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Introduction by Mark Palmer, Editor

Looking around schools when compiling the Tatler guide is a perk and it never fails to teach you something. During one such visit to a distinguished all-boys public school, it came as a surprise to hear the headmaster extolling the virtues of co-education. 'Does that mean you will soon be admitting girls?' I asked. 'No, not at all,' he said. 'It's not the point. There are good schools and not-so-good schools and that's what the debate primarily should be about for parents and teachers.'

There are 180 schools in the guide - including 12 new entries - leaving parents with some tough choices. What works for James won't necessarily work for Edward; what suits Emma won't always be best for Laura. As the Irish poet WB Yeats put it: 'Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.' And fires go out if not properly looked after.

Chosing a school for your child is one of the most important decisions you have to make, with fees rising steadily year by year. Yet there are no signs that the number of fee-paying students is declining. Indeed, earlier in the year there was even encouragement from the Secretary of State for Education, who praised private schools for helping children become more rounded individuals by offering such a wide range of extracurricular activities.

I am confident that our new guide will help parents trim down their shortlists and make the daunting decision just a little bit easier.

Schools are listed by area - or, if you don't mind how far they go, you can simply "view all" using the links below

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