The school term may only be a few weeks in, but for many parents thoughts are already turning to the next academic year and the usual school selection process. Many factors are involved in choosing a school for your child, and ensuring you pick the right school can be a daunting task.

To help parents weigh up the options, the organiser of this year’s Independent Schools Show, David Wellesley-Wells, give Coutts Woman some of his top tips:

1) It is important to meet the Head and prepare for the meeting with a list of questions, so that you don’t miss out on any vital queries. Treat it as you would any other business meeting.

2) Make sure in that meeting, that you feel comfortable with the Head. Also make sure you meet the key staff that will be teaching your children. If you feel comfortable with them it is likely that your children will too.

3) If choosing a senior school, talk to the child's current Head to get their advice as well.

4) Find out more about the ethos of the school. It is important that it is compatible with the values and culture of you as parents – your children will be spending a large chunk of their lives at the school that you choose.

5) Also check that the objectives of the school suit the disposition of the child, his or her character and personality, strengths and weaknesses. Do this by asking questions, and meeting with other pupils and their parents.

“When visiting the school, meet the staff and ask to sit in on a class.”

6) While league tables can be an important guide to academic success they are not a guide to those all-important extra curricular activities. Check these out as many children have strengths other than academic which need nurturing.

7) Find out if there is a community/family spirit either within the school or the House the child will be part of. This is particularly important for supporting introverted or nervous children. Also find out about the school's attitude to bullying and how such incidents would be dealt with as this can be a great indicator of the school’s discipline culture.

8) Check out the website and the school brochure - try and read between the lines. The school magazine can be a good overall indication of activities, successes and pupils’ work.

9) When visiting the school, meet the staff and ask to sit in on a class - teacher/student rapport is important, and most good schools will make arrangements for you to do this.

10) Finally, and most importantly, when visiting the school, talk to existing pupils - are they confident, happy, polite? If they are, then you can assume that this is how your children will also be educated.

The Independent Schools Show (ISS), taking place on November 1 and 2 at the Battersea Evolution, London. The ISS offers parents the opportunity to meet the Heads and staff representing over 100 of the UK's leading schools under one roof and provides them with the basis to form initial opinions and make a shortlist. A theatre with educational expert speakers provides the prospect of stimulating debate.

Coutts Woman is offering readers a special offer on tickets to the Independent Schools Show. Click here for more details.

By Claire Symonds