25 24 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! EDUCATION Raring2go! EDUCATION How to choose the best secondary school for your child Choosing the best school for your child can be very stressful. However, planning ahead will make the process much easier. “Every lesson should be outstanding. Teachers should adopt a child centred learning style. It is the job of teachers to inspire, motivate and constantly develop new strategies to find each child’s unique talent.” Preparation for your visit Consider all the options You may have several reasons for not including a school on your short-list but whatever the reason it is best to keep an open mind until you have done your homework. Schools change and what may have been a ‘failing’ school may now be outstanding, due to new leadership. Research Find out as much as you can about the school before your visit. Look at Ofsted reports, visit parent forums, read magazines or any articles you can nd about the school performance. Look at the school website. Is it updated regularly? The school website is the window to a school, a well-managed school will usually have an excellent website. Ask to speak to the Head Teacher Can you? If not why? Try to schedule a meeting with the Head during your visit. This will give you an invaluable insight about the ‘culture of openness’ within the school. Observe and ask questions Where possible it is useful to see how children interact before and after school, this will give you a good indication about whether your child will ‘ t in’. Speak to parents of children attending the school. “Sometimes instinctively you just know (it is similar t buying a house) if you felt inspired after your rst visit and you can imagine your child being there then it is probably the right choice”. Things to look for Are you happy with the class size? Do ALL the children seem engaged? Is their work displayed and is it age appropriate? Is the Head approachable to students, parents and teachers? How well is the school maintained? Are the grounds and equipment clean and safe? How do students behave is lessons and around the school? ou need to know The education – what y or specialist subject(s)? Is the school known f n does the school have for exams? What preparatio verage exam results? What are the a dents go after their exams? Ask Where do stu s, universities or work placements. about college ool have a system in place for Does the sch r not wishing to go on to higher students fo n? educatio e career advisors or school Are ther s? therapist ool accredited? Is the sch alities The practic commute to and from school? Is it a fairly safe and easy journey? Is it easy to oes it take to travel back from school? This will have an impact on your How long d mework, after school activity and general well being. child’s ho s a school bus are there If there i d late services for children early an e part in after school who tak s? activitie hild know any other Do you or your c hool, this could be children attending the sc f different reasons. Does invaluable for a number o our child’s chosen subjects. the school specialise in y The decision Your child’s opinion matters. Involve them in the process. Check out you local County Council website for a helpful Moving Up To Secondary School Guide and click on ‘Open Events’ to download a guide to all the open days and evenings for local schools. Don’t be afraid to ask questions • What is the educational mission for the school? • What pastoral care does the school offer? • What is the school’s approach to student discipline and safety? • What extracurricular activities are available? • Does the school help students achieve and excel individual targets? • Does the school have an arts department? • What support is there for students who have academic, social or emotional needs? • Do you encourage student/parent feedback by surveys or meetings? • Can you visit the school on a normal working day? • How do children travel to school? • Is there a school bus?
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