Good questions to ask London schools

[lancashirehotpot72]

Hi,

I'm coming down to London after Easter to see some schools with my daughter (9). We're seeing Habs, QE and Henrietta Barnett and hopefully a couple more but I'm not really sure what questions I should ask? Obviously everyone is enjoying themselves and learning happily, but have you discovered any really perceptive questions that helped you learn something about a school beyond the prospectus?

Thanks.

I'm interested in this too. I've booked to attend a number of small group tours next term and would like to have some perceptive questions up my sleeve. Any suggestions?

I think it's hard to answer this because questions generally focus around what would make this the right school for your child. So, how does the tutor group system work and will it offer the pastoral support your child needs, on what points of discipline do they operate 'zero tolerance', questions about subjects and curriculun - if your DC is a budding linguist how many modern languages can they take at GCSE etc. Do they do a range of vocational qualifications or just academic GCSEs, etc.

I don't think any questions are London specific, really.

OP - you seem to be looking at a range of the most highly over-subscribed schools, are you aiming to make your move to London with a chance to get in? In which case you need to scrutinise the admission criteria (from the websites) and also think of the implications of not getting in, i.e the other local schools.

ahem - quite a hijack, and on 2 threads!
Why not start your own thread?