Top Tips for Choosing a School for Your Child

Deciding on a school for your child can be tricky. There are lots of factors to consider like distance, quality of education and ethos. To help you, we have compiled a list of things that you’ll need to consider with an independent school in Surrey.

When choosing a school for your child, it’s important to do what feels right. Even if a school’s perfect in every way shape and form but your parents’ instinct tells you otherwise, listen to it and follow your gut. You will have to come to terms with your decision every day when dropping them off to school and if you don’t feel comfortable doing so, it can be tricky. It may be an underlying issue that you can’t quite put your finger on.

Open Days

These are a great way to test the waters. Your child can get a feel for their new school environment and tell you whether they like it or not. They will have the opportunity to meet their teachers and develop some familiarity before starting which will help with the transition. Open days also give you the chance to ask questions and learn what you wouldn’t be able to online. 

Results and School Performance

While performance is individualistic, analysing results data can help you to see how well a school is at preparing their students for their exams and the next stage in their education. You can find information on destination schools and exam results on school websites. 

OFSTED Reports 

These objective assessments are routinely carried out approximately once every four years. The school inspections shed light on the important issues concerning education and how well schools prepare their students for the future. What you will find in a typical school OFSTED report includes:

• How bullying is dealt with.
• The ethos and culture of a school.
• Quality of education.
• Personal development.
• Leadership and management.
• Safeguarding.
• Student outcomes.
• Ability to cater to SEND students and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Location and Transport

Location is a huge factor when it comes to deciding on a school for your child. It needs to be in an area that’s commutable and easy to get to with good transport links. If you drive, consider whether you will have space to park, how busy the route will be and the time it will take you to get there. If it’s public transport that they will need, consider the bus services available for them to get to school and the convenience of the route. 

Special Focus

Many schools have their own focus. Something that they specialise in like science or learning another language. As well as delivering on the curriculum, they pay special efforts to build knowledge and skills relating to them. Something worth considering if your child has specific interests.

Extracurricular Activities

Outside of the typical school day, many schools give their students the chance to take up extra-curricular activities. They range from sports related activities to ones that are more subject specific and are a great way for children to explore who they are. They also look good on a CV, helping them to boost their employability.

Facilities

The facilities that a school has to offer can better their learning experience and give children access to a world of new opportunities. We’re not just talking about the size of their pitches but the technology and resources that they have. Below are some areas worth looking at:

• Space and size of classrooms
• Sports facilities
• Playgrounds
• Music facilities
• Science labs
• ICT Suites

Start Your Search Now

The earlier that you start your search, the more clued up you will be about the options available. You’ll have plenty of time to attend all of the open days and make your application the best.