This is often easier to see once the process is already underway.

29/12/2025

🧠 The school search isn’t just about schools.
It’s about uncertainty, pressure and decisions that feel far bigger than they should.

I’ve written about what I wish parents knew before the open days, comparisons and WhatsApp noise set in.

If you’re in the middle of it or about to start, I hope this helps you feel a little less alone 🌿

Overwhelmed by school open days and WhatsApp groups? Here's what I wish someone had told me before I started the independent school search.