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LEARNING FOR LIFE Big school – do your homework!


THERE’S no getting away from it, choosing a senior school for your child is likely to be one of the most influential decisions you will have to make – and, like all big decisions, it requires some research.


Personality profile


Here we look at what you might like to consider to come up with the right answer for your child. Consider all the options


First, consider your child’s strong points and weaknesses and the academic environment in which he/she is most likely to thrive.


Do your homework


Read the Ofsted report on the schools you have in mind. The Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) is the government body responsible for inspecting schools and measuring their success in a range of areas. Find Ofsted reports at www.reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Each state school has a data dashboard on the site, providing a summary of how well the school is doing in terms of exam results, pupils’ progress and attendance.


Open your mind


Attend an open evening and, maybe, include a school or two you may not have been considering, but that your child could get into. You might be pleasantly surprised.


View the school prospectus


A prospectus should be easy to access, consistent, and have a clear sense of audience. You should be able to download a copy from the school’s website.


National league tables


Data from the School and College Performance Tables shows how well students at each school have done in their exams at ages 11, 16 and 18.


Today there are many choices when it comes to the type of school your child might attend, such as an academy, free school, grammar or a faith school. Know how they differ and what each has to offer.


Academies are state schools that are independent of the local authority. They have freedom to deliver their own curriculum, set their own term dates and school times. Some also specialise in particular areas such as sport.


Comprehensives are state schools that admit students with a range of academic abilities. Most state secondary schools are comprehensive. For example, a faith school is likely to be comprehensive, but their admissions criteria will be different.


Faith schools are mostly Christian. Many of the academy schools established before May 2010 have Christian sponsors, and many of the proposed Free schools are faith schools. Faith schools have separate admissions criteria to other schools, such as church attendance. Voluntary-aided faith schools concentrate on a particular faith, while voluntary-controlled or foundation schools teach a religious education syllabus with a more multi-faith approach.


It’s worth noting that Secondary schools have


primary Feeder schools from which their pupils come. Schools that have a variety of feeder schools can be a good choice if you want your child to have a sense of a fresh start, whereas schools with only a few can give your child a sense of continuity, if they attended one of them. If a child joins a secondary from one of its feeder schools, it is also likely the secondary school will have knowledge of their previous education.


Ask what feeder schools the secondary school has; your primary school can also let you know what secondary schools it feeds into.


Free schools are a recent government initiative. They are academies that are publicly funded independent schools, free from local authority control. All free schools are publicly scrutinised through inspections and tests. Many of the current free schools are of a religious denomination.


Grammar schools select by ability. Pupils have to pass their 11+ to gain entry.


If your child is highly academic, and likely to thrive in an intellectually challenging environment, then it is worth considering a grammar School. Kent County Council or your neighbouring LEA Admissions sections will be able to tell you about grammar/selective schools in your area.


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www vw..inviicta.viaviiat.org.uk Maidstone East October 2017 23       


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