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Sate primary/infant schools - how did you select your first choice?

23 replies

floops · 20/01/2003 22:05

I am about to start looking at afew of the schools around us for my son in two years time. I already have an idea of some things to find out about but thought it was vital to call upon you all for some valid advice! What did you look for or in hindsight what do you wish you had considered / looked at further?

OP posts:
Lolasmum · 21/01/2003 09:08

Hi, I've just been doing some research myself and found some useful links via www.ask.co.uk. There's one website which shows you the league table for all primary schools. You then put in your postcode and it lists them in order of distance from your house. Our local one looks crap, but one just a bit further away seems excellent and improving. I'll try and work out the actual website address and post it for you. I'm not very good with technology....

Lolasmum · 21/01/2003 09:14

Found the address:

www.dfes.gov.uk/performancetables/primary_01.shtml

titchy · 21/01/2003 09:31

Many things to look out for, these are just a few:

How big is the school, how many children in each year - small probably (tho' not definately) means all teachers know all the pupils and your child is more likely to be treated as an individual. Large means more likely to get in!

What sort of settling in do they do for new children e.g. my dd will go (with Playgroup) for a few afternoons in the summer term. When she starts school in September the Reception class has its own toilets, and don't go to main school assembly until summer term. They also have their own playground so are quite 'closeted' for the first year.

How well equipped is the library, do all children have access to it, and when (if can only go for an hour a week not mcuh good, but if they can get a book every lunchtime and afterschool that's obviously much better.

Do they have computers in one room only or one in each classroom. Are the teachers familiar with how to use them! Do the children get to use them regularly.

How big are the classrooms? Is there lots of childrens work on the walls? Are they bright and airy, or poorly lit and stuffy?

Are the teachers enthusiastic? Is the Head supportive of the teachers and vice versa? How welcome are parents? Can parents get involved in the School, through the PTA or whatever?

How often do they have assemblies? How much religious worship is there might be an important question to ask.

Do they offer extra-curricular activities? What range is there and when? (Reception, year 1 and year 2 children do not normally join such clubs but will be useful to know for later).

What are the outdoor facilities like? Small playground or large, sports field or not? What are the toilets like and how many are there? what are school lunches like?

When you visit are their children wandering around aimlessly, are they all sat in silence concentrating hard (personally I think somewhere in between is better - a hum of activity just seems more child-friendly than silence!)

Also you can look at league tables!

School will be your child's main source of a social life so look at the children going there? Are they the sort of children you want your child to mix with?

Does the school have an anti-bullying policy (it should, even if bullying isn't a problem). How you they approach discipline?

Above all does the school feel right for your child? Some of the above may not be important, and some will be more important than for others. If you have another child who will also go to the same school you may want to think about what's best for them both (using your crystal ball obviously!).

There are probably lots more things you could find out, I'm sure others will add!

Good luck!

PS - I think this is my longest posting to date!

SoupDragon · 21/01/2003 11:24

Gut feeling!

We went to look at our 1st choice school (1 class intake) and it simply didn't feel right. Our 2nd choice one (3 class intake) had that "feel good factor". I didn't want to send DS to such a large school and it's a bit further away but it felt right for him (and DS2 when he gets to that stage)

Having said that, the 2 schools are together in the top third of the league tables so that wasn't an issue.

DS1 starts this September although we don't know which school he'll get into yet.

Batters · 21/01/2003 11:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bozza · 21/01/2003 12:07

I went to the link provided by Lolasmum and my local school (where I've registered DS) did not appear at all...

Marina · 21/01/2003 12:57

Thanks for those tips Titchy, we've visits coming up to three schools and I will print off your list.

Jaybee · 21/01/2003 13:32

Bozza - the results listed are KS2 results (age 11) so if the school you have chosen is an Infants only school you would need to look up the junior/middle school.
Great list Titchy, also agree with Soupdragon though that the best school in the area may not necessarily be the best one for your child - you get that from gut feeling only.
I think that the Ofsted reports (downloadable from the web) are a good indication too.

Jaybee · 21/01/2003 13:40

Sorry - should have added the Ofsted link really shouldn't I - I is here

Bozza · 21/01/2003 13:54

That makes sense now Jaybee because we are in an area which has the middle school system so the kids move on from juniors to middle school at 10 and the local middle school was definitely listed. It has just occurred to me though that the middle school system doesn't fit very well with the key stage 2 being at 11.

