While obviously important, choosing a secondary school for your child should not simply be based on its proximity to your home, you need to also factor in the facilities, ethos and discipline – things you can learn from an open day.

 

However, having a walk around won’t give you much of an insight if you don’t come armed with inquisitive questions ready to ask the staff – questions that you should not leave without being answered.

 

1. Does it have a good, strong academic record or is it more sports-focused? It is suited to your child?

Obviously your child is going to school to learn, but some may be more interested in sports than English and you need to bear this in mind when viewing a school. If your child leans towards football or hockey, there is no point sending them to a secondary school that doesn’t have a strong sports focus. Again this works for kids who are more art-focused. Figure out if the school is RIGHT for your child, not just because it is close by is vital.

 

 

2. Ask what facilities are available to your child

From sports halls to science labs, school trips to afterschool activities, do figure out what facilities the school has to offer. There is more to learning than simply reciting poems off by heart, and the more rounded the system is the better for your child.

 

3. How does it help with progression after school?

While the last thing you are probably thinking about right now is your child graduating and heading off to college or work, it is important you figure out what support system the school has in place – guidance counsellors, work experience etc. These things can be vital to a teen who is struggling to find a path as they approach the end of their schooling.

 

 

4. Enquire about the subjects on offer to your child

Secondary schools will cover the basics like Maths, English, Geography and History, but if you have your heart set on your little one learning, say Spanish, you may be disappointed to realise it’s not on their curriculum. However, while it might not be part of their day-to-day subjects they may actually offer it as an extra-curricular activity, so check it out.

 

5. What is the student-to-teacher ratio?

Obviously there are rules regarding how many pupils can be in a classroom per teacher, but you may find schools differ greatly in numbers. Look at class sizes and teaching assistants before you make up your mind.

 

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