Choosing a school

This is the time of year that many parents are having to make decisions about what primary or secondary school to send their child to.

Here are a few hints and tips to help you make those decisions:

Think about what type of school you want.  Do you want fee paying or state? Single sex or co-ed? Think carefully about which school will really suit your child and also the journey involved.  Do you want to sit in traffic for 35 minutes or more each morning to then have to do it again in the afternoon?

If you are thinking of a state school, find out what catchment area you are in,  you can use your local LEA website for this.  It is worth asking your local authority or the school directly whether children where you live have been offered places in the past if you are on the edge of a catchment.

Look at school’s admission policies.  Many primary schools have a strong sibling policy and some schools that may be affiliated with a church might have special requirements related to your family’s religion.  Many independent schools have entrance exams which you need to know about.  The same goes for grammar schools; firstly, find out if you’re in the catchment area and when the 11+ examinations take place.

You must visit the school and I strongly recommend that you do this without your child initially.  Your child will focus on completely different things to you; the vending machines, the football pitch or the café whereas you are looking at the school for academia, pastoral care and results.  You don’t want a fight on your hands when you decide that the school with the best vending machine is not the one you’re going to add to your list, because they have a poor record at GCSE level.

During these strange times, many schools are offering virtual tours.  I know it’s not the same, but do book in and take a look.  Drive to the school and have a look from a distance and consider the journey. I suggest visits take place in year 4 for secondary, simply because many schools have their open days on the same day, and you don’t want to miss out.  If this isn’t possible don’t panic.  Many schools will allow a visit on another day.

Make sure you feel welcomed as a parent and ask as many questions as you like.  The school’s attitude towards you is just as important as it is towards your child.

If you’re able to, try and get an appointment to see the school during a working day (not possible at the moment).  This is a good way to see how the pupils interact with the teachers and if the school will really suit your child.

Listen to the Headteacher’s speech.  The Headteacher is responsible for the ethos and vision of the school you are considering.  They are also responsible for employing key staff for both teaching and pastoral care so their attitude and outlook is very likely to trickle down throughout the school.

Some children may have special needs or find large, noisy schools scary, some may need to be challenged whilst others will do better in a school which is more laid-back; think about the type of environment your child needs to thrive and be happy.

The hardest part of all is trying not to listen to other parents; you know what is best for your child and choosing a school is an individual choice and once you’ve done all of your research, listen to your heart and try to prioritise your child’s wellbeing first and foremost.

Good luck!