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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Secondary school visits - what should I REALLY be asking about?

36 replies

Tinker · 03/10/2007 14:48

Eldest will be going into Y7 next year.

I'm 99.9% sure which school she'll be going to but feel I should be asking some probing questions. My mind always goes blank or I sound inane.

Any suggestion gratefully received.

Thanks

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Blandmum · 03/10/2007 14:55

How is the pastoral care organised, do children usually feel a form tutor, head of year (whatever) for the 5 years of school prior to A level

How much feed back is given to parents in the first term of the child going into year 7, do they contact you to let you know how things are going, for example.

How many parent teacher meetings per year?

Do they have a review evening?

How much progress do they expect a child to make over the KS3 period.....go catch them out question this, it used to be 1 (ie so go in at level 4, get a 5 at KS3) now the government has just said it should be 2.

Does the school have a virual learning environment....ie does the school website allow the children to access lesson plans, homework etc on the computer from home....a boon for children who miss lesson, and forget home work

How many children choose to stay on into the sixth form?

that any good?

Blandmum · 03/10/2007 14:56

OMG! Not feel a form tutor! Keep! Keep!

That has to be my worst bloody silly typo

Marina · 03/10/2007 14:57

Good luck tinks - hope it's a school where dd will do well and be happy
MB I will tuck that advice away for future use, I cannot believe how ds' primary years are belting by

Marina · 03/10/2007 14:57

LOL at that fab typo you have so kindly drawn our attention to

Original poster
Tinker · 03/10/2007 15:05

mb

Thanks for those. A lot of those are on teh school website so that's a good sign. Like the KS3 questions

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Original poster
Tinker · 03/10/2007 15:06

What is annoying is that the other potential (and only for nosiness really) school has its open day on the same night!

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swag · 03/10/2007 15:07

PMSL at feeling the form tutor

We've got the 1st visit, out of 2 possible schools, tomorrow night so I'll be making notes

UnquietDad · 03/10/2007 15:08

Depends what you are looking for.

I sometimes think they should have, instead of academic league tables, a table showing the proportion of kids to dress in hoodies, carry knives, holiday in Benidorm etc.

(Just ignore me, I'm being flippant.)

Original poster
Tinker · 03/10/2007 15:08

I have been advised to corner one of the kids for the real info...

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Tamum · 03/10/2007 15:08

Can't add much to mb's sterling advice, except that it might be worth asking if they stream/set according to ability, and in which subjects. I took that as a given for things like maths, but I'm not sure it is always, from posts on here. I guess how much choice they get in terms of GSCE/A levels and what restrictions there are?

claricebeansmum · 03/10/2007 15:09

How many staff left at the end of last year?

What exactly has the PTA paid for last year?

How many children were expelled last year?

Blandmum · 03/10/2007 15:10

Other things to look out for (other than the form tutor natch! , are there lots of the kids work on display? Do the rooms look as if they belong to the children in the school, or are they sterile?

What are the loos like?

Do they have lots of positive things up, like reading competitions, Duke of Edinburgh stuff, evidence that the kids raise money for local charities/ get involved in the local community?

Do the sixth form act as 'buddies' or mentors for the younger kids?

Do the teachers talk to your kids or just you?

Cammelia · 03/10/2007 15:10

I'd like to feel a form tutor

Other than that suggestion from mb, her list sounds pretty comprehensive to me

Original poster
Tinker · 03/10/2007 15:11

Staff turnover is on the school website as well.

There is no 6th form

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Original poster
Tinker · 03/10/2007 15:12

Thanks for all suggestions btw, I sound like I'm nit-picking!

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Cammelia · 03/10/2007 15:13

You sound nervous (understandably)

Original poster
Tinker · 03/10/2007 15:14

I'm not really. It's the local school, good ofsted, walking distance. Just being a bit obsessive

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Cammelia · 03/10/2007 15:15

Being a good mum

Original poster
Tinker · 03/10/2007 15:17

Ha ha. Trying to be.

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Cammelia · 03/10/2007 15:18

I just can't believe they're 10/11 already.

Blandmum · 03/10/2007 15:19

and the most important thing, would your dc fit in?

A school could be utterly fantastic for a sporty child, with loads of teams and great facilities, but if your child is totaly un-sporty, would it be the best place for them? Or music, or drama or whatever.

Original poster
Tinker · 03/10/2007 15:21

I can't wait for her to start actually, really looking forward to it.

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Hallgerda · 03/10/2007 15:22

I thought deeply about the whole business, wrote down loads of questions, but felt in the end that just soaking up the atmosphere on the open day and trying to imagine my son in the position of the pupils showing us round was really what mattered.

Marina · 03/10/2007 15:25

You do need to establish what percentage of the families are chocolate teapot botherers as well tinks - in case any of it rubs off on dd Ask to check the library holdings for the works of Richard Dawkins!

Original poster
Tinker · 03/10/2007 15:33

Oo, good one

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