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

To be happy. If you're happy you don't dread getting up for school, you don't fear the bullies (peer group or teacher), you are receptive to learning and all tge benefits that can bring. School is such a big part of shaping who you become, how you manage, how you look at life and if you can be happy throughout then your mental wellbeing stands a good start for your future.

For them to be happy and confident human beings, to be able to step out into the world with a good level of education and a choice of what they want to do with their future. I would also want the school to be fair and consistent.

The most important thing from my perspective is that they are happy and that the school supports the parents in teaching the children respect - both for themselves and others - which goes a long way towards development. If a child has respect for themselves and others , they're more likely to work hard - both academically and in an extra curricular sense. On the happiness point, I'm not sure there's an adult around who can point to their school days and say that they were always happy and enjoyed them - life doesn't work like that. What's more important is that the school is able to deal with issues, both on a general level.

From an academic perspective, I want a school who encourages the child to do as well as they are able but without putting too much pressure on them. Life inevitably involves pressure, and learning how to deal with that is a benefit. I don't believe in absolutely protecting children from failure or pressure, but rather supporting them through it. I want DS to ideally to have a solid grounding in a language. I'd also love them to be involved in sports and music - though am conscious that there are only so many hours in the day!!

My DD struggles with school, she’s not academic and she has separation anxiety. From her primary education she is learning consistency, that even though you may not want to do something getting up and showing up has to be done. She won’t always enjoy school but she has to show up, this’ll encourage a work ethic in her.
Her school are also encouraging and supporting her (and all pupils). Achievements are acknowledged, recognised and celebrated. Interests are encouraged and built upon. Her education is well rounded and she’s learning that there are things she’s interested in which can be applied to areas of development for her future.

To be happy
To take advantage of all the amazing opportunities that education, in a fairly rich developed country has to offer
To know that there are choices and to feel under no pressure when it's time to make those choices
To work and play bloody hard and do her best
To accept that, like it or not, there are going to be things about school and teachers she doesn't like
To accept that they may not be perfect but there going to be exams and she's going to have to do lots of them and do them damn well if she wants to get anywhere
To foster autonomous learning and study and take responsibility for own education.
To form friendship bonds that will last a lifetime.

to abolish the inequity that is private education, because that will be the thing that will mark them out most and disadvantage them in adulthood - irrespective of how brilliant they are.

I think for me having desperately struggled in school I'm now of the opinion that we place too much pressure on grading and marking each child the same way.
I think it's good to have an idea of how each child is doing but that we should be mindful of the old 'judging a fish on its ability to climb a tree' analogy.

Children are all such different learners and marking them up or down based on the set list we have now is massively distressing for some children.

If we focused more on goals reached over marks out of a hundred I feel we would be on a good track for having the right balance of ambition and self esteem.

I think a good education comes from other adults noticing qualities in your children and providing opportunities and encouragement for these to be developed to the full.

I think, although the majority of parents have their child’s very best interests at heart, it can take other adults to challenge and extend their children’s abilities.

I have been very grateful for the input of other adults in my children’s lives over the years. They have brought out the very best in them.

I think a good education is a varied one, one that can offer a child lots of opportunities to try and experience new things and push themselves to achieve their best.

What matters is that the school sees the whole child, not just their academic ability, and that they work with them to build on their skills and talents and help them improve in the other areas without making them feel a failure.

It is also vital that they are aware of any bullying issues and deal with them swiftly. The quiet girl who keeps her head down, works hard, and spends all her free time in the ,library may be deeply unhappy due to bullying.

Work on emotional maturity as well as academic achievement.

Encourage creativity - music and art.

Opportunities to develop skills whatever they may be are most important in an education, focusing on exams and tests can only prepare children for a limited amount of skills, give them experiences, get them out of the class room, get them engaging in debates and using the creative side of their brains. Make it fun!

I think it’s important for schools to nurture individuals and not make them all fit in the same mould.

I think it is important that success is measured in different ways, emotional support and pastoral care is available and struggling students are supported and encouraged as much as those at the top of the class. A school that encourages input from parents and pupils is also valued so that they feel included and involved. Most importantly I want my child to feel safe and happy whilst at school.

Critical thinking! Children need to learn to question things and research answers for themselves and to be critical of the sources of information that they find.

Definitely feeling valued and being happy at school. Having access to an enriching curriculum which values the arts, sport etc.

For me a good school is one which embues the children with ambition, drive and enthusiasm for learning.

It goes without saying that I want my child to be happy, but for the right reasons, not because they are allowed to mess around all day and do what they want.

A good school would have Teaching staff who enjoy their job and think creatively about how to enthuse children.

A good school would have strong discipline.

A good school welcomes the family in and builds a community. It communicates in an organised and open way with parents.

A good school has a range of creative and sporting opportunities for all children, not just the most talented.

The physical environment is also important to me. Outside space is key, preferably some green spaces. Sports grounds nearby. Space for theatre, art and music.

We firmly believe that education is what is left when you have forgotten what you learned in school and look to support metacognition and socialisation. Life is mostly about getting on with others and yourself

For me, it's about making learning enjoyable from a young age. If kids love going to school and learning from a very young age, it makes it more likely that'll continue. So, I think there need to be rewards to keep their interest - and I have no issue with exams in the early days, they're good practice for further down the line!

That they are happy at school and have made friends are most important for me.

I think children being happy is key, otherwise they won’t learn.
However academics and a well rounded curriculum are obviously important too.
I like to get regular updates about where my dd is and if there’s anything I can help with at home too

For me the most important thing is that my dc feel valued and motivated to learn. Luckily Dc1 has a fantastic teacher this year who has identified her main strength and is really encouraging her to develop this area. She isn't pushy or demanding but does have a high expectation that dc will make steady progress. She also gives us ideas and tips of how we can support this at home.
I really hope this joy of learning continues for her as it's been lovely to watch her develop so far.

To leave school feeling that they are valued in society for who they are and can offer something to society, be that as a road sweeper or a judge. The polar opposite to what I was taught in my GDST school where I only had value if I went to oxbridge, did medicine or law, became prime minister and had at least 4 daughters. And aside from the people I went to school with I’ve met so many other women who also went to GDST schools and feel the same. It’s hard going through life feeling that you are never quite good enough.

Hands down it would be their happiness, if a child is not happy at a school they shall not learn!

My kids would get good GCSE results anywhere, it is the other opportunities that they need such as the arts & sports

At the moment my DS is in primary school and is struggling with the move from reception to Year 1 (He has Asperger's and doesn't cope with change) . The support he has received from the staff in helping him settle has been phenomenal and that in the long run will help him more than daily homework and tests.