What's most important to you when it comes to your child’s education? Share with the GDST for the chance to win a £300 John Lewis voucher!

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We all know that education is important and the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST), a family of 25 schools across the UK, would like to know what’s most important to you when it comes to your children’s education. Please share your thoughts below to be entered into the voucher prize draw.

When thinking about 'what makes a good education', what do you think is most important? Are strong academic results what make a good education? Or do you think there is too much focus on exams in schools? Does a well-rounded education involve sports and creative arts? Does learning languages and communication skills give children better life skills?

Whatever you think is important for your children’s education, please share it below and you will be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 John Lewis voucher.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Terms and conditions apply

It needs to be well rounded. Of course, academic achievements are imortant but we need to make sure the whole child is developed to help them become happy, healthy, hard-working adults.

Enjoyment. If they enjoy it with little pressure when they are young, then they’re more likely to work hard and succeed

Critical thinking! It’s so important that education teaches the ability to think independently, analyse data, formulate own opinions and draw conclusions.

I think its important that every child is treated individually, with encouragement and attention to their needs. I don't want my son to feel pressured by his education, but would rather they recognised where he has potential and get him to harness this.

That within the educational system my children are treated as individuals not statistics and nurtured and supported with their individual needs.

I want my child to be challenged and I work to help them with that. I want them to do well and enjoy doing it so I don't make homework too much of a chore. I let them try whatever they want so they do have a lot of extra cirricula activites as well as the normal core school work.

I want my DDs to have as many opportunities to learn as possible. Not just classroom based, but a broader curriculum that helps to connect them to music and nature. I want them to enjoy their time at school and gain a thirst for knowledge and learning that will take them into adulthood.

I do believe family support is the key to a good education, you need family to push you along a bit. I don’t think exams are the ideal as they put a lot of pressure on kids when they don’t need it. There are other ways of assessment that can be used.

My dd went to a GDST School, may I respectfully suggest the GDST look no further than their very own Jane Lunnon for advice on this matter.

My only feedback would be if schools provide commitments at the selection stage, they cannot make changes to provision or ethos around certain subjects (PE/games) without consultation.

I think that it's a tough world out there, and a school needs to have a good balance of pastoral care and academic focus, it's a stressful time at school, but we cannot prepare our children for the big wide competitive world if they do not have a good academic start, if the school cares about pupils as much as it does results, it's a good balance.

A school that treats all children equally. No favourites. No ignored middle. Consistent discipline and consequences for disruptive behaviour. We see a person-centred approach in the care sector; we need to see this in schools. Each child should have their own tailored education plan.

Enjoy every success.
Learn and grow from any disappointment

I think the most important thing a child can be taught in today’s world is how to keep learning, and an appreciation that knowledge is built on and that perspectives change. The idea that there is a scientific “right answer” and that when evidence changes that “scientists get it wrong” is the kind of black and white thinking that helps no-one. Understanding that life has nuance and that people have (and are entitled to) different perspectives should be taught right from the start - it’s too late just crowbarring it in once they’re teenagers

that they are happy and healthy- so a big focus on PE and extra after school sports activities.

A range of learning and that they are happy within the school x

That they are happy and feel safe, same as at home. Then they will be enthusiastic to join in

Being Happy, secured and valued makes a massive difference. Also the teachers properly knowing them helps!
I think education should be well rounded too, sport and music etc are under rated sometimes.

To prepare them with the skills for a job or further education. To gain independence and self motivation. To better themselves mentally and emotionally.

Make sure that they are somewhere where they are happy and treated fairly.
We make sure that we do homework around the table and talk about subjects and how they are doing at school and what they are liking and disliking at the moment.

That they are learning in a friendly environment

I think primary education is reasonably well done - although too many schools sacrifice years 2 and 6 to SATs. Mostly children are engaged, curious and enthusiastic about learning.
The rot sets in at secondary. Schools are too big and impersonal. Children are anonymous and feel less valued and cared for. Teachers don't know them very well. They are largely faceless. ( not teachers' fault whatsoever).
Also the exam driven curriculum is ridiculous. My elder child has just done GCSEs. There was very little he didn't understand. However, the challenge came purely in memorising it all at the same time and spewing it out in multiple exam papers. It was a test of memory and self- discipline, not intellect or understanding or academic ability.
My younger child has just started in Yr7. He has already been completely switched off science because it is just rote learning of facts with memory tests every week. What kind of curriculum and education system switches a curious kid off science in half a term???
Also, secondary school is when too many kids stop reading for pleasure. They just have too much other exam focussed homework to do. What kind of curriculum and education systems switches a kid off reading for pleasure?
Education should be motivating, interesting. Exams should test something other than memory and self discipline.

Teaching resilience and a growth mindset - "I can't do it... yet". The idea that failure is a stepping stone to success is so important, particularly for girls.

That our children feel happy and supported in their school life, that way they are in a good position to really challenge themselves and thrive.

I think that the most important thing is that each child is treated as an individual and their own interests and achievements are championed. Children should be encouraged to express their personality and individuality and if that means focusing on arts rather than sports or vice versa so be it. A blanket programme doesnt work and there should always be flexibility. Happiness and well being must not be underestimated.

The most important thing is that the child is happy in their learning environment, that they are treated as an individual and given the confidence that they can do anything they set their mind to.