" One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world." Those are the words of Malala Yousafzai, who campaigned for education in northwest Pakistan, where the Taliban banned schooling for girls. Her courage was rewarded with a Taliban bullet. She was just 15.

Happily, Malala survived the shooting and the world took notice. She was the co-recipient of the 2014 Noble Peace Prize for her struggle against the supression of children and young people. She then became the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate aged 17.

She came to England and from 2013 to 2017 was a pupil at the all-girls' Edgbaston High School in Birmingham, one of the schools featured in the publication of our Independent Schools Guide. In August 2017, she gained admission to Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, to study for a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. Malala's experience teaches that education should not be taken for granted. A good education is to be prized and celebrated. That is what this publication aims to do - to champion education. And here in Shropshire and the West Midlands we have plenty to shout about. This region boasts some of the finest schools in the country, wonderful seats of learning, in some cases for several centuries.

Our schools are inspirational pillars of diversity, where children of all ethnic backgrounds study side by side in friendship, for as Malala observed: "Education is neither Eastern nor Western, it is human."

Parents want to give their children the best chances in life and choosing the right school is a big part of that.

The independent Schools Guide Shropshire & West Midlands is intended to help parents make an informed decision, acting as a guiding companion in the challenging process of finding the right school for sons and daughters.

From the publishers of Shropshire Magazine and Wolverhampton Magazine, this high-quality publication contains colourful features, plus comprehensive data about the region's leading independent schools, including details of fees, fully equipping parents with the vital information they need to make their choice.

Associate Editors:

Heather Loat

Neil Thomas

Head of Production:

Heather Broome

Editorial Production:

Debbie Bennett

Cover Design:

Adam Pettitt

Shropshire Sales Team:

Gail Williams

Caroline Chamberlain

West Midlands Sales Team:

Deana Jones

Leah Edmunds

Paula Richards

Tracy Baker