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Original poster

Choosing a secondary school

29 replies

anice · 04/10/2012 11:11

I am currently going to see prospective secondary schools for September 2013. The thing is I don't know what to look for. 'd know exactly what matters to me and therefore what to look out for at a primary but I have only learned that through experience.

Does anyone have any advice?

OP posts:
Original poster
anice · 04/10/2012 13:33

That's it exactly... I really want to love it and be sure its right. Some of the teachers I met were great and no one raised any red flags. I'm trying to be rational here because I don't want to do something stupid with my son's education just because of a feeling. Maybe its just the parents-pay-for-things-online-but-otherwise-butt-out speech that the HT made??

OP posts:
BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 04/10/2012 13:26

I am in a similar situation. I have 3 schools to chose from so I looked at the ofsted reports for them and then looked round on the open days. The school I always had in my mind for my first choice was not as impressive to me as the school we originally had for our second choice.

Anice - my original first choice (outstanding in every aspect of ofsted) was the same for me...a good a school as it is it didn't have the same heart and feel to it as the other school did...I so wanted to love it as in my mind it was the one but I just didn't. Academically it has the edge but there was just something about it I wasnt as keen on.

Original poster
anice · 04/10/2012 12:22

gettingtrimmer - do you think you've got equal chance of both?

we saw a school yesterday that seemed really good. Local parents talk well of it, and I know my DS has a good chance of getting in. I can't put my finger on it but somethign doesn't feel right. Its as if its too perfect IYSWIM?!!

OP posts:
GettinTrimmer · 04/10/2012 11:54

I'm in exactly the same situation!

We have seen 2 schools, one is very high achieving with most pupils gaining 5 A* - C including maths and English at GCSE. it is an academy and very well presented. Parents are not encouraged as much to be involved with school, discipline is tight. A great place to learn. The visit felt very stage managed but we got the feeling our ds would achieve without doubt.

The other is a specialist sports college, extremely good on pastoral care, not as well presented (buildings are scruffy). The Head came across as very much wanting to involve parents, the home school link worker was there, and it was open house with the school being thrown open with the high achieving pupils showing us around. Very friendly.

First of all, go by your gut feeling.

Our ds has said a couple of times he would like to go to university - at the moment he is average in maths and science but very strong in literacy.

I think the first school would be better for him, but he is very anxious! The second school is very good at pastoral care and when I asked about the transition they said nothing is too much trouble, he could have as many visits as possible, etc.

It's just a difficult decision Confused