When do I start looking for secondary schools?
When to Look ...
There is never a right or wrong time to choose the next stage of your child’s education – it will vary from family to family. From our point of view, we can give you better specific advice and service when we know your child academically, socially and emotionally. We suggest that you make an appointment to see the Headteacher in the spring term of Year 5. This will give her and senior academic staff a little while to make sensible, realistic suggestions as to a suitable choice of school at 13.
Think of your child as an individual: don’t just think how convenient a particular school may be. It may be convenient... it may NOT be right. So come and talk to us; we can at least give you an objective, realistic view of your child. The School / Home partnership usually comes up with the right school. And remember... there is a RIGHT SCHOOL FOR EVERY CHILD, whatever his or her academic ability.
Suggested Procedure:
• Together we will draw up a short list of about three or four schools which could be possibilities
• Make appointments to visit the schools of your choice. Avoid “Open Days” ... have a personal appointment and see the school in operation.
• Put the schools in 1,2,3,4 order and then come back to us.
• Try, with our help, to select a 1st and 2nd choice.
• Go back and visit again, perhaps on an open day this time, taking your child with you. Listen to his or her views and impressions. Remember, he / she is the one who has to go there form the age of 13 to 18; if they don’t like it you are wasting your money.
• Register your child for entry
• Let us and them do the rest!
N.B. As you child nears entry time, the schools will ask for a sizable, non-refundable deposit. At this point you will have to make a final decision, so rather than committing yourself to two deposits, settle on one school.
