Once upon a time sending your child to school involved little more than dropping them off at the gates of the nearest village or town establishment and trusting that they’d receive the very best start in life. These days, however, we’re bombarded by choices from the moment our small people are old enough to interact with others. Where will you send your darling to playgroup? Are you a supporter of child-led learning, or a more structured scheme? Will your child’s school be public or private? Regardless of the opinions being thrown your way, it’s essential that you choose your child’s school based upon what’s best for your family, and for your child’s future.
The establishment you eventually decide upon will offer the nurturing environment you’re keen on, the learning style you’re most comfortable with, and the kind of atmosphere you aspire to create for your child at home. The care provided by your child’s school might often feel like a continuation of their childhood to date, while gradually introducing essential life skills, principles, and academia. It’s therefore important to be confident in your decision on that very first day, and throughout their time at the school.
Starting your search for the right school will probably involve a quick scout of your area and an investigation of each possible school’s history, studying previous OFSTED reports, and any other interesting titbits you can discover along the way, as well as interviews with the parents of existing students and a few recon missions to the school gates… With so many things to consider, and a relatively short time in which to piece together your findings, now is the time to pay attention to the teacher.
Tips for choosing the right school
If the thought of checking out local schools or reading through pages of league tables is making you feel a little squiffy, allow me to be of service; here are just a few of the things you might like to think about before you choose a school’s name from out of a hat…
Location, location, location
The first thing you’ll likely consider is the distance of each prospective school from your home, the time it would take you to travel there and back, and any factors, such as children attending different nurseries or high schools, that could impact that journey. What is the likelihood of your child arriving into school, unflustered and on time, each day?
League tables and OFSTED
Yes, results do matter – at least when it comes to shortlisting or discounting prospective schools. For your peace of mind, and to help you to choose between two or more establishments that seem evenly matched, make sure you read the most recent OFSTED reports for your contending schools, and check out their position on the local league table. Such information will give you a glimpse into the school’s attitude, teaching methods, and success, while hopefully tipping the scales in a particular school’s favour.
The relationships between teacher and child
We all want what’s best for our children, and that includes nurturing relationships with the adults they’ll see while they’re away from our sides; you’re bound to want your child to be as loved while they’re out of your sight as they would be when with you. Make sure you ask questions of the staff to children ratio at your shortlisted schools, query the teaching styles and methods in play, and discuss the kinds of relationships existing students have with the teaching and ancillary staff; do you think your child would excel in such an environment?
Finding the right focus
These days many schools seem to have a particular focus, whether that’s sports, languages, or the performing arts.
Looking to the future
While choosing the right school for your child based on the here and now can seem a tempting, and easy, choice, it’s often a good idea to think a little further ahead. If you’re selecting a primary school, what high schools do they feed? If it’s time to consider high schools, have you thought about further and higher education and the options that are available? Looking into an establishment such as the Kingsdale Foundation School, which incorporates a sixth form, is a great way to ensure that your child’s education remains consistent and at the same high standard you first fell in love with. Located in London, the Kingsdale Foundation School offers a wide and varied curriculum, which continues beyond GCSEs and into A Levels; it’s this kind of coherency that will help your child to excel during their education, while picking up a variety of life skills along the way. Does your nearest high school offer such an array of subjects, or a dedicated sixth form?
Whether your child is a new-born baby, happily gurgling in your arms, or a raging threenager content in his or her own company the chances are you’ve thought about the kind of school that your little person is set to attend, and the impact this will have upon their education and future, more than once. Indeed, if you’re anything like many mums out there you’ll have lost a little too much sleep over the matter. Finding the right school for your child can seem a daunting prospect, and it’s important that you make the choice based upon what’s best for your family – and your child’s wellbeing. However, starting that search needn’t be the negative experience you’re dreading, and could actually become rather fun.
