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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Choosing school

35 replies

purpleme12 · 25/06/2017 22:45

My little girl will start full time school September 2018.

Should I start making appointments to look round now?

Also can someone please help about what I should be looking for, what questions to ask? I feel like I had an idea when I was looking round nurseries when she was a baby and I feel like I don't have a clue now.

Also it's just leaving be tearful

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GreenTulips · 25/06/2017 22:46

They will have open days and parents meetings - go to those

Ask locals with kids about each school

You'll be lucky to get a choice

Original poster

purpleme12 · 25/06/2017 22:56

But you put 3 choices down on your application don't you and then the council allocates you one. That's what I'm referring to. So I need to see the schools to see which one I like best. Did you not visit like that? I haven't heard of any doing open days?

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EduCated · 25/06/2017 22:59

You do, but depending on where you live, you may only have a realistic chance of getting into one of those.

Other areas you may stand a chance at multiple schools.

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 25/06/2017 22:59

You'll either get into the closest one or the one nonone wants. At least that's how it is round here.

GreatWhites · 25/06/2017 23:00

There will be schools with hundreds of applicants. Not everyone will want to look around, granted, but it's often not possible to grant everyone an individual tour.

You may also want to go to summer fetes or the end of year school show (if Y6 screeching out Oliver is your thing ) to get a feel for the place.

THE COUNCIL CAN ALLOCATE YOU A SCHOOL WHICH YOU HAVEN'T PUT DOWN.

You only indicate a preference. If you do not qualify for those preferences, you will be given a space anywhere. So please please please include a banker- a school you will definitely get into. A bad school round the corner is infinitely preferable to one across the city.

Original poster

purpleme12 · 25/06/2017 23:03

I know that about what you get allocated etc but I just wanted to put my choices down in case I could get those schools. Cos you never know. And if that school wasn't put down then I really wouldn't get it anyway. I thought that was normal.

Just wondered what people on here looked for in a school? And what kind of things you'd ask about?

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zeeboo · 25/06/2017 23:09

If you put down three that you don't fit the criteria for then yes, they will allocate your place to one you haven't put down. Get on your county councils website and find out which schools you can meet the criteria for and IF there are ones you don't, that may be undersubscribed and may offer places to those out of catchment.

Original poster

purpleme12 · 25/06/2017 23:13

There's only one in my catchment area. I don't know which ones are underscribed or oversubscribed (not sure how I'd find that one out?). This want what I was really asking. I was asking about my questions above. Perhaps everyone on here just went by what they heard from people.

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RitaConners · 25/06/2017 23:14

I looked at
Distance from home
Outdoor space
How reading was taught
Atmosphere

Original poster

purpleme12 · 25/06/2017 23:15

Thank you Rita. Did you make an appointment to look round?

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Malfoyy · 25/06/2017 23:19

Have a look at the school catchment checker thing on Rightmove as it tells you if the school was under or over subscribed the previous year. The data will probably still be last years but it's better than none.

Of course things move around e.g. The school my ds just got into was way over subscribed 2 years ago but this year under. And the one we never bothered putting down as always over subscribed and not our nearest actually has room this year due to low birth rate.

Local authority website should tell you how many kids in the catchments but allow for moving in and out and the fact that some kids are in catchment for several schools and will be double/ triple counted etc

GraceGrape · 25/06/2017 23:19

Nearly all schools will run open days. These are usually around October/November. Some schools will let you make an appointment to look round separately, but the head may not be available. I wouldn't think there is any point doing it before the Autumn term as the applications won't open until October.

Malfoyy · 25/06/2017 23:19

And we made appointments to look around the ones we liked - had individual tours twice and open days twice.

RitaConners · 25/06/2017 23:21

Yes, but with about five neighbours/people I knew from playgroup etc. And one school had an open day where you could go at any time that day and the year six children were showing people round.

Dinosaursdontgrowontrees · 25/06/2017 23:23

From my experience they won't even give you the time of day until after September. Schools are very busy this time of the year. Just work out your closest schools, read ofstead reports and phone up in September to arrange visits. You have plenty of time.

Original poster

purpleme12 · 25/06/2017 23:25

Oh right I didn't know if it would be too late next term or not. Do you know when you can start applying and when it closes?

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GreatWhites · 25/06/2017 23:27

Rightmove is not completely accurate.

The data will all be available from your LA- they usually publish a booklet with it all in it. Also note the actual distances (as the crow flies etc).

Do you need aftercare provision, breakfast club?
What system do they use in September to settle the children?
Are the corridors/rooms generally clean?
Do the walls have all types of work displayed or just perfect examples?
Are the children happy?

GraceGrape · 25/06/2017 23:29

For the 2017 intake, online application opened in November and closed in mid-January. Your local authority should have the info on their website.

Original poster

purpleme12 · 25/06/2017 23:29

Thank you everyone.

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SpaghettiMeatballs · 25/06/2017 23:31

I agree that most schools will want you to wait until autumn.

I would start by looking at local authority figures on distance and criteria so to know which schooos you have a realistic chance of getting a place at.

I would then read the Ofsted reports and look at results of the DoE website whilst remembering these can be misleading and shouldn't be the only measure.

I'd look over the school websites and try to ask parents who go their for their opinions.

When looking round I wanted to get a 'feel' for the school. I wanted to see how happy the staff and students seemed to be. I wanted to consider how approachable I thought the head was.

I wanted to know how reception worked and what the outside space was like.

I also wanted to know what wrap around care was available.

Good luck! I have a child starting in 2018 too but he has an older sibling. It feels like a luxury to have the decision made for me this time and luckily we are very happy with DD's school.

Dinosaursdontgrowontrees · 25/06/2017 23:31

I think applications open in September, closing date is mid January (well it was this year)

Original poster

purpleme12 · 25/06/2017 23:31

Thank you. Wasn't sure how long the application process was open for. Any other ideas about what to ask/look out for welcome too..

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Original poster

purpleme12 · 25/06/2017 23:32

What's DoE website?

OP posts:

SpaghettiMeatballs · 25/06/2017 23:33

Department for Education.

Original poster

purpleme12 · 25/06/2017 23:35

Oh I see. Thank you

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