Choosing a secondary school
By Claire Laurent
Children moving from primary to secondary school are taking a major step towards joining the outside world. It's exciting as well as daunting and parents and teachers are realising the importance of getting the transfer right.
Recent government documents have highlighted that a move that goes badly can have long term effects in terms of children's achievements and attendance at school. With competition for good schools being so fierce, it's vital that you are able to familiarise yourself with the application procedure in advance.
When to start looking
You will need to start doing this when your child is in Year Five or Six, earlier if competition is stiff for particular schools in your area.
It's worth remembering that while parents may express a preference for a particular school, it is not quite the same as choosing, because you will be limited by the numbers allowed in to the school and by its admissions criteria.
Admissions criteria
It's a legal requirement for admissions authorities to publish the admissions criteria for their schools, says David Wigley, an education officer for Northamptonshire admissions authority, part of Northamptonshire County Council.
The criteria prioritises which children have right of admission to the school and includes: living in a defined catchment area, those who have a sibling attending the school or whether the child attends a "feeder" primary school.
Foundation schools, formerly grant maintained schools, have their own admission criteria. This may include educational criteria, enabling them to select more able pupils. This makes them popular because academic standards are likely to be high.
Voluntary aided schools which are mainly Church of England or Roman Catholic also have their own admission criteria which will usually include church attendance and whether your child has been Christened.
Grammar schools still thrive in some parts of the country and children take the 11-plus exam in the school year before entry. Some primary schools prepare children for the 11-plus while others don't, so if your child's primary school doesn't and you are keen on your child going to a grammar, you may want to arrange for the exam to be taken privately as well as some extra tuition.
Some schools, particularly foundation schools or private schools may take into account a special skill your child has say in music or sport. Private schools offer scholarships and bursaries to help with fees and, since the assisted places scheme was stopped, many offer a few subsidised places to bright children of parents who could not normally afford the fees.
Margaret McGown, of the Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) says: "Always make sure your first choice is realistic. It's important to look very carefully at the admissions criteria. It's no good putting the best school for your child if there's no chance of him getting in."
How do you choose?
Keep the admissions criteria in mind and then visit the schools you think are most suitable, study their league table results, and talk to other parents.
It's important to visit the schools with your child and make sure if possible that you go during the day as you will see them in operation.
On your visits look for:
- Are you warmly welcomed?
- Is there a calm, working feel to the place?
- How do the staff talk to the pupils
- How to the pupils relate to their teachers and assistants?
- Is there a pride in the place?
- Is work displayed on the walls?
Make sure you also see the head teacher and find out his or her views on teaching and the school's general philosophy."
Appeals process
If your child is turned down for a place at your preferred choice of school, you may appeal against the decision.
You will need write to the local education authority or directly to the school if it's a Foundation or Voluntary Aided school, and a meeting of the appeal panel, which consists of three independent people, will be arranged.
The panel will check whether the admissions criteria were followed and whether the school could take extra pupils. If the school is full the panel will weigh up the problems faced by your child if she doesn't go to this particular school against those faced by the other students, if numbers are increased.
For more advice, contact organisations such as ACE and talk to other parents who have also appealed.
Claire Laurent specialises in writing on health and parenting issues. She is married and has three children, aged 10, nine and six. She lives in Oxfordshire.
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