How to choose the best senior school for your child

Choosing the right school for your child is a decision that cannot be made lightly. The decision you make will have long reaching implications for your child’s future. You know your child better than anyone, so you need to take time to consider your options. 

Unless your child is a member of a middle school, when your child goes into Year 6 you need to decide which senior school they will be going to go to. It’s likely that their current primary school is a feeder to a local secondary school, but you don’t have to send your child to the school that the primary is feeder for. You have options, so choose which school you want to apply for their place in. Unfortunately, however, not all children get their first choice of school, so do remember to apply to more than one school.

You need to identify which schools you can apply for. Ordinarily, this is based upon the geography of where you live. If you’re unsure which schools your house falls into the catchment area of, have a look at Rightmove.co.uk and enter your postcode. Helpfully, the site provides a list of the local schools in the neighbourhood, and once you have a list of the local schools you can check their individual websites to confirm that you are indeed within their catchment boundary.

Will the School Fit Your Child?

Now that you’re armed with the names of the schools available to your child, the work can start. You need to sit down and think about your child as an individual so that you can identify the best education environment to send him or her to. Here are 4 criteria that you need to consider:

1. What do you want your child to learn?

You may have desires for your child to be educated with a religious background in place, such as in a church school. If this is important to you, you may need to make enquiries to schools outside of your catchment area. Your child may be academically gifted in a particular topic, and so you need to ensure that your school choice excels in this area.

2. How does your child learn best?

Children are all different, and they respond differently to teaching styles. Is your child a visual learner? Or do they benefit from a more logical approach to learning? Whichever way your child learns best will need to be satisfied by your choice of school’s teaching methods. You need to visit the school to see for yourself their approach to teaching.

3. What social aspects of school do you want for your child?

School is not just a place for learning academic subjects. It’s also a place to learn how to socially interact with people from different economic backgrounds, cultures, and religions. You need to decide on whether your school options will provide your child with the social skillset that will help them become the best adult that they can be. You may have concerns about the catchment area that the school covers – perhaps it also includes bringing together children from a less desirable area. This can be a contentious topic to talk about with other parents, as people can have strong views either way. 

4. What extra-curricular activities will your child like?

Your child need to have access to extra-curricular activities if they’re to have a rounded education. If your child is keen on rugby, it’s worth checking that your choice of school isn’t geared more towards football. This doesn’t just apply to sports; there are usually lots of extra lunch time clubs that can be attended. Be sure to check that your child’s tastes can be catered for.

Academic Achievements

You will undoubtedly be most interested in your choice of school’s academic achievements. They are, after all, an important measurement of the school’s academic success. Whether you’re considering the best private schools in London or your local comprehensive school for your child, the results tables can tell a very different story to the one that is promoted by the schools – and because the exams are set to a standard across the board, they’re fair indicators of the school’s performance.

School Visit

When you have your shortlist of possible schools for your child to apply for, make sure that you arrange a visit. The school may be keen for you to attend an Open Day rather than make a special visit, but try to make an appointment other than the Open Day if you can. By viewing the school on a day where business as normal, you’ll be able to see the pupils and teachers in a more relaxed atmosphere, and you’ll get a more realistic feeling for the school’s culture. Here is a list of things to look out for in an effective school:

a) busy children and no loitering pupils in hallways
b) children in the correct uniform
c) the walls display the children’s work and the work is of a high standard
d) graffiti free
e) the tone of voice between the teachers and pupils is dynamic and respectful
f) the classroom desks are arranged in groups to support collaboration rather than rows
g) there is technology in the classrooms

Use your opportunity of visiting the school to have a one-to-one discussion with the headteacher. In this meeting, ask questions about discipline. What strategy do they employ? Find out about staff turnover. Staff turnover is an indication of whether staff are supported in their roles. Ask the headteacher about their investment in the technology available for the pupils, and their investment in training their staff. You want a headteacher who’s keen on school progression, and that means the staff too.

Once you’ve gathered the information you’ll be able to assess the school on its merits, and you’ll be able to choose the best establishment for your child to reach the best of their abilities. The school you ultimately choose may go against the data you’ve collated, but it’s fine to choose a school based on your gut instinct simply because of the staff that you met and the culture in the school. You know your child best of all, and it’s a decision that you need to be happy with. Good luck!