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Secondary education

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

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Original poster

Sorry - what am I meant to be looking for in a secondary school?

84 replies

ahundredtimes · 04/10/2008 14:57

We are touring schools.

I don't even know what I'm meant to be looking for.

Facilities? Happy pupils? Are teenagers happy though?

What else?

It's VERY hard. I went to a school with no rules but a lovely staircase. I don't feel qualified.

Tips would be welcome.

OP posts:

NotCod · 04/10/2008 15:17

god oyu aheva big choice

we haev two

NotCod · 04/10/2008 15:18

maths shmaths
in afica they do it under an old tree wiht ...er... stones

littlerach · 04/10/2008 15:19

God, I wouldn't go in the loos at one of ours.

Scarey.

Are you loking at private 100, or state?

thirtysomething · 04/10/2008 15:20

useful tips here am feelig the same ahundredtimes. We've looked at 4 schools now and my head hurts too. Am sick of looking in chemistry labs (hated the subject at school) and seeing history textbooks on display table. That doesn't help me choose a school. I want to know if DS will be happy basically, will he have mates, will he thrive in all areas, will he be able to do as much sport as he wants etc. The "top" state school in our area was v. disappointing. Total exam factory and I couldn't engage a single teacher in conversation or make eye contact. Never saw one chatting to any pupils and the pupils seemed arrogant or nervous! Such a hard decision as that's our catchment school and all DSs mates will go there except about 2. what part of the countryare you in ahundred?

singersgirl · 04/10/2008 15:22

We are secondary schooled out and I can no longer tell. Actually I said to the polite 12 year old showing us round one place today, when he was trying to big up the maths department, "It's OK. I believe you that you do maths here and I'm confident your teachers know lots about it. Where shall we go next?"

Nice kids the main thing, IMHO. One of the schools had lots of children who were very like an older DS1. Two heads were really pompous. One did a Christian blessing - so that's no for me. Some bleated on about rugby, which makes my skin crawl.

How easy they are to get to and to get into (if at all selective) is another issue.

Whether you are philosophically opposed to them (DH and private schools) or whether you can afford them (me and private schools) are also considerations.

pointydog · 04/10/2008 15:24

can't you just send dc to the nearest one?

wonderstuff · 04/10/2008 15:26

We had a list of do's and don'ts issued to us before open evening! Smile at parents, don't talk to them for too long... I would try to see the school 'in action' when the less well behaved kids are there. We only have year 7's and prefects at our open evenings

SorenLorensen · 04/10/2008 15:27

Oh, that's another one - friends. Most of ds1's friends have gone to the same school and that has helped him a lot. We have talked about our weird unique sons before, haven't we, a hundredtimes? For ds1, I think having his friends around him has really helped - he is very shy, and I think he would have found it incredibly hard to go to a school where he didn't know anyone (like I did). As it is, he is thriving and happy (and his confidence seems to be growing). In fact, I am really glad he didn't get in at our first choice

Moomin · 04/10/2008 15:27

First impressions count. Atmosphere of the school when you get there. Foyer. Displays of work, trips, policies in colourful pupil-friendly terms. Classrooms. Class sizes. Pastoral policies - year groups or House system. School website.
VALUE ADDED: This is NOT what their GCSE pass rate is (although this can be important) but to include how much the school does for the pupils in its care during th5 or 7 years they are there. The higher the value-added, the better the school works for its pupils to achieve their potential. A low GCSE pass (below national average) need not indicate a rubbish school necessarily but a low value-added might.
ASk what their exam entry policies are: are they inclusive and strive for evey pupil to gain some kind of qualification or do they not enter certain pupils?
Yes agree, definitely toilets.
Also areas for pupils to spend free time - library/computer rooms; outside areas to meet with friends at break times.
Beware slick PR with no substance. I am a sucker for a well put-together Powerpoint of photos and emotive music!

Original poster

ahundredtimes · 04/10/2008 15:28

Am looking at both littlerach.

One boys state comp, two private. One has reputation of being v. academic and the other less so.

That's it. I can't be bothered to look at more.

And PD - thing is, they are ALL the same distance from us. So that doesn't help.

