What school should we choose?
Is this the right path?
Should we move them?
Will they fall behind?
These are the questions that haunt many parents. I’ve asked them myself. So in this special episode of the Mindful Learning Podcast, I sat down with my son, Theo, to talk about his educational journey—one shaped by change, creativity, challenge, and unexpected opportunities.
Here’s what I took away, with some powerful insights from Theo himself.
1. A ‘Good’ School Isn’t Always a Glossy One
So many of us are drawn to schools with shiny brochures, elite reputations, tiny class sizes. But as Theo reflected:
“It isn’t necessarily just about having great facilities or teachers who went to prestigious universities. It’s about the level of care for each child… Is the teaching rooted in a nurturing, holistic method?”
When Theo moved from private to state primary, we saw a dramatic shift. At the prep school, despite the polish, he wasn’t really seen. He was even bullied—and the response was a disheartening “boys will be boys.”
But in his new school?
“Yes, the class sizes were larger, but I was in a much more welcoming environment. The teachers cared about us as individuals. There was more creativity, less rigidity.”
Parent Reflection:
It’s easy to assume prestige equals quality. But some of the most emotionally intelligent, grounded children I’ve taught or parented have come from “unfashionable” schools. What matters is how your child feels—safe, valued, challenged. Not the blazers or the Latin lessons.
2. Change Is OK
We often fear school transitions: Will they cope? Will it damage them? But Theo reminded me:
“Change is always challenging… but it’s also a fundamental part of life.”
Theo changed schools multiple times—from prep to state primary, from comprehensive to sixth form college, and again from university to a postgraduate conservatoire. Each step required adjustment, but also led to growth.
“When I changed schools, I was suddenly in a classroom with really different people… but I was made to feel welcome. The ethos was nurturing.”
He also noted how sixth form college, with its more relaxed, adult expectations, prepared him for the independence of university:
“Some of my friends from rigid environments really struggled at uni. I’d already learnt how to take responsibility for myself.”
Parent Reflection:
We want to protect our children from upheaval. But sometimes, a well-timed change is exactly what they need to flourish. It’s not about making everything easy—it’s about helping them develop resilience.
3. Peer Groups Matter—but Outliers Thrive Too
Theo was never the classic all-rounder. Not sporty. Not one of the in-crowd. And yet, he found his place.
“I didn’t fit into a particular group… but I made friends based on shared values—people who liked to read, to laugh about things I laughed about.”
He added:
“There was space to explore who I was and what I wanted from my peers.”
Parent Reflection:
We worry if our child is a bit different, not part of the “popular” clique. But sometimes it’s the outliers—the imaginative, the introverted, the unconventional—who become the most interesting, resilient adults. Let them find their own rhythm.
4. Great Teachers Change Everything
We often chase school-wide results, but sometimes it just takes one brilliant teacher.
“My Year 6 teacher had this exciting way of talking about books. That joy in reading—it was OK, even exciting. That really stuck with me.”
In sixth form:
“My A Level music teacher asked: Why do you like the music? What does it mean to you? It wasn’t about the rubric—it was about appreciation. It made life meaningful.”Parent Reflection:
Ask your child: Who really sees you? Who makes you feel excited about learning? If they can name even one teacher like that, you’re in a good place. Education is about connection as much as curriculum.
5. Creative Subjects Aren’t “Extras”
In a climate of cuts and narrowing curricula, music and the arts are too often side-lined. But for Theo, they were foundational.
“Music let me discover something I could be good at. That mattered.”
He added:
“There are so many transferable skills. Music helps with language, maths, even physics… It’s not just about becoming Adele—it’s about opening up other parts of yourself.”
Parent Reflection:
Creative subjects teach more than technical skill. They build confidence, communication, self-expression. They can be a refuge, a launchpad, or a lifelong passion. Don’t let anyone tell you they’re optional.
6. There’s No One Track to Success
Theo’s story defies the tidy linear narrative: school → elite university → single career. Instead, it’s rich, layered, evolving.
“I studied music. But I’ve always been interested in politics, in how change happens.”
He now combines creative work with public service. He’s teaching, gigging, and on the Civil Service Fast Stream.
“Being allowed to discover what I’m genuinely good at opened more doors than if I’d just been pushed into something.”
Parent Reflection:
Let’s stop obsessing over The Plan. Life isn’t linear. Allow your child to experiment, adapt, grow. Help them ask: What brings me joy? What kind of person do I want to become?
Final Thoughts
On that long car ride up the A1, Theo and I didn’t set out to record a podcast. We were just talking. But as I listened to him reflect—honestly, generously, with humour and insight—I realised his story might be the answer I wish I could give to every anxious parent who asks me:
What’s the best education for my child?
It’s the one that helps them become themselves.
It’s not about finding the perfect path. It’s about walking it mindfully, together.