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How Do You Choose the Right School For Your Child?

How Do You Choose the Right School For Your Child?

Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.

Due to recent events, it can be hard to think about the children going back to school in September. At least hard to imagine them going back as they have done before. For some children, it seems even stranger, as years six are going to secondary school, and preschoolers are going into reception. Now is usually the time when children are going to their new schools and having taster sessions, but of course, this isn’t happening at the moment. It leaves you wondering, though, what makes a good school for your child? Whether it is secondary or primary, careful planning is a must. 

With that in mind, here are some of the things to think about as you go through the process of thinking about schools for your children. It is important to remember that you are looking for a school that will make the learning and the educational experience as rewarding as possible.

Your child & your family

It is a good idea to start thinking about your child, as well as your family situation. What do you want a school to be able to do for your child? Are they a child that will need to be pushed and motivated, or does your child need additional support? Think about this, and other general aspects of the school that will impact your family, and then you can go from there.

Gather information about schools

If you were looking to invest in something or buy something for the home like a washing machine, you would spend time researching it, and finding out reviews and other details about it. Your child’s education should be even more important, so you can’t just choose without looking into anything. It is important to call schools, arrange to see schools, and talk to friends with older children perhaps. It is a good idea to check unbiased sites online, such as schoolresults.org as well as the school’s website itself, much like the LeicesterHigh.co.uk one. You will be able to find out exam results, Ofsted reports, and other factors that could play a part in your decision. 

Checking the curriculum is another important aspect, and although all schools will have similarities, how they execute it will differ. What level of homework is there, and what kind of extracurricular activities are on offer? These can impact your decision when you compare one school to another.

Visit and observe schools

One of the next steps will be to visit the schools that you have narrowed down. At the moment, this may not be possible, although these tours usually start in the next academic year. A good way to be able to have your questions answered is to schedule a formal appointment, rather than just going to an open day. Listen closely to what the teachers are saying about the school, as well as what the pupils are like. You’ll want to know that the teachers are happy in their work, so that they will be a positive force for your child. 

Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.

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