How would you rank your priorities for school selection?

[Dryroses]

Just mulling over this today. Clearly most (if not all) of them are objectively desirable things, but rarely are they all available in the same package. Preferences also seem to vary quite a lot depending on children’s needs, I think! Out of the following priorities, which are non-negotiable for you and how would you rank them in terms of importance to you?

If you are a teacher, what do you think is most important?

A) Academic rigor
B) Non-athletic extracurricular opportunities
C) Athletic opportunities
D) Proximity to home/ease of getting there
E) Pastoral care
F) School culture
G) SEN support
H) Facilities
I) Size
J) School communication and parental involvement
K) Anything I’ve missed…?

F
School culture covers so many of the other things you mention.
My teens love their state school. They love it because there’s a challenging curriculum, lots of extras to take part in, but fundamentally because the teachers seem to like the kids. Genuinely enjoy being there. We few very very lucky- it’s the culture that leads to this.

Ah, sorry @AnEmbarrasmentofWitches, I should have been clearer. I was thinking specifically along the lines of traditional vs progressive in culture.

Your kids’ school sounds great!

Is this for primary or secondary?

Either!

Ah, ok ☺️ Sorry my answer wasn’t very helpful then!

In terms of traditional bs progressive, successful schools in my experience seem to be a balance of both. Very rigid traditional schools can get great results for many, but sometimes at the expense of those who struggle with rigid rules and may become anxious or frightened of getting into trouble.

Yes we know we are very lucky with our school. We live in a very rural area so to some extent have been insulated from the worst of pressures on the system nationally.

E, G, F, A.
My DC were in particular need of good pastoral support.

My first priority was academic performance. After that, it was religion (Catholic school) and single-sex, neither of which you've listed.

For secondary, I also paid a lot of attention to what subjects were offered, specifically how many languages and which ones.

Then ease of travel.

I wasn't really bothered about anything else, that had narrowed it down enough.

A and I and D
However realistically
Schools likely market themselves one way which isnt necessarily the reality
Over 7y of primary - much longer if sibs too or similar at secondary lots changes.
We looked around primary in 2015
They said no homework in years r-2
By the time mine went there was homework. (Which i aprove of). With spelling starting in y2. Numbots/ ttr etc from reception
Their results for sats were ok but not amazing
A lot changed due to covid

Similar with secondary
Their info online says swimming (actually dc has had 4 lessons)
Setting for several subjects maths, science, mfl. But actually only maths has been so far
Also said all homework is online - not quite its set online but obviously some is completed on paper
They also never saod there will be tests in every subject every half term so basically constant tests or revision
Even amounts of homework are less

Or
no phones at school erm except they dont get a printed timetable

Ah yes, I missed those!

Another I’ve thought of is boarding facilities, which may be important for some.

Pastoral Support
SEN Support
(with good levels of those the academic part will be better)
Distance of home to school/ease of getting there.
Decent size outside areas for play/sports/outdoor learning.
Non (or very basic non logo) uniform.
They're basically my priorities if I needed to choose a school again.

And sen support is more about whether the parent is willing to push for meetings etc.

For primary and secondary pastoral care and school culture were top of my list and everything else was secondary to that. Academics certainly didn't feature in primary applications and at secondary leaver outcomes was a higher priority than grades.

I picked the school with the best academic results and the smallest class sizes so my child would get more individual attention. After that it was school culture - I wanted them to be very strongly anti-bullying and promote inclusion and friendship, because I wanted my child to have a safe and enjoyable school experience.

I didn’t even consider extra curricular - I can organise that myself. It’s a nice bonus but not essential. Proximity isn’t an issue either, I’m willing to put myself out to drive my child to the best place.

Oh one more to add...
For secondary a really good subject/careers/college course advisor service.
If that actually exists anywhere.

I genuinely think proximity and ease of getting there should be really high on anyone's list.

There will always be a school that is better in someway just a bit further away. But you have to factor in the impact of travel, rush hour, getting them if they're ill, attending events in evenings or at weekends, ease of taking part in sports and clubs etc.

It doesn't matter if the extra curricular offer is amazing if there's only one bus or train a day and they have to get it or you have to drive miles to get them. It doesn't matter if the academic results are incredible if your DC is having to leave home at 6 am and gets home so late they can't do their home work etc.

Pastoral care which covers culture and SENs. Do a good job on those and the rest will follow.
It has to be practical to get to too, but for us, it's worth the bus/ car to get to a more nuturing school than DS walking to the nearest which was at the bottom of a slump when we were applying.

Stability of management/ staffing is also a good thing.

I think that's personal choice and depends on a lot of things.

I went to a school about 90 minutes each way from home: 2 buses and a train or tube. My parents thought it was the best school available for me and I did like it (I can't go back in time and judge whether I might have got on just as well in a more local school).

My eldest dc was also offered a place in a school about 90 minutes away, much further in terms of distance than my school had been, but nearly door to door by school bus. We didn't take it.

I don't think there's a hard and fast rule that distance must be a top priority, it's different for each family.