Also given that we can do private, then it's a choice right? So presumably you are supposed to KNOW how to make that choice? Not arse around staring at the sixth formers and playing in the art block?

All tips v. helpful. Thank you.

OP posts:

SorenLorensen · 04/10/2008 15:28

Yes, that's good advice too from wonderstuff - the only school I saw "for real" was the one he's at - we went for an afternoon on an ordinary school day. All the others we only saw on carefully stage managed open Evenings.

Original poster

ahundredtimes · 04/10/2008 15:29

Thank you Moomin and SL - yes, you were very nice about my weird DS1. I remember it fondly.

God, I wish I'd done this thread before this morning.

OP posts:

Moomin · 04/10/2008 15:40

God yes, DEFINITELY visit potential schools on a normal day. Use the open evenings to weedle out the ones you don't want, have a shortlist and arrange to visit them again during a working day. See what the atmosphere is like, what access you are given to all areas of school and if you can try to be there when lessons cross-over to see how pupils are like as they move about the school. Also look at what their uniform looks like inside school. Lots of secondary pupils look atrocious just after school when they're wandering about in town or whatever, but you might find in school they are challenged. Same with behaviour. Kids aren't going to always act perfectly around school, but if members of staff pass them, do they get challenged?

Original poster

ahundredtimes · 04/10/2008 15:41

Thank you, thank you.

Am going to do all this.

OP posts:

Blandmum · 04/10/2008 15:41

They have to be happy, or at any rate content. If they are unhappy they can't learn.

They must behave. Even if your child would behave anywhere the kids must be reasonably well behaved, or the teachers can teach. So there needs to consistant rules, so the kids know where they 'are' IYSWIM

the teachers need to love they subject, and enjoy working with kids.

If you have all of that, go for the school will good facilities.

But the first three things count for more

Moomin · 04/10/2008 15:42

Litter.
er..... seeing how staff interact with pupils as you go around school.
sorry, getting carried away! will shut up now...

Original poster

ahundredtimes · 04/10/2008 15:45

Noooo, please carry on. Honestly, this is like a Dummy's Guide to Secondary Schools. Honestly. I might as well not have gone to secondary school tbh, it was all smoking and no shoes at my school.

Thank you MB. I liked the staff, they were v. keen and funny with the children.

Also ds1 v. impressed because people kept saying to him 'Hello. Would you like to do a quiz' and he thought that very friendly. {He's weird, see below ]

OP posts:

wonderstuff · 04/10/2008 15:49

Where did you go to school?? If ds is 'weird' a smaller school may be good? We cope well with 'different' children at my school which only has about 100 in a year group. It sounds like the one you visited was nice

Original poster

ahundredtimes · 04/10/2008 15:50

My school has been closed down. The police were complaining about the amount of money spent on termly drugs raids.

He's 'weird' but acceptable. The one we saw today was private and the more academic one. It seemed fine I think, just so very serious. [yawns]

OP posts:

Nighbynight · 04/10/2008 16:24

Near to your house. My parents sent us to a super one, far away, believe me your teenagers have enough stress without a 45 minute journey both ways, sitting in traffic.

NotCod · 04/10/2008 17:35

remember that evereryones ideas of that school will be uber subjective
a dn rememerb to chosoe for ds - not for oyu

SqueakyPop · 04/10/2008 17:38

Happy and disciplined pupils, in a school that celebrates achievement and takes care of its environment and community.

Original poster

ahundredtimes · 04/10/2008 17:47

Squeaky - v.good and pithy. Okay it ticks all those boxes.

DH said EXACTLY that to me ten minutes ago Cod.

OP posts:

Original poster

ahundredtimes · 04/10/2008 17:50

And so did ds1 actually. Because I said 'oh well there all sorts of different schools, I spent most of my time mucking about in a theatre, would you like to do that?' and he said 'No, I want to be a criminal barrister ackershally'

Okay. V. helpful thread, thank you all VERY MUCH.

OP posts:

wheresthehamster · 04/10/2008 18:09

As you wander around have a look at the state of the lockers. If some have no doors or locks that have been ripped off then be prepared to fork out for a few PE kits.(This is dd2's school)

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