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Original poster

Sorry - what am I meant to be looking for in a secondary school?

84 replies

ahundredtimes · 04/10/2008 14:57

We are touring schools.

I don't even know what I'm meant to be looking for.

Facilities? Happy pupils? Are teenagers happy though?

What else?

It's VERY hard. I went to a school with no rules but a lovely staircase. I don't feel qualified.

Tips would be welcome.

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Swedes · 04/10/2008 22:48

I've done this, four schools, twice. Eight secondary schools, Independent and state. And I realise I have no good advice whatsoever. But we chose an Independent without a lake and we are all very very pleased with our choice. I like a relaxed University campus feel with a strong work ethic.

Know your child, trust your instincts.

Original poster
ahundredtimes · 04/10/2008 22:34

God how do you know this stuff. Is impressive.

I've got loads of questions to ask tour guide now. Thank you.

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amicissima · 04/10/2008 21:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
ahundredtimes · 04/10/2008 18:53

lol singersgirl. Yes, THAT is the way to go, surely. We left with loads of stickers and sweets too.

Okay. Next Saturday, I'm going to be hot at this. I'll be in the loos and looking at the lockers.

It's quite reassuring that now I know what to look for, that I think this school did have all that. DS1 v. keen which is a start I guess.

I like the 16 y-o advice too.

Go for it PPH. Cod will be thrilled by the boaters.

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singersgirl · 04/10/2008 18:50

DS1 has liked all the schools we've visited, particularly if they've given him biscuits, stickers or sweets. The girl who took him round our local school which has a less than stellar reputation quickly pronounced him a maths genius (he is far from that, but did some game with dominoes quickly) and introduced him thus to all her friends. It's probably his favourite school now .

PrincessPeaHead · 04/10/2008 18:36

this is a v good thread

went to another open day today - wandered around with a deadpan dd1, saying "oooh! look at the lovely art!" brightly, while thinking "what can I ask this Yr 8 girl next?". Anything vaguely tricky was answered with "umm, well I'm not sure, I've only been here a year/I haven't got to GCSE yet" or whatever. Meanwhile they kept saying to DD1 "would you like to do some trampolining?" or "would you like to ahve a go on the computers in the language suite" or "would you like to cast a pot?" and she kept saying "no, thank you" and smiling sweetly and moving on.

She looked so uninvolved that when we left I said "so what did you think", thinking she would say "Nope, not for me" but she said "I really liked it".

So what do I take out of that little trip? I don't really know. Except the 6th form who wear jeans and ballet shoes on a daily basis have to wear hideous green blazers and boaters on "special days" and all looked completely ridiculous....

schwotz · 04/10/2008 18:22

Where you can approach the teachers and you can see them interact with the children and visa versa.

I see cod said that but I typed it anyway, so won't delete. So there.

SqueakyPop · 04/10/2008 18:20

Observe them on public transport - very telling.

Porpoise · 04/10/2008 18:17

the best advice I've been give so far: don't just try to imagine your 11 year old dc there; imagine him/her there at 16.

Stops you choosing small and cuddly but possibly stifling school or larger, perhaps more scary - initially - school with scope for kids to spread their wings a bit

wheresthehamster · 04/10/2008 18:09

As you wander around have a look at the state of the lockers. If some have no doors or locks that have been ripped off then be prepared to fork out for a few PE kits.(This is dd2's school)

Original poster
ahundredtimes · 04/10/2008 17:50

And so did ds1 actually. Because I said 'oh well there all sorts of different schools, I spent most of my time mucking about in a theatre, would you like to do that?' and he said 'No, I want to be a criminal barrister ackershally'

Okay. V. helpful thread, thank you all VERY MUCH.

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Original poster
ahundredtimes · 04/10/2008 17:47

Squeaky - v.good and pithy. Okay it ticks all those boxes.

DH said EXACTLY that to me ten minutes ago Cod.

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SqueakyPop · 04/10/2008 17:38

Happy and disciplined pupils, in a school that celebrates achievement and takes care of its environment and community.

NotCod · 04/10/2008 17:35

remember that evereryones ideas of that school will be uber subjective
a dn rememerb to chosoe for ds - not for oyu

Nighbynight · 04/10/2008 16:24

Near to your house. My parents sent us to a super one, far away, believe me your teenagers have enough stress without a 45 minute journey both ways, sitting in traffic.

Original poster
ahundredtimes · 04/10/2008 15:50

My school has been closed down. The police were complaining about the amount of money spent on termly drugs raids.

He's 'weird' but acceptable. The one we saw today was private and the more academic one. It seemed fine I think, just so very serious. [yawns]

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wonderstuff · 04/10/2008 15:49

Where did you go to school?? If ds is 'weird' a smaller school may be good? We cope well with 'different' children at my school which only has about 100 in a year group. It sounds like the one you visited was nice

Original poster
ahundredtimes · 04/10/2008 15:45

Noooo, please carry on. Honestly, this is like a Dummy's Guide to Secondary Schools. Honestly. I might as well not have gone to secondary school tbh, it was all smoking and no shoes at my school.

Thank you MB. I liked the staff, they were v. keen and funny with the children.

Also ds1 v. impressed because people kept saying to him 'Hello. Would you like to do a quiz' and he thought that very friendly. {He's weird, see below ]

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Moomin · 04/10/2008 15:42

Litter.
er..... seeing how staff interact with pupils as you go around school.
sorry, getting carried away! will shut up now...

Blandmum · 04/10/2008 15:41

They have to be happy, or at any rate content. If they are unhappy they can't learn.

They must behave. Even if your child would behave anywhere the kids must be reasonably well behaved, or the teachers can teach. So there needs to consistant rules, so the kids know where they 'are' IYSWIM

the teachers need to love they subject, and enjoy working with kids.

If you have all of that, go for the school will good facilities.

But the first three things count for more

Original poster
ahundredtimes · 04/10/2008 15:41

Thank you, thank you.

Am going to do all this.

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Moomin · 04/10/2008 15:40

God yes, DEFINITELY visit potential schools on a normal day. Use the open evenings to weedle out the ones you don't want, have a shortlist and arrange to visit them again during a working day. See what the atmosphere is like, what access you are given to all areas of school and if you can try to be there when lessons cross-over to see how pupils are like as they move about the school. Also look at what their uniform looks like inside school. Lots of secondary pupils look atrocious just after school when they're wandering about in town or whatever, but you might find in school they are challenged. Same with behaviour. Kids aren't going to always act perfectly around school, but if members of staff pass them, do they get challenged?

Original poster
ahundredtimes · 04/10/2008 15:29

Thank you Moomin and SL - yes, you were very nice about my weird DS1. I remember it fondly.

God, I wish I'd done this thread before this morning.

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SorenLorensen · 04/10/2008 15:28

Yes, that's good advice too from wonderstuff - the only school I saw "for real" was the one he's at - we went for an afternoon on an ordinary school day. All the others we only saw on carefully stage managed open Evenings.

Original poster
ahundredtimes · 04/10/2008 15:28

Am looking at both littlerach.

One boys state comp, two private. One has reputation of being v. academic and the other less so.

That's it. I can't be bothered to look at more.

And PD - thing is, they are ALL the same distance from us. So that doesn't help.

Also given that we can do private, then it's a choice right? So presumably you are supposed to KNOW how to make that choice? Not arse around staring at the sixth formers and playing in the art block?

All tips v. helpful. Thank you.

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