Jaybee · 21/01/2003 17:27

I agree that it is confusing that some areas seem to stick to the Key Stages and have primary (infants/juniors 5-11) and secondary (11+) (known, I think as two-tier) and some have the Lower Middle Upper (known as three tier). I live in South Northants where it is two tier, although Northampton is currently three tier but are currently changing over to two tier, where the boundaries merge, it causes a nightmare when trying to choose schools etc.
I am surprised that the government do not make a decision as to which tier we should follow and have the country following the same system.

tallulah · 21/01/2003 18:12

I thought I'd done everything right choosing my kids' primary. I visited several, asked all the right questions, but 12 years later, with hindsight, couldn't have made a worse choice!!
It may be worth dropping in without an appointment to see if there are any children sitting outside the Head's office (where my youngest spent 2 entire terms in Y2 & they didn't let us know!!!). If there are, go elsewhere!
The worst thing for us was choosing a v small (3 form total 4-11) village school, for its family atmosphere, right next to what became a massive housing estate. The Estate is enormous- their kids got priority over locals, & the school increased far too fast (10 classes worth within 5 years).
When we moved my youngest we picked the top 10 schools from the league tables & visited them. That got us down to 3 by gut feeling, and was sorted by speaking to the class teacher of the one we preferred. He hasn't looked back & is sad to be leaving for secondary this year.

Lara2 · 21/01/2003 20:21

One thing about SAT results when choosing a school - unless you can compare the results with the Baseline assesment for children and therefore know the value added for each child (how far they have progresed) then all the SATS results will show you is what that particular cohort ( year group) did that particular year. It really won't tell you much about the school itself. The year group could have had lots of Special Educational needs kids in it, some could have come in just before the SATS, some bright kids could have left just before - all these things (and more) can drastically affect the statistical results. The MOST important thing is your gut feelings when you visit - at the end of the day, brand spanking new facilities don't always make for a better school. I'm not advocating dingy slums - but the feel of the place is paramount.

Roz · 22/01/2003 21:11

Have you considered looking at the Steiner School system? Obviously it depends upon your views about children's education and what they should be learning at five years of age, and also about whether there are any in your area. I dreaded the prospect of packing my DD off to school (at far too early an age in my mind) to be one of 30 children in a class made to sit down and learn things which I don't believe children of that age should be learning - like reading and writing! My daughter started at a Steiner Kindergarten last September and I can't believe the changes I have witnessed in her. She won't learn to read and write until she enters Year 1 at the age of 6 but what she has learned about socialising with other people, about being creative, about making things with her hands has been phenomenal. And even more importantly she LOVES IT. She leaves me at the door in the mornings with a real spring in her step and comes home bursting with things to tell me and show me. I'm still constantly amazed at the stories I hear her telling her toys and the songs she comes out with.
Having said all this it is not convenient if you're working. They only go to school from 9am to 1pm in the kindergarten, they have longer holidays and there aren't many schools around so we have to travel some distance to get her there. But I have no doubt that the benefit of her going there as opposed to one of the local schools (many of which have excellent league table results) is worth it. So, if you're in the mind of looking for an education system with a difference its worth considering Steiner.

batey · 24/01/2003 17:29

I'm sure I've put this somewhere else on another thread but, make sure the school has a bullying policy and check it out , how they deal with both parties. Good Luck.

floops · 30/01/2003 14:27

Thank you everyone - a great help! Much appreciated and valued.

OP posts:
Clarinet60 · 19/02/2003 11:02

Roz, your Steiner story is intriguing and inspirational. I'm half-thinking along the same lines myself, as I hear mostly horror stories about conventional education these days. I'd be interested in hearing more about how she goes on.

Clarinet60 · 19/02/2003 11:07

Does anyone know if covering the windows at ground level with equipment, books and pictures so that they can't see out of them is common practice?
This is what seems to be happening at one of our possible schools. I can't say I approve.

Lara2 · 20/02/2003 18:05

Sometimes space is at such a premium that despite your reservations, you have almost no choice in your classroom. Things at child level,( pictures writing ) are the best place for them and maybe the rooms literally have nowhere else for them? If there is a choice, of course you wouldn't block up the windows.

Clarinet60 · 20/02/2003 22:53

I appreciate that Lara, but these windows look as if they've been deliberately loaded up with all sorts, not just work or equipment, to block out every chink of a view.

Jimjams · 21/02/2003 21:14

Roz- we have ds2 down for a Steiner school- really hoping he'll get a place....

Roz · 21/02/2003 23:14

Jimjams/Droile, glad you're interested in the Steiner system. We have no regrets about sending our DD there, although I recognise its going to be a challenge for us to hold onto our belief when all of her 5 year old friends are reading and writing. But my over-riding wish is for her to be happy at school, and for her to be excited about learning - whatever it is that she is learning.
Just ask if you want details of any specific things or concerns you have.

ghengis · 21/02/2003 23:25

Roz, this sounds fascinating. Where is 'your' Steiner school? How early did yo have to put your DD's name down?

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