how do i go about finding out what a school is really like?

[stitchtime]

ds2 not progressing in primary school. how do i find out what the other schools are really like. because the school he currently attends has fantastic ofsted reports, and a huge waiting list of children trying to get in. a very active pta etc. well dressed kids. loads of year sixes off to grammar schools and several off to competitive private schools etc.

how do i go about finding out what a school is really like?

I think what you need to do is address why ds2 is not progressing - what it is about the school that is holding him back. Is it too formal? Too big/small?

On paper the school does sound very desirable and I am sure they are not hiding whatever it is that your son does not responding to - it may be one of the things they make a big sell of - but it is probably a clash between his personality and the school's particular culture. Once you have worked out what sort of school would better suit him then you visit the schools/read ofsteds/talk to parents and find out which one best matches his needs.

When I was considering schools I chatted to other parents in the local park. Got some very useful info that would have been hard to come by otherwise.

What is the problem with ds at his current school? If you have specific concerns that can't be dealt with at his present school then I'd be asking very specific questions at any other schools I was considering. No point moving if the problem moves with you.

go and have a look?

disicpline. the school has none. the kids are learning that if you are big enough then you can get away with murder, as long as an adult doesnt see. and even if they do see. the adults do not do anything to address the issue.
ds1 had similar problems there, but fortunately the class bully in his class wasnt as bad as the one in ds2's class. and his mom wasnt as bad a bully as this one is.
ds1 managed to stay with the senco till year five, but because their are children with special needs in ds2's class, they obviously, and rightly so, get to go to her, whilst ds2 gets ignored in the class, because he is neither special needs, nor badly behaved, nor grammar school material.
the large number of kids going to grammar schools is because a large majority of the kids are tutored. some from reception. but nearly all once they are in juniors.

but the main problem is that he has learnt that the adults in the school are not going to protect him, or help him in anyway. they are all caught up in running around a particular child and he is 'not important'

i like the idea of chattingint he playground.