England or Wales Mner who has applied for a place at a state school in the last 5 years or so? Please complete a survey: chance to win £100 NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

Here at MNHQ, we want to find out more about how you select a school for your child and what factors you consider.

This survey is open to all Mners who have applied for a place at a state school in the last 5 years or so in England and Wales only.

Everyone who completes the survey will be put into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £100 shopping voucher.

Here's the link again; www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/573Z3VJ

Thanks
MNHQ

[BeyondTellsEveryoneRealFacts]

Done :)

[amistillsexy]

Done

[amistillsexy]

I would have liked the opportunity to say, in the section that asks if OFSTED rating would mean that I would consider removing my child from a school- I would always make my own mind up about a school, based on my own perceptions of how they are teaching my children and how they deal with issues, difficulties, etc.
In my opinion, OFSTED judgements bear little, if any, relation to the way the children experience the school.

[BeyondTellsEveryoneRealFacts]

I would have liked to say that, although in wales, i think changing to academies is a negative thing. So i'll just say it here

[mummytime]

Done

[AnnMumsnet]

Comments welcome on the thread!

[BernardsarenotalwaysSaints]

Done but it wouldn't let me skip the secondary school questions so I had to click n/a for them.

[aristocat]

My choice of school was really that it was within walking distance AND results. Could only choose one option on the survey.

[catslife]

The all schools converting to academies isn't really relevant to us as most secondary schools round here have already converted!
Just for the record my dds primary school was downgraded by OFSTED from Good to Special Measures and we kept her there because we believed that the school had the capacity to improve. It improved very rapidly.

[slightlyglitterbrained]

I said "no" to removing child for OFSTED rating. The reality is that I wouldn't remove for a drop in rating (tbh DS doesn't start till September but you did say have applied), but I do read reports. If there was a concern about e.g. inadequate safeguarding I'd be concerned and would investigate further. If it was something that didn't fit with my impression, I'd be inclined to trust what I saw on a day by day basis rather than a snapshot.

Oh, and I would've liked a "fucking disaster in the making" option for the academies question!

[BernardsarenotalwaysSaints]

Oh, and I would've liked a "fucking disaster in the making" option for the academies question! Me too

[Ladymuck]

In terms of choosing a school, you haven't really covered those of us who live in a black hole ie no real choice, just have to wait to see what gets allocated. Around 10% of Londoners don't get any of their choices.

[MiffleTheIntrovert]

I felt the first two questions didn't really consider the scenario that for those of us with DC with SN, the closest answer to choose may have been we would only be happy with one choice, when in reality there was only one placement suitable ( incidentally out of borough and we had to fight to get them there!)

Agree with the "fuck, no!" to academies - particularly in the light of the above point!

[ChessieFL]

I gave up because it says to skip the secondary questions if you don't have experience, but then it insists on answers!

[pengy83]

Year 6 SATS results are not important to me at all however GCSE results are something I take into consideration.

Interestingly if asked 5 years ago (ie when I had primary school aged children only) I would have answered completely differently.

[CointreauVersial]

I know bugger all about academies. I imagine mine will be mostly through the school system before it kicks in (or at least it will be too late to move them).

[StealthPolarBear]

It said to consider your answers for your oldest child only but then suggested "sibling in the school" as a factor

[BathshebaDarkstone]

Done

[choccyp1g]

Given that there was only one secondary school we could get into, the other questions become irrelevant. Ditto if it gets a bad Ofsted, where else could we go?

[Sweetpeasandcarrots]

For type of school, I also took this to mean secular vs religious. It was important to me to choose a secular school

[Bragadocia]

Are you able to disclose who commissioned this survey? I guess you might not be able to, but I would be interested to find out who wants to know our opinions!

[TheColdDoesBotherMeAnyway]

Q5 said to skip to Q7 if not applicable - but then asked for an answer when I attempted to submit

As a pp said upthread being in Wales doesn't prevent me from having an opinion on forced academy status (flaming stupid idea ) And we don't have Ofsted in Wales, we have Estyn

[MypocketsarelikeNarnia]

YY to 'skip this question', 'ANSWER THE FUCKING QUESTION BITCH!'

So badly done. Do I win £100?

Is it an MN survey? Are we going to be sticking it to Nick Morgan?

[ReedBunting]

Done.

[TelephoneIgnoringMachine]

Done. Although I too had to put n/a for questions 5 & 6.

FWIW, although I should probably have put that I don't really know enough about the implications of academisation to form a proper opinion, I have heard enough to really worry about the prospect of this being enforced wholesale.