Choosing a school
Choosing which primary or secondary school your child attends is a huge decision and can involve a lot of research and planning.
Here are some of the key issues that you may want to consider.
When do you need to apply?
Primary
Apply a year before your child is due to start school (remember, some schools accept 4 year-olds). Your Local Education Authority (LEA) publishes a booklet explaining how to apply, which also includes an application form. You can pick one up at your local library, or you can contact your LEA.
Secondary
Start researching schools towards the end of Year 5 of primary school and apply during your child’s last winter term. The application process is the same as for primary schools.
How can you find out about schools?
You can learn a lot quickly by simply visiting a school. How do the teachers and children seem to you? Is the school well looked after with good resources, or falling apart with very few resources? How are the transport links? Does the school encourage parents to get involved? What does the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) have to say?
Read the school’s prospectus
The prospectus is like a brochure, it lets you see the way the school wants to present itself.
Check the school’s performance
You can find out how the school compares to others in terms of academic achievement. The DfES (Department for Education and Skills) publishes Achievement and Attainment tables for every school in England. You can see results for Key Stage 2. Key Stage 3, GCSE and A Levels.
Check the Ofsted report
The Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) produces a report on every school in England. Check out the schools you’re interested in on the Ofsted sirte.
Talk to your child
If your child’s not happy at school, their performance could suffer, so talk to them about it and make sure they’re involved in the selection process. Ask them where their friends are going? Do they have special interests like music, sport or languages to consider? How happy are they about travelling to a school further away?
What are your rights as a parent?
- Your child has a right to a school place between the ages of 5-16
- Your LEA must offer you a place for your child
- You can say which school you’d prefer your child to attend, no matter where it is, but this doesn’t mean your child will get a place there
- You can appeal to an independent panel if your child doesn’t get a place at your preferred schools, or if you are unhappy with the school your child is offered
For more information go to:
www.gettherightschool.co.uk