What do you think is important when choosing secondary schools?

[jenroy29]

Ds is coming to the end of year 5 and we are being invited to open days at the local secondary schools. I basically have three to choose between: They all seem to be pretty equal on exam results. One has a lot more children than the others and is a brand new building so probably has the best facilities. One is a specialist sports academy ( I don't really know what that means and neither of my dcs are sporty). And the other one has nothing special worth mentioning.
Their primary school doesn't feed into any particular school otherwise I would just (sheeplike) follow their friends parents.
But I really don't know what to be looking for or what questions to ask of the schools.
Both dcs are very academically able and I want them to be encouraged and challenged but I've heard of some kids doing 17 GCSE's and part of me thinks that some of them are "mickey mouse" qualifications and put unnecessary presure on the kids.
I don't want to choose the wrong school and stuff up their futures.
Help please

Some great advice here which I will use myself when the time comes!

If your child is academic, I would also look at how many children get into Oxbridge and how many go onto do A levels.

I was rather put off by the sound of one of my local secondaries, when I read an article about the only child that got into Cambridge that year. He said that he had to go and take one of the A level courses at the local university as the school didn't offer it! (it was just a normal science, nothing exotic!)

I also read that only 60% of kids go on to do their A levels, which I thought was very low. Yet they get 87% A to C GCSEs including English and Maths.

If you do work out a preference (but still think the others are OK) don't overdo it with your child.

We got our second choice school for September and our son was really upset as he'd got his heart set on the first choice.

Now I think it's actually the better school and DS is fine about it but we'd have saved ourselves a lot of stress if we'd been a bit more balanced in our preferences.

Hi all, just got back from open day, five parents including myself and a couple were shown around for about an hour. All the staff that we met were great and answered questions thoroughly.
One of the other Mums had attended the school, she finished 19 years ago and commented on how much of the building was still the same and she knew several teachers (ain't broke don't fix it and teachers must be happy to stay so long).
All the kids were getting on quietly with their lessons, we were there when they moved between classes, some of them were told to put their blasers on but there was no stampede infact I'd say they were too quite. But it was a really nice atmosphere.
I didn't feel like I was being sold anything, just here's the school and this is what we do for the kids, very individual stuff not all GCSE's and performance, recognising best way for different kids to achieve etc. and partnerships with other schools and colleges to share resources.
I liked it, however I was so reminded of my school days; cdt benches were the same and the gas taps in the tables of the science labs, the smell of the art rooms. But the library was tiny and some of the fiction books were things my dcs have read, years ago.
Didn't see (or smell) toilets, I hadn't even thought about them.

"Both dcs are very academically able and I want them to be encouraged and challenged but I've heard of some kids doing 17 GCSE's and part of me thinks that some of them are "mickey mouse" qualifications and put unnecessary presure on the kids"

Jen - To go back to the point you made in your OP.

Unfortunately, not all schools will enable bright academic children to fulfill their potentia. My advice is to take a good look at the sixth form.

How many pupils stay on to the sixth form to do A'levels?

What's the range of A level's offered. So, for example,if a school can't offer a science A'level - then you have to question their GCSE science offering (not enough bright pupils, no specialist science teacher?).

I would pay more attention to A'level results than GCSE results. If a school is mainly focussed on it's GCSE league table position, then it might be tempted to see its bright pupils as 'exam fodder' there to prop-up it's GCSE league table position, at the expense of the pupil's own personal education and development.

An academic child needs to have their education focussed on A'levels and university entrance. At most private schools bright pupils will sit 8 or 9 GCSE's. But they will be prepared well for A level.

Thanks, but none of the schools in my town have sixth forms.
I've compared cva, key stage 3 and GCSE results and they are all practically the same.
I honestly think my choices will be based on which is the nicest walk lol.

I am just amazed that you have a choice, we have one crap secondary. Take it or leave it .

The schools don't choose the pupils nowadays. The LEA admissions department does it all, according to the sorts of criteria sparks listed earlier. Don't know what your Head was talking about, if he was trying to imply that he had any sort of say in it, or that your DCs' academic record would hold any sway. Unless it is a selective school you are considering.
Round here, and I had thought in pretty much most areas, it's all down to where you live (after the ranked reasons such as SEN/medical/siblings). In which case you have very little, if any choice at all. You can state a preference but if all places are taken up by children who live closer, then you're given the nearest school with space - regardless of whether you like it or not.

Jenroy - Assuming you want your dc's to have the best chance to progress to A'levels and university - I would be wary of 11-16 schools- especially one where they sit 17 GCSE's.

GCSE league table scores and even added value scores are 'nice to knows' but IMO, shouldn't be the main criteria.

I'd be asking each head - how many pupils progress to the sixth form college. It needs to a large percentage of the top sets because, at 16 years old, your dc's will be more influenced by their peers than by your advice.

I'd make sure that the school has good specialist subject teachers for the academic GCSEs. And find out how many pupils take each academic subject.

If everything else is equal - you might as well ensure no avenues are closed down for your dc's. Unfortunately, not all comprehensives will provide their brightest pupils with the right support and advice.