When the time comes to choose a primary or secondary school for your child, you’ll probably feel a little overwhelmed with all of the things that you’ll need to consider. After all, it’s a big responsibility for parents, but if you know what you’re looking for, the process should be far less stressful. Read on for some guidance from a prep school in the UK.
Consider Your Priorities, but Go with Your Gut
You know your child better than anyone, so you know what’s best for them, which is where your gut instinct will come into play. Can you see them thriving at a small, village school? Do you think they’d cope with a larger establishment, where there are typically more extra-curricular activities to choose from but lots more people to get used to?
What are your priorities as a family? Are exam results something you feel strongly about, or are you more interested in the pastoral care provisions or the general atmosphere? Does your child have any special educational needs that must be catered to? Would you prefer your child attended a single-sex school over a co-educational one?
Talk things through as a family and think about what your main concerns are, as this will help you rule out some definite no’s.
Look at the Facts and Figures
League tables and Ofsted reports are useful for helping you find a good school. They will allow you to understand how well the students tend to perform at the school, compared with other children their age at different schools. In other words, they will help you understand the quality of education provided. However, try not to let them sway you completely, as they only provide part of the picture. After all, high grade averages might not necessarily mean it’s the best option for your youngster.
Visit the Schools
Once you have done plenty of research into suitable schools for your child, you should be able to prepare a shortlist of establishments that you’d like to visit. Open events are great because you’ll be able to chat with teachers and listen to a talk from the Head, but it would be wise to visit the school on a regular day if you can, as this will give you a clearer view of how things operate in a normal setting.
During your visit, there are lots of things to think about. The following list should help:
- Do the children seem happy and well-adjusted? Do they look engaged in lessons?
- What does behaviour seem to be like in between lessons?
- Does the school seem to showcase student work?
- Does the school match-up with the prospectus/website?
- Does the school seem clean, safe, and generally well-kept?
If you get a chance to speak to the teachers or other staff during your visit, it would be worth asking some/all of the following questions:
- What is the school’s ethos?
- What are the class sizes? What is the ratio of classroom assistants to students?
- How do you support children with additional needs?
- How do you support children who are gifted and talented?
- How do teachers communicate with parents in case of any issues?
Of course, you will likely have some of your own questions to ask and doing so will help you make the most of your visit. However, it is highly likely that you’ll know as soon as you walk through the front doors whether or not it feels like a good fit for your youngster.
Talk to Other Parents
Don’t be afraid to seek out some advice from people who have already been through the experience of choosing a school for their child. They will be able to give you their own thoughts and opinions about the school in which their child attends, which you will be able to match up to your own priorities and considerations.
