I need help choosing a secondary school for my son!

[mumaroundtheclock]

I have a son who is entering year 5 this September and I would love some advice for the best independant secondary schools. Obviously I have visited school websites, but all the information available is pretty generic and I don't want to choose the incorrect school for him. He loves sports especially football and hockey, so it's important for the school to have a strong sports team. We live in London so preferably the school would be London based. Does anyone have any school recommendations or any websites that can give me more in depth information about schools?

I would change your search from the “best” to the “right” school for your son and the only way to ensure this is to visit them and ask the questions that are important to you.

Having a top rated football and hockey team is all very well and good, but if your son adores sport and doesn’t make the A teams, just how inclusive is it? Do they have B, C and D teams? Do the lower teams get to pay competitive matches against other schools etc? How far away are the sports pitches - are they on site or a coach ride away? If it’s the latter then can you still get to and from there easily for after school and weekend training?

Are there any other areas that are important? Might he have some ideas about GCSEs he might be interested in? My friend has a son who dances. They couldn’t find a boys school that offered GCSE dance so they opened up their search to coed schools.

Does he have any SEN? Dyslexia etc is very well supported in some schools and non existent in others.

Honestly, it’s very easy to get carried away with results, league tables and facilities and forget to focus on YOUR child’s needs. Make a list and then choose the school that best fits. I am also a great believer in gut reaction. We found we just knew which schools were right for our DC and we haven’t been disappointed.

Are you willing & can you afford for him to board?

If not, then what the the maximum commute time for him you think is viable? Start by ruling out all schools outside this time.

What academic level is he? You don't mention it, so do you need to rule out any highly selective schools?

Is he currently in state or private? If at private then your HT should be able to advise you on suitable schools. If at state, you could start by asking them whether your DS would be suitable for grammar / super selective to get an idea.

I would step away from the websites and go and look at some schools. Open Day season is not long away.

Don't live in London, but I assume your initial short list is based on ability to get to said school (not stupid commute) and your son's relative academic ability (do you want very selective, slightly selective, or only selective on ability to pay?).

As per PP - what does your child want out of a school? I wouldn't focus on the football and hockey - frankly these are things that any school will offer, and also things that are commonly available out of school if you don't like school provision.

Sorry to disagree, but I do think you should look at the football and hockey. Some more traditional schools will do only rugby, with little or no football. Hockey isn't a given either, certainly not as a main sport. Yes, they're mainstream sports that you can easily do at a club, but depending on school hours your son might not have much time for that, particularly if you factor in school commitments on Saturdays. My DS is at a six day a week school, and he does do one outside club for part of the year, but it makes for a pretty full week, and I certainly wouldn't want him doing any more than that. Even where schools don't have Saturday lessons, they might well have Saturday matches. If your son has favourite sports, I'd definitely avoid sending hin to a school where he can't do one or both of them.

Which part of London do you live in?

London is a big place, where do you live? Some schools e.g. Habs boys insist on all boys playing rugby - others are more strong on hockey (UCS has a good hockey team). but agree with all the rest that has been said. Start from where you are geographically and go and look at some schools. there is no such thing as 'the best school' it's 'the best school for that child'

Also where is he now and is he being prepared for the 11+? London secondary independent schools are tricky to get into.

OP, you need your priorities straight. It's like asking the question, which car is right for my DS? It depends, of course. Sportscars, EVs, Campers all have their market, and in the UK there is also a decent offering still. The two most important decisions upfront are (i) single-sex or co-ed (ii) full boarding, weekly boarding or day.