Muddy Stilettos


<p>Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of private schools out there? Laser-focused on shopping around for the schools that offer educational bang for your buck? Luckily for you, there’s a one-stop-shop solution:&nbsp;the <a href="https://schoolsshow.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Independent Schools Show</a> – the UK&#8217;s leading event for parents exploring the world of independent education – held <strong>Thu 14 May</strong> in London’s RHS Lindley Hall. Consider it your chance to cut through the marketing fluff and get the real insider scoop on the best private schools in the UK. Oh, and it&#8217;s totally FREE to attend. You heard that right.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1063" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/039_Lancing_June-22.jpeg" alt="Private school" class="wp-image-78413" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/039_Lancing_June-22.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/039_Lancing_June-22-600x425.jpeg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/039_Lancing_June-22-1000x709.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/039_Lancing_June-22-741x525.jpeg 741w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: Lancing College</figcaption></figure>



<p>Whether you’re looking for tips on fee assistance (yes, it’s possible) or considering boarding, this is the event to attend. The best part? Your trusty Muddy team will even be stepping onto the flashy Muddy Stilettos Stage for a series of talks to help you plan, decide, and ponder your child&#8217;s future. More on that in a minute! All that, plus the chance to rub shoulders with the key decision makers at over 60 schools, get expert advice, and honest info on the financial side of things. It’s school-hunting, Muddy style – stress-free and time efficient! We likey.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-muddy">MEET MUDDY</h2>



<p>Of course you&#8217;re going to want to stop by the Muddy Stilettos stage for five different talks, from 10.15am to 2pm, where Muddy Stilettos Founder Hero Brown and Editor Rachel Jane will be hosting a series of no-nonsense, real-world discussions about finding the right school for your child, school fees, and whether leaving London in search of greener pastures could be the right move for your family. It&#8217;s definitely a hot topic right now as more people look to shop around (and, yes, price is very much a factor).</p>



<p>Schooling decisions can be a bit of a headache, to say the least. But Muddy is here to make it easy, being joined on stage by several industry professionals from top schools around the country, including Bishop&#8217;s Stortford College, King&#8217;s Canterbury, Bedales School, and more. We’ll also be dishing out tips on open days, league tables, and finding the right match for your child&#8217;s personality, as well as clear, practical guidance on bursaries, planning, and long-term affordability. If all else fails, we’ll have a glass of medicinal Champagne at the ready. Naturally. Check out the full programme of talks&nbsp;<a href="https://schoolsshow.co.uk/talks-programme-2026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here.</a></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bursaries-amp-scholarships-de-mystified">BURSARIES &amp; SCHOLARSHIPS DE-MYSTIFIED</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image.png" alt="PRIVATE SCHOOL CHILDREN" class="wp-image-80961" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image-600x400.png 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image-787x525.png 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>The VAT changes that came into effect in 2025 have been tricky waters to navigate for many parents, and if the fees are (understandably) starting to make you sweat a bit, scholarships and bursaries might just be your family’s financial saviour. Fee assistance can often feel a bit opaque when it comes to private school applications, but there is financial support out there – and it can cover up to 110% of the fees. To help parents navigate the dark arts of fee assistance, at this year’s Independent Schools Show, you will be able to drill the experts on the difference between the two, your eligibility and how to ace the application process. An invaluable opportunity. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strategy-timing-amp-preparation">STRATEGY, TIMING, &amp; PREPARATION</h2>



<p>Sights firmly set on some of the UK&#8217;s very top schools? Chances are you&#8217;ll be preparing for the inevitable admissions war. Down arms, sister. Bonas MacFarlane &amp; Think Academy are in town to hold your hand, stroke your hair, and talk coping mechanisms when it comes to battling the very toughest of competitive school admissions. But it doesn&#8217;t have to be a stress fest. With the right planning, prep, and strategy (and after attending the 10.15am or 2.15pm talk), you&#8217;ll be equipped with the tools to tackle it head-on. </p>



