Choosing a school for your child to attend is an undeniably overwhelming process, especially if it’s the first time you’ve done it. After all, it’s one of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make for your child, as it will influence their achievements, friendships and even their personal interests. There’s much to consider, so there’s no wonder it can feel like a daunting experience. I have teamed up with a boarding school in the UK to offer parents some tips for choosing a school that’s right for their son or daughter.
Understand Your Options
First of all, it’s worth doing some research to find what different schools are actually available and the benefits of each. For instance, there are public schools which are government funded and therefore free for students to attend, and there are independent/private schools which are not funded by the state and cost thousands of pounds per term. There are benefits to either option, so weigh up the pros and cons before you come to a decision. If your child has any special educational needs, a SEN school might be the best option for them.
Consider Your Priorities
Be practical and consider the day-to-day needs of your family. For instance, does the school need to be located on route to your work so that you can drop your child off on the way, or would you prefer that the school is in walking distance of your home? Is there a school bus? Does your child have a language barrier that needs to be catered to? Would you like there to be part- or full-time boarding provisions? Does your child have any unique interests that you would like the school to cater to in the form of an extra-curricular club? Think about your priorities as a family as this will help you rule out a few options.
Browse the Schools’ Websites
Once you know what you are looking for, you can start browsing the school’s websites. Here you will be able to read about the school’s aims and ethos, check out their previous inspection reports and learn more about the curriculum and what is available to your child in terms of the academic and extra-curricular provisions. Get your child involved with this process, as they may enjoy looking at the photos on the websites, and it will help them feel more in control and potentially ease their nerves. Your online research should help you come up with a shortlist of schools that you’d like to visit.
Visit the Schools
Most schools will have open days that you can attend, but it might also be worth visiting the schools on a normal day so that you can get a better feel for how they operate. Be sure to have lots of questions ready to ask the teachers, like what is their driving philosophy, how do they motivate their students, what policies are in place to deal with problems etc. You should also try and pay attention to things like the general cleanliness of the school and whether or not it feels safe. Does it feel welcoming? Most importantly, is it somewhere that you would feel comfortable sending your child every day?
Listen to Your Gut
You know your child better than anyone, and only you can determine if they will be happy in a certain establishment. Your parental instinct should kick in and you’ll probably know how you feel about a school as soon as you walk through the door. Ask your child what they think as well, and have a chat to other parents if you know any.
We hope you found the above tips on choosing a school for your child helpful. Leave a comment below and connect with us on Instagram here where we love to talk all things parenting.
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My husband and I need to find the right high school for our son. It makes sense to look at the websites of possible schools. We’ll be sure to do this before making our decision.
I agree that researching the many schools that are genuinely offered and their advantages are worthwhile. I can say the same because my daughter’s growing up quickly and will need a suitable K-12 education that can harness her potential and nurture her learnings. My husband and I want to send her to a boarding school because we both heard so many wonderful things about it. I hope she’ll be on board with this.