Is their a simple way of getting a lust of the best school down to the worst in my area?

[LucyJones]

Without having to wade through Osted reports?

Oh God, firstly that should be there

and list not lust... pmsl

there not their...?

list I assume not lust...??

Ofsted not Osted?

try the bbc league tables to do it statistically , otherwise no.

Gah, all I can say is I'm hungover

thanks Liz, do you have a link for that?

YES.
CLICK HERE

Look on the right side, fill in your post code and you will find tables of all the primary or secondary schools in your area.

thank you so much.... I really shouldn't be doing this in my hugover state but dh is nagging me , you are all very kind xxxx

No, because even if I lived next door to you, the best school for your children may not be the best school for my children.

The BBC education website will give you a ranking based on SATs results or GCSE results, but you still have to look between the lines. Upmystreet will giver you siilar data as well as how far each school is from your house.

Try www.upmystreet.com as well - enter your postcode then follow the schools link on the left.

It is such a subjective thing. It's like saying is Asda brand better than Tesco brand baked beans.

In my opinion SATS results mean diddly squit, but my next door neighbour disagrees.

The only way to know which one's right is to visit each school. We changed our minds completely once we'd visited the schools and we're so glad we did because DS1's in the most fantastic school now.

Just read the first paragraph of the OFSTED report. It will quickly tell you if the school is Outstanding, very good, good, satisfactory or in is special measures/notice to improve. There is no need to read the whole thing.

I would start with the schools nearest to where you are living. There is no point in applying for an outstanding school five miles away. You will never place.

alternatively
here

I second visiting them, and meeting the head. Ofsteds and Sats can be useful - most often in ruling schools out - but the school you really like may not be the one that has the 'best' results, especially not at primary level.

There is every need to read the whole thing. And visit the school. And most importantly IMO speak to other parents. Find out how a child like yours is likely to fare in that school. Because that is the information you're after.

I don't think there is a lazy and simple way of ruling out bad schools. Glancing OFSTED reports is probaby the simplest way of avoiding the true disasters of a school.

The best way is talking to your neighbours and seeing where they send their children.

It probably is the best way, while bearing in mind that your neighbours may be snobs.

I think the best way is to visit the schools from the closest one to your house, and working outwords. Ofsted reports are useful, but not to replace a visit.

I think for a primary school, you know a good one when you see one. On a tour, look at displays (do they include children's work?) and at the children's workbooks.

I actually found going to the school fairs very helpful. It shows the behaviour, the involvement of parents and teachers and is a good way of getting a feel for the school.

We asked people where they would want to send their child before we moved to the area, so yes this did mean accosting complete strangers on the street, including elderly couples - they always give a very honest opinion!!!

We also asked people who were dropping off their kids into the school!!! We were moving 100 miles away from our home so it was the best research. We checked the Ofsted report and my DS1 starts at the school in Sept. He has attended the preschool for the last year, and a school visit is a must.

Have since found that our school is in the top 0.5% for state primary, teachers very hands on, they have special needs teachers for those with learning difficulties and those with "barriers to learning" ie problems at home, medical conditions etc etc. Plus they also offer assistance to gifted children too.

So yes, I am the snobby next door neighbour who will tell you that Ofsted reports are paramount to decision making, plus my sister works for Ofsted.