To wonder how we will pick a secondary school?

[Bearlover16]

Not sure if this has already been covered but I am becoming increasingly worried about what the government expect us with year 5's to do in terms of picking a secondary school place this autumn?

Surely they won't expect us to go into this blind and make uninformed choices?
Current primary don't seem to know either.

My son is SEN and I will need to visit secondary schools to assess if they can support his complex needs.

I totally hear you and I would be very alarmed too in your situation.

I imagine that really good schools will manage to create very good online open days. it is certainly possible to create online tours of buildings (dc have been set several home learning activities that include going to virtual 3d tours of museums for example) and you can have online chats with numerous staff members. however, it will be virtually impossible to tell the difference between a mediocre but basically acceptable school which doesn't have the resources to create something like that, vs a truly terrible school. equally it will be very difficult to distinguish between a mediocre school that happens to have some excellent pr and spin vs a genuinely excellent school that doesn't manage to put quite as much shine on their online presentation.

I think word of mouth is going to be really very important - maybe get onto local Facebook groups and appeal for parents of current y7-y9 pupils to share their experiences of their schools?

I feel you. DD9 is in year 5 (August baby) and there's is the added drama of the 11+ exam in September!

We had an email from the primary letting us know about a secondary school that is offering taster lessons as a type of open day. I imagine lots will do that but it's not the same.

One thing to consider is how realistic it is to get into a school. Near me we're not in 'catchment' for very many schools so if DD doesn't pass her 11+ then there's only about 2 options for her.

Also praying we pass the 11+ here too. My only catchment school is terrible. I'll apply for out of catchment too, but who knows when I can visit.

@Wannabegreenfingers how have you found prepping them for the 11+ as part of homeschooling? DD has a weekly Zoom lesson with her 11+ group but it still feels like a lot of responsibility.

I understand your concerns. I researched obsessively for my DD who has an EHCP for ASD. Very bright but challenging. Got her a place on an ASD unit which was withdrawn last July (the unit closed due to building works). We got a place somewhere else that I hadn’t considered. It had been amazing and my DD is so well supported and so happy. It’s really good, oversubscribed school. So sometimes a really shit situation can turn out for the best. Just thought I’d share a happy ending.

My NT year 5 girl wants to sit the 11+ in September. I don’t think she is going to make it which I feel bad about. She has two working parents so not able to help her with work as much as we’d like.

Yes it's a worry ds is in year five in a special school I was very proactive at ten start of year five and began visiting different special needs high schools that I thought might be able to meet his needs ,but everything ,s on hold now.

Zoemum2006 myvson is having his 1hr weekly tutoring session via Bramble (video link) He seems to be getting lots outvif it still and I've ordered his work books and practice papers (timed sessions) from Amazon when requested from his tutor.

Who knows if it's enough. He is the one pushing for the grammar school and it is the perfect fit for him, but it's very competitive with over a 1000 applicants and only 120 places.....

Round here most year 5s visited all the schools last year, we have had to ask Primarys to tell those in Year 4 not to come as we were getting too many!

I am sure schools will come up with some soloutions, small visits, online tours, Q&A sessions, head intro online. SENCO offering surgeries. Although at the moment they may be more concerned about getting current students and new yr 7's in!

Thanks for the replies. I guess it's a wait and see situation. Either way the goverment cannot expect me to make these huge decisions without some leeway.

The evening tours usually take place end of Sept-mid October so hopefully by then they might be able to plan something even if it's smaller groups and social distancing.

I'm sorry but how can anyone vote YANBU? This is such a huge decision, when we did our visits we completely changed our minds about which school to put as first choice. Yes schools have a huge job in Sept settling pupils back into school but that dosent mean the 2021 intake is less important.

Can you speak to or email SENCOs of each school about the provision in place and speak to parents with kids there.

I have my son’s EHCP annual review next week and there is only one school I will allow him to go to. I’ve not visited it in 16 years since I left it myself, but all hell will break loose if he doesn’t get a place there. There’s going to be a council education member on the conference call so I can put my case to them.

Do you have anything similar coming up to discuss things?

Sorry in above post I meant to say how can anyone vote YABU.

I have taken a lot from the approach to Covid, our local schools have very different approaches. One feels much more informative and approachable.

I'm imagine that secondaries will do 'virtual tours', a talk by the Head and an opportunity to ask questions.

If parents have particular concerns eg speaking to SENCO, I'm sure that will be factored in. If it's not, then it's not the school for you tbh.

As someone who has done secondary school tours for a few years now, I honestly think that will be okay.

Parents/carers will have already talked to friends etc with children at local schools. Ofsted reports, websites are online. The Open Evenings and Mornings around here are rammed and my main thought throughout was 'how soon can I leave?'

Google the Ofsted reports for your local schools. They are all online and in the public domain. You can also look up parent reviews.

We are in a similar situation as my DC is year 5 and we need to select secondary schools soon.

A new school is being built in the area but won't be ready for physical tours; they are hoping to create virtual tours and we are keen to look around.

I'm also confused about what the IB curriculum is that this new school offers as my DC has SEN needs.

Does anyone have any experience?

I know the secondaries in our area are offering virtual online open days and tours so maybe a lot of them elsewhere will go down this route aswell?

Fortunately my DC’s are yr1 and yr3 so not having to think about this yet.