Choosing the right school can be a very stressful experience for parents. There are so many considerations such as location, school facilities and inspection results. All of this can feel like a massive responsibility, so to help relieve some of this pressure, an independent school in Somerset has shared their top tips…
Make a checklist
Start your search for the right school by making a checklist ofwhat is most important to you and your child. It is really important to listen to your child’s opinions and feelings about their new school; after all, they are the ones who will be spending most of their time there. It may be important to them to go to the same school as their existing friends. Try to include them in your decision making and arrange for them to visit potential schools with you.
Do your research
Once you have completed your checklist, you can then start to research your most suitable schools. You can look up school league tables and Ofsted reports online and you can also learn about the schools different curriculums and values. Other important factors to research are class sizes and additional enrichment opportunities, such as sports clubs or music lessons. You may also wish to speak to other parents about their knowledge or experience with local schools.
Visit schools
The best way to choose the right school for your child is to visit some. If possible, try and arrange a tour of the school on a normal school day. This will give you a true insight into daily life at the school, as opposed to an open day, which is normally held outside of school hours. When visiting prospective schools, it is important to consider how welcoming they feel, how well the children interact with the teachers and how safe and clean they appear.
