What should send me running (secondary school visit)?

[redskybynight]

OK, so slightly tongue in cheek, but we will be visiting DS's prospective secondary school soon. Based on where we live and the primary school he goes to, it's the only school within striking distance that we are likely to get into (and the schools not within striking distance that we would get into are all significantly worse - on paper anyway).

Our "choice" is therefore

• he goes there OR
• we hate the school so much that we have to think of a plan B (not clear what that might be).

So, I'm not after constructive questions to ask and positive things to spot. I'm after things that would be a complete "no" in a school that we should worry about. Also I guess things that might be a "hmm" that we could live with but might want to keep an eye on/mitigate elsewhere.

"My bottom line is whether the school provides triple science GCSEs or not."

Don't all high schools offer triple science for those who are able?

Have just spotted this interesting article and thought other MNtters would find it helpful.
www.theguardian.com/education/2014/sep/23/choosing-secondary-school-teachers-guide-for-parents.

Most schools would offer Triple science. Some schools give it the full teaching time required for 3 GCSEs and others expect pupils to be able to do the course as fast-track i.e. with the same amount of time for Double science (2 GCSEs). The latter may not work well for some pupils.
However the coming changes in GCSEs may mean that options currently available may no longer be offered in a few years time (some subjects will no longer be available as GCSEs at all), so I would be wary about choosing a school based on GCSE options as a main criteria.

Wow! some great points here ... As it happens, I have had cause to ring the school office a couple of times and the staff have always been polite and helpful - so that's one hurdle jumped! Will definitely be keeping my eyes open when we go round.

Re the "worse on paper schools" - they have worse Ofsted, worse results, worse reputation. This in itself wouldn't put me off without at least seeing them (DC go to a primary that also ticks those boxes) but they are too far away for DS to cycle, and public transport is all but impossible (you have to go into town to come out again and it would take over an hour), so the only way he would get there would be for us to drive him every day, which would be extremely difficult for us to manage round jobs/other child etc. We are only going to start thinking about them if we absolutely hate the catchment school!

My advice would be - take a good look at the Head! Listen carefully to his/her Opening Evening speech, try to meet her for a chat if you can, and do a bit of googling to see if there's any positive or negative history. Is she likely to move on soon? Is she close to retirement?

Think like an outstanding teacher who is looking for their next job - is this someone you would want to work for? Ask around to find out whether staff turnover is high - but be careful because that could mean that the Head is clearing out bad eggs, rather than a sign that good teachers are moving on.

And do listen to the children - do they like their Headteacher?

If she writes a weekly blog on the website, read it and see what you think.

Watch out for brainwashing though. The kids at my local equivalent are well versed in the marketing of the trust that runs it. The Head boy stood up at the Open Evening and said how proud he was to be at an Outstanding school .... which would have impressed parents who didn't know Ofsted had rated it as Requiring Improvement.

redsky:

Agree with humblepie - nice office staff is a good sign. I hadn't met the staff at DD1's (Y7) new school - but delivered acceptance form by hand (as it was on the way to our primary) and the secretary was really pleased to have an acceptance and said 'Welcome to our school' to me - which made me feel a bit welcomed too.

Also agree with those who suggested behaviour of students as they leave school is a good indicator. They may be voluble - but if they aren't instantly rolling up skirts, smoking, cursing and doing worse (as I fear some kids from schools do locally) then that's a good sign (school has nice kids). In Birmingham we also know locally that Mr. Whippy ice cream vans often sell more than ice cream - so if you see vans near the gates at 3/ 3:30 & not actual ice cream purchases - that's not a great sign.

I also looked into what are the pathways/ support for struggling/ average/ bright pupils - you should understand that those that are struggling are getting support & possibly helped into vocational pathways (don't knock it - plumbers make great livings). You should understand that average/ o.k. students are getting support and are helped into pathways that suit them - maybe excel in one academic area/ better with people so encourage to consider suitable career options, vocational training, etc.... and with academic types - is the sky the limit (i.e. do they get some students to A*s at A-Level - do some go to amazing Universities or just ordinary former polys.

Finally - look into 'extras' - are there clubs (subject-based (science/ maths/ book/ poetry)/ music/ drama/ sport/ dance/ film/ etc...). Do they have Duke of Edinburgh scheme? Foreign language exchanges? Optional trips - maybe ski trips/ visit to continent (one school near us has GCSE Physics student trip to Cern). If your child is into music - are there opportunities there (orchestra/ choir/ quartets/ performance groups & opportunities to perform)? A lot of these clubs are free at DD1's current secondary school and many are at lunch - and that's a real plus for us.

Most kids move in a fairly happy bubble of their classes/ clubs/ friendship circle in senior school - so it doesn't matter if there's a huge & varied range of kids admitted - what matters is if you can envision that a bubble suitable for your child is possible there.

HTH