what year do you start looking at 2ndary school?

[Tenner]

y5 or y6? I have only been living in the UK for a few years and grew up abroad so not too sure about it.

also, how do people go about it now - I expect open evenings are largely cancelled?

5 - some schools have open days in June and not September so you’ll miss them if you don’t start looking until year 6.

Year 5. Start thinking about it, and visiting schools (if possible). By year 6, you’ll then have more of an awareness what you are looking for, what to ask on open evenings etc. Also, start talking to parents with older dcs about their opinions.

However, choose what’s right for your dc, not little Johnny down the road. Ie. You may want a school with good pastoral care, or drama department, whilst Johnny my savour a more academic school.

Favour, not savour.

DD going into Yr5. We are making decisions now as we are moving house this winter, and it's a big part of the decision.

Gosh, I have been looking into this now and my eldest DC is in year 3! I have moved them into a feeder school for the senior school of my preference for this year.

I'd start looking earlier as your preferred school may have strict admission requirements that you need to try to fulfill in advance.

For example, my mum wanted me in a faith school.iut of catchment and so we had to double up the idol worship for a while to get a letter of recommendation from the priest.

In our education authority, it's all set up to be done in the first half term of Y6.
However, when we bought this house before I was even pregnant, we had an idea of which secondary schools we were in catchment for.

I'd get an idea of schools you stand a chance of getting into, and their reputation before Y6. Then go to the open evenings in Y6. Our application deadline (and I think it's a nationwide one) was 31 October on Y6.

Y4 - ask around about local schools, get info from parents who have older children in local schools, create a long list of options within reasonable travelling distance

Y5 - narrow down the options by looking at entry criteria (sex, religion, selection) and book in for open days to have a look round with your child for the schools that look possible.

Autumn term of Y6 - If you are looking at a selective school, register for that (may need to be done in the summer before Y6 starts), do any final open days for a second look or for a school you missed, finalise and send off application form(s).

If you want to stay put in the current house, then you’ll most likely only have 1-2 state secondaries to choose from.

However, if you’re willing to move house for a better catchment or are considering independent schools, then the sooner the better. As above, some schools operate the feeder system so your child needs to go to certain primaries to get in.

It also depends if you're in a grammar school area and that's something you want your DC applying for (Kent is a famous example). If you do live in an area with grammar schools and want to sit the test, you should probably start looking at what is required in Y5 at least (it's usually sat in early-mid September Y6).

we have one grammar school locally and DC is very bright but it is a fee paying school which is out of reach financially so I don't have to worry about that

OP, grammar schools are state schools and free, so the Grammar school you refer to is actually a selective independent school. Look now to see what school you are in the catchment for. The sooner you know this, you can act on whether you think the school is right for your DC. If it isn't then you may have to factor in a house move, which is best completed by 31 Oct in Year 6. This is the date by which secondary school options need to be submitted to your local authority

Year 5 for a first look, year 6 to pin down.
Earlier if in a selective area.

I did the year 5 without my DC, then took them along to my preferred school in y6.

Change

it has 'grammer school' in the name but there are substantial fees. Did not realise that real grammar school are state and not independent. Thank you.

We only really have 2-3 options. and house move is our of question. Will start making enquiries. I thought y5 may be too early but apparently not. thanks all!

It probably used to be a free state grammar and kept the name when it became independent

The open days etc are aimed at year 5 students. If any of the prospects have entrance tests you'll generally start preparing in year 5. Even if you can't afford fees for private you could investigate the options for scholarships or burseries.

Depends on the area. If you're not planning to move house regardless of your school options and you're not applying for selective schools then Year 6 is plenty early enough. No one round here would go to an open day in Year 5.

Depends if it's state or private. We have a lot of independents locally and I went and saw them all by myself in Y4 to whittle them down. In Y5 we only took DD to see those we liked and were happy for her to go to - plus some of them you had to be registered 18 months before admission date so doing that groundwork in Y4 was essential.

State schools usually have their open days in September / October so if you haven't done it in Y5 you still have a chance to see them in Y6 just before your school choices form goes in.

State, private it out of question financially even with a partial bursary.

The answer is actually 'as soon as you start looking at houses where you will be when your child is that age' sadly. You can find yourself in a school desert even in London that is a real pita otherwise.

Leaving that aside and you're not moving then if you aren't in a grammar area you may realistically only be given one or two schools - you may find that once you crunch the numbers that there is only one option you will be given anyway and in that case you visit it on the Year5 Open Day and then make your peace with it.

there is a school where 90% of children in our area to to but that is not a school I could possibly make peace with. In special measures for years, horrid exam results ('well below average') year on year. I will focus on the 2 possible alternatives. In the end, there isn't much choice so hey ho!

Yes but they may not be alternatives depending on where you live, I have had friends who thought they would get a certain school for various reason including spurious ones like 'But its the closest one' but in ten mins by going to the local authority website and crunching the numbers you can see what you will be given.

We only have an illusion of choice in this country re schools.

End of year 5, schools start to have open days in June

For same parents here in London, it's since birth😬🙄

If you don’t feel you can make peace with the school where the majority of local children go, then you might want to check if you have any realistic chance of getting a place elsewhere. Local Authorities always publish how places have been allocated for 3 years on their website.

You could also look at schools further afield as some offer ‘scholarships’ for children with abilities in things like sport or performing arts (so you get into a special stream at a state school but don’t need to live nearby). Might be an option if your son is excellent at something.