What does the perfect school look like to you?

[theclassroom]

Hi Mumsnet,

I currently work in education and it’s my life’s goal to found a school, and there is so much I could say about the vision I have for it, but I’m looking for opinions on what makes the ideal school for you (and your child).

Feel free to share whatever comes to mind, but here are some examples of what I’m looking for:

What initially spoke to you about the school you chose for your child?

What would be a dealbreaker for you in deciding on a school?

When you were in education what did you like and dislike about the schools you attended? (This could be in general or specifics like rules, amenities, teachers, culture.)

What do you like and dislike about the schools your children have attended?

Would you prefer an independent, private or state school and why?

What have been issues within school for your children? Especially those that act as a barrier to their education. How did the school handle it?

Opinions on types of schools such as Montessori, language immersion, forest etc?

Feel free to ignore all of the questions, or just answer one, I’m just looking for anything I might not have considered and to hear about choosing schools from a parent's perspective. No worries if you’re talking about primary, secondary or even further education.

Not something I could achieve any time soon in the UK, possibly ever, but I’m moving abroad.

I’ll have a different set of problems and requirements down the road but I’m just curious what people here think anyway.

All of these are great, thank-you everyone for replying :) I think we all have pretty similar feelings.

Some of these are very interesting, I love the idea of the progressive, inclusive environment you describe and all of the various activities. I do have a couple of concerns about maintaining professional boundaries and the lack of blackboards.

With the kids and teachers talking as equals, do you just mean general chit chat and a supportive, friendly body of staff?

I think a lot of people would be worried that staff and students being on a first name basis and speaking like friends might blur the professional relationship. I don’t think that’s necessarily true as that’s how it is in most colleges and universities and it doesn’t affect how respected they are.

I quite prefer a blackboard or traditional whiteboard to the modern smart boards though. I assume that’s what you mean and not just no board altogether?

How would you have the classrooms look without a board or desk? If you don’t mind me asking questions.

Bless you, I’m sorry that happened. It’s such a shame how teachers are treated.

I’ll write this down as: ‘Parents have to pass psychological evaluation upon applying” 😂

These are interesting, I think getting kids out of their comfort zone and experiencing new things is great.

What sports do you think are desirable, or even essential?

Love the spacious and green campus idea, I’m quite curious where your preference for a larger school comes from though? Most people including myself are looking for smaller class sizes and schools.

This is very close to my list - everything on here is important to me.

I have one other criterion which is very important to me as I went to a few different schools as a kid (moving countries due to parents' jobs) which gave me quite negative feelings on very "international" schools.

I would like the school to be very rooted in a particular culture, in this case British culture and Christian religion, at least to the extent that British history is quite interwoven with it. The school can/should accept pupils from outside the culture but it should help my children feel a sense of rootedness and connection, e.g. having Nativity plays, singing hymns, learning Latin, Remembrance Day type events, hockey/cricket/rugby as the sports, learning their specific history in depth rather than very light touch of every single country in the world etc.

Having been to international schools I used to feel a very deep sense of envy for children from countries like India who could talk with pride and enthusiasm about specific events in their culture, history etc. Meanwhile I just vaguely knew the Christmas story and called myself a "citizen of the world" and felt very unanchored later in life.

I wouldn't send my children to an international school unless it had a very clear ethos involving children getting to learn about their own cultures in depth (e.g. each child does a different special project) rather than encouraging the third culture kid / international student mentality. You can learn about other cultures better if you are confident in your own base.

Not the person you're responding to but my favourite school I went to had just over 100 kids per year total (edited sorry), but form classes of 20 or so, and as we started to specialise (secondary) some classes were under 10.

It was good for being able to have lots of niche sports and clubs etc outside of the classroom. Also for friendships which can cross classroom boundaries more after everyone starts picking different subjects - can also offer a wider variety.

Much less important for primary IMO. Perhaps less important if your school is very specialist in languages as you say.

I mean this is v personal so I guess I’m telling you what I look for given what my dc are like and what suits them. I have no idea whether it’s “exportable”. Having lived in HK for 15 years I suspect not, at least not to there. Also for clarity I’m talking about years 7-11, not sixth form.

I honestly don’t understand the love for v small schools at secondary although I sort of understand it at primary. Reasonably Academic Dc ina school with good behaviour should be fine in secondary age classes of 20 ish which is what my dc’s school does with a year of 120. I’m not sure too much personalisation really helps dc longer term. Sometimes it’s beneficial to learn that you’re not that special. Plus bigger schools have better economies of scale and can be more flexible re GCSE choices / subjects offered. It can also be easier to find your tribe and avoid people you’re not keen on. Smaller schools can be seen as nurturing and friendly but they can also be cliquey and socially narrow.

Also anything under 100 per year, especially if co- Ed is unlikely to be competitive at sport vs other schools as just not enough dc to choose from. Nothing more dispiriting that being thrashed on a weekly basis by schools with 100 kids to choose from. My friend’s dc goes to a small school where they can only field a rugby team if every boy in the year plays, which kind of puts pressure on the boys who really don’t want to, whereas at DS’s school they have enough for 2 teams plus a touch squad so you don’t have the academy kids and the kids who can barely catch being forced to play together.

sports wise, for each term ( same each year) pick a sport and do it well and compete- don’t arse around doing taster sessions in badminton, Zumba, yoga and jazz ballet during “core” sports time. So rugby/ football/ hockey/ cricket/ rowing/ netball etc.

I’m going to answer this and then read back.

I chose the school my children are at due to the early years teachers and their wonderful approach.

as my children grow I have had to move two, for relationships reasons and the next two will likely follow.

I could not afford private school for mine, but chose a school with tiny class size. However, our local private school does term events and I have to say the teachers and enthusiastic style is utterly outstanding.

our catchment is actually smaller, but one teacher. So we opted for about ten per composite class.

the older two have now moved as I don’t support the us of IPADS. From age 6 onwards.

Sorry should clarify the relationship comment was that because I have objected to IPAD use age six they were excluded so have moved to a “large” school with a class of 26.

For me it’s a school that children actually want to go to.Some are such depressing and horrible places you can see why they don’t like it. So my ideal would have lots of green space and the ability for outdoor learning, buildings that aren’t run down and are at a nice temperature.

Then a place with good behaviour without having to be draconian. And I’m also in favour of smaller forms but bigger years for a better social balance and chance to find your tribe/the thing you excel at. I have looked around some very small schools and been quite put off.

These would be mine too, but adding a range of extracurriculars and the opportunity to compete in sports and drama no matter what your ability.

Small, single sex with small class sizes & excellent highly qualified teachers.