<p>And if you need just that little bit of extra reassurance, there&#8217;s always the VIP Family Ticket option, which gets you an exclusive group talk with a senior Bonas MacFarlane director on planning your school search, preparation and application process, plus a 25-minute personal consultation with Bonas MacFarlane Education, providing expert guidance tailored specifically to your child. Remember, no question is too big or small. Tickets are £50 and booking is essential. Secure yours <a href="https://schoolsshow.co.uk/tickets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">EXPERT ADVICE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2560" height="1707" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Muddy-ISS-scaled.jpeg" alt="MUDDY ISS panel show" class="wp-image-137540" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Muddy-ISS-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Muddy-ISS-600x400.jpeg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Muddy-ISS-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Muddy-ISS-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Muddy-ISS-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></figure>



<p>Worried about the affordability of private education? Will your child pass those terrifying entrance exams? Or want to know how the admissions process works in some of London&#8217;s very top schools? If you’ve got burning questions about anything from 11+ prep to relocating outside London for better school options, switching between state and private, single-sex vs co-ed schools, the talks at the Independent Schools Show have you covered. With a comprehensive programme of talks scheduled with a range of seriously clued-up experts, this is your chance to deep dive into the specifics of independent education, with those very people on hand to answer your queries. Check out the <a href="https://schoolsshow.co.uk/talks-programme-2026?&amp;filters.STREAM=parent-briefings-1&amp;searchgroup=8A5BF09E-summer-2026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">full list of talks</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-make-a-day-of-it">MAKE A DAY OF IT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2560" height="1851" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/miguel-sousa-2ZKyIAstcf0-unsplash-scaled.jpg" alt="Tate Britain" class="wp-image-137542" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/miguel-sousa-2ZKyIAstcf0-unsplash-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/miguel-sousa-2ZKyIAstcf0-unsplash-600x434.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/miguel-sousa-2ZKyIAstcf0-unsplash-1000x723.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/miguel-sousa-2ZKyIAstcf0-unsplash-1536x1110.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/miguel-sousa-2ZKyIAstcf0-unsplash-2048x1480.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></figure>



<p>The Independent Schools Show is located in RHS Lindley Hall – slap bang in central London, so make a day of it. There&#8217;s a whole playground of fun right on the doorstep. Time it right and you can catch the pageantry and pomp of the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace. Tate Britain is within strutting distance, where you can currently pore over the intensely colourful work of British artist Hurvin Anderson. Head up to the OXO Tower&#8217;s free public viewing gallery for a bird&#8217;s-eye view of The Thames, or make like Jessie Buckley in <em>Hamnet</em> and catch <em>A Midsummer Night&#8217;s Dream</em> on at The Shakespeare Globe. If not, a gentle stroll up the river, taking in the sights of Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, is always a shout.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-grab-your-muddy-vip-ticket">GRAB YOUR MUDDY VIP TICKET</h2>



<p>If your interest is suitably piqued, you’ll be pleased to know you can get FREE <a href="https://schoolsshow.co.uk/muddy-tickets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">advance tickets</a> (usually £25 on the door). Be quick as spots are limited – see you there! </p>



<p><strong><em><a href="https://schoolsshow.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Independent Schools Show</a> (Thu 14 May), The Lindley Hall, 80 Vincent Square, London SW1P 2PB</em></strong>.</p>



<div style="height:56px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<div style="height:56px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/school-reviews/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Head straight to Muddy&#8217;s Best School Guide and read over 600 honest reviews</a></li>



<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/education/private-school-fees-real-cost/">The real cost of private school (and how parents actually make it work)</a></li>



<li><a href="https://london.muddystilettos.co.uk/life/parenting/how-to-revise-gcse-alevel-collingham-college/">Exams incoming? How to nail that GCSE and A Level revision</a></li>
</ul>


Thinking about private school? Grab a free ticket to UK’s best school show

You may also like