What are you looking for in a School?

[Kenlee]

What are the priorities?

Academia, Sports, Pastoral care , Arts or Music

or anything in between.

I'm just curious how your decision was made..and why?

dancingdreamer - you have reminded me that as we looked for ds school, I was very aware that dd follows in 2 years and dd2 2 years after that. So as we went round mixed schools, I was asking about music (for dd) as well as ds strengths.

He is going to boys school with a girls school next door, and as far as I know (haven't visited it yet) the girl's school is where dd will go.

So yes, siblings are also an issue

but one where my eccentric lone wolf DS could actually be himself and most importantly be accepted as himself.

That was important to us too. Being "geeky" and good at maths and science can sometimes be a curse in schools with few like minded kids, especially if you are also a bit "socially clumsy". (sorry son )

He is thriving in his secondary school though! Being academically minded is cool. The school has such a rounded focus on arts, drama, science, sports, that every child has something they can shine in, and I think that is important. The school is quite pushy, and celebrate achievement in whatever form, and I think that is good too. There is a vast range of extracurricular activities. DS spends every lunch break in the ICT suite learning programming, if not in the choir. The school is also close to home, he can walk to school which is great.

Choice of 2 comprehensive schools in my town. One is larger and runs like a machine. Other is smaller and much more head based. Smaller one had better pastoral care system. Larger has better results. Smaller one pretty rubbish for music - not even got an orchestra - and ds2 is musical so that was a factor. More of a work ethic at the larger one.

Ds1 wanted to go to the larger one as his friends were going there. Ds2 wanted smaller one as he was worried about getting lost!

They are both at the larger. I am very happy with it. It is a well oiled machine - ok it's bit faceless, but if the head left the wheels would keep turning. I felt that if the head of the smaller one left it would falter slightly. Both dc happy there.

I suppose I chose on academic results/music.

One which was right for my particular DC and suited them.
One where academics and aspirations is key- whether that be absolute excellence (selective at the start to create an academic environment) or non-selective but excellent value added. Generally the atmosphere is a big thing, it needed to be one where the norm is to work hard and stay out of trouble.
Good pastoral care should it be needed, child is known in the school- so not too huge.
Reasonable facilities in good condition. Opportunities for extra curricular in whatever my child enjoys.
Single sex if possible.
Leavers go to university or career of their choice. Good results to support this.

Not too fussy ;)

Depends on kid, doesn't it? Sport never mattered for me but it's a big deal for DD.
I chose a lousy academics school for good pastoral care when DS needed pastoral care more than anything (but moved him 2 yrs later for academic & social reasons).
DS2 has behaviour issues so may make the choice based on which school sounds like they could best support him.

Proximity and pastoral care, with a decent academic results.

So I would discount a school that had terrible results even if it was close and had good pastoral care. But I don't require stellar results.

Dd2 has just passed the 11 plus. The grammar schools have excellent results and good pastoral care but are distant. Therefore these have a lower position on CAF than the comprehensive church school which is within walking distance. The closest school is independent, a 10 minute walk, has good pastoral care and good results, although it is selective so that is not surprising. This is our first choice.

There are other independent schools further away with better results, but we have not considered these. Academia is not our main driver. We want our child to be happy at school, and not to be worn out by long complex journeys.

I also found that good pastoral care waa the most important feature for my DD...

I would agree with Cory - academic and pastoral are my priorities.
A can-do attitude (again agreeingwith Cory) is what is essential in both Academic and pastoral terms.

I also think a proven track record is important and some sense of whether the momentum is up or down, IYSWIM