Choosing a school - where to begin?
Choosing a school - your first moves
Of course, like everyone else in your situation, what you really want is a wonderful school, ideal for your child, with great teaching and facilities to match. But these things all mean something different to each person. When picking schools to apply to, think about what motivates your child and what would work for you as a family — and most of us need to remember that when push comes to shove, although your preferences play their part, the school picks your child not the other way round.
School search basics
There's no better way to start than a cold, hard look at the undeniable facts of your current situation:
How old is your child? Are you looking at primary, secondary or sixth form education?
How old will they be when starting at the school you're looking for?
Where will you be living when your child starts at the school?
Is private school an option (with or without fee assistance)?
What are you looking for in a school?
Make an honest list of everything you want for your child, however frivolous or peripheral it may seem. But be realistic about your little cherub. A not-very-academic child will be much happier in the top half of a non-selective school than bumping along at the bottom of a league table-topper. And a not-very-sporty child could hate a school where the only high-fives you get in the playground are if you’ve been selected for the 1st XI or won the school another shining sporting trophy.
Here are some ideas:
Is your child narrowly academic or carefree and creative...or maybe an all-rounder?
Very local, very convenient - how would your child get to school? Will the services of mum and dad taxi company need to be employed till the end of A levels?
Length of school day plus before and after-school care. Essential options for working parents.
A traditional approach with strong focus on the 'three Rs' or a relaxed outlook and lots of outside space?
State-of-the-art facilities. Drama studios, A/V suites, boat house...etc. Rare in the state sector and pricey in the private sector but are they essential for your child's interests?
Sport for all or top-class coaching for high-flyers. Do you want somewhere with an elite training centre only open to the school's future Olympians or a school with lots of sports and teams to give everyone a chance?
A stepping stone to a top-notch senior school or university? Some schools keep academic standards high to ensure a significant proportion of pupils move on to academic senior schools or leading universities.
An excellent reputation for dealing with learning difficulties - would specialist provision, teaching assistants, trained staff make school better for your child?
Scholarships and bursaries (for private schools) - many schools have limited funds available to cover the cost of places (in full and in part) for children they really like the look of. Genius mathematicians, excellent pianists, ruthless fast bowlers....apply here.
Beauty of architecture. Do gothic arches make for a better school?
Religious ethos. How important is it that your child is educated in a religious setting and that aspects of the school timetable are influenced by faith?
Single-sex or co-ed. Do you have a theory on what works better for boys and girls? It's almost certainly informed by your own education....but you child may well be different to you.
Parental involvement. Engaged parents are an important ingredient in a successful education. What part will you play, inside and outside school, in your child's education?
Of course, it is worth mentioning that not every parent is blessed with choice. A great many children have one school within commuting distance and so that is the school they go to. However, if you are fortunate to be presented with options, then the list of questions to ask yourself goes on and on. Hopefully those given above can provide a starting point for your school search.
What else to consider?
Those practical considerations that we touched on earlier do need to make a reappearance in your planning.
The cost. If you have ruled out fee-paying schools because you can’t afford the fees, then fine. If, however, private school is an option, its worth giving your finances a careful assessment. Fees go up each year often above the rate of inflation. Are you confident about coming up with the necessary cash year after year?
Geographical limitations. You may need to rule out something you want simply because it's not available near enough to home. E.g. Single-sex school or a particular ethos. Or would you be willing to move house to get better school options?
Boarding is a necessity? Maybe the perfect school is too far away from home. Or perhaps you need a boarding school because you travel a lot.
Choosing a boarding school
You'll need to work out what kind of boarding experience your child and family are looking to get from a school. There are certainly plenty of variations.
Full, weekly or flexi-boarding
Exeats/holidays that fit in with your family life
All-in fees or flexible extras
Environment — bustling town or away from it all country setting
Contact — how much, how often and how?
Saturday school
State boarding schools exist. Don't rule them out.
Be prepared to revisit, refine, and re-prioritise your wish list — but it will help you initially with your long list, and later your shortlist, of potential schools.
How important is it to visit schools?
Choosing a school is a process of elimination. And it is vital you see several schools so that you have a point of comparison and can confirm or counter instincts you have about each one. Things to consider when you visit an open day:
Your gut reaction — the atmosphere should be tangible and excite you. If the school doesn’t feel right, it isn’t right.
The head — is he/she impressive? You don’t have to like him/her, but it helps; the head really does make or break a school.
Staff — is there a member of staff at the school who is on the same wavelength as you? If your child is boarding, there must be someone you can turn to and feel in tune with.
The pupils — do you see your child sitting among them?
The bigger picture — it’s easy to judge a school exclusively by the bottom end because your child is young, but look at the end product too.
