Is your child about to start primary school or secondary school? If so, you may want to spend some time considering which school is the best option for your child’s needs. After all, they will be spending five days a week at the school for over half a decade, so it is important to find one that is a good fit!
But when it comes to weighing up your options, there are lots of things to consider; do you want to go private or public? Does the school need to be within walking distance of your home? And what school would your child prefer to go to?
Here are four tips to help you find the best school for your child.
Write a List
The first thing you should do is write a shortlist of schools in the area that you are considering. Make notes about each school (is the school nearby? What subjects does the school specialise in? What morals and values do the school focus on?). This will make it easier for you to weigh up the pros and cons of each school, so you should be able to use the information to narrow the list down to a shortlist.
Consider Your Child’s Opinion
While you will have a huge say in where your child goes, of course, however, it is very important to consider your child’s opinion. Maybe they want to go to an independent senior school, or maybe they would rather go to an all girl’s school. Either way, it is important to consider their opinion, as they are the ones who actually have to go to the school. Listening to them will also show them that you respect them and care about what they think – so it is a win-win situation!
Visit The Schools
Once you have a shortlist of two or three schools, you can contact the schools to set up a visit. This will give you the chance to learn more about the school; you will get to see the grounds for yourself, and you can speak to teachers and students to find out more about their experiences at the school. You can even check out the libraries and the cafeteria!
If you do decide to do this, we suggest bringing your child along with you to check out the school. This could help to reduce any anxiety they have about joining a new school, and it also means they can ask teachers questions that you might not have thought of.
Check Out League Tables
It can also be useful to check out school league tables. You can do this by speaking to your local school authority, or you can check out official school websites to find out more about exam results. This means you can find out which schools produce the best grades in the area, so your child has the best possible start in life.
Starting a new school can be a scary experience for both parents and children, but with proper planning you should be able to find a school that everyone is happy with.
