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Choosing a Secondary School
Central Press features (June 1998)
You can tell September has arrived when you spot groups of anxious Year 6 parents congregating in huddles to swop facts,
opinions and rumours about local secondary schools. On the face of it, they should have no worries. With the introduction
of league tables, OFSTED reports and the statutory school prospectus, information has never been easier to come by. Yet
glossy brochures can be deceptive, examination results may reveal as much about the social class of pupils as the quality
of teaching.
So how do you interpret the mass of data? What can you do to identify the best school for your child?
If the local school appears to be sound, there is a lot to be said for staying close to home. Leaving the cosy world of
primary school is a frightening prospect for some children, and they will probably feel more secure if they move on with a
group of friends. Bear in mind too that the demands of the new regime can be tiring for an 11 year-old without the added
burden of a long bus journey. Not forgetting the benefits for the school itself, which forges stronger community links if
most of its pupils live in the area.
Not everyone, however, is lucky enough to have a suitable school on the doorstep. So how do you compare different
establishments and what do you look for?
The school prospectus will give you some idea of what to expect, OFSTED reports provide a more impartial view. The
parents of last year's intake are also worth consulting. They may offer conflicting advice, but they can give you
first-hand, up-to-date information from the consumer point of view. Above all, they can tell you if their children
are happy.
But by far the best way of getting the feel of a school is to go there in person...
© Alison Thomas
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