Top Tips for Choosing a School for Your Child

Choosing the right school for your child is a massive responsibility for parents. There are so many considerations, such as the location, facilities and school inspection results.

To help reduce some of the pressure involved in choosing the right school for your child, here are some top tips from an independent school in Berkhamsted…

What is important to you and your child?

Begin your school search by making a list of what is most important to you and your child. Talk to your child about possible options and listen to their opinions and feelings. After all, they will be there for many years to come. One of the most important factors to your child may be going to the same school as their existing friends, even if this school doesn’t have the best facilities. Try to include your child in your decision making as much as possible.

What research should you do?

Once you have made a shortlist of schools, you can then start to research your most suitable options. You can look up school league tables and Ofsted reports online and you can also learn about each school’s curriculum. Other important factors to research are class sizes and additional enrichment opportunities, such as after school sport and music lessons. You may also wish to speak to other parents about their knowledge or experience with the school you have in mind.

When should you visit a school?

The best way to choose the right school for your child is by visiting them. If possible, try and arrange a tour of the school on a normal school day, as opposed to a school open evening. This will give you a true insight into daily life at the school, instead of seeing empty classrooms. When visiting prospective schools it is important to consider how welcoming they feel, how well the children interact with the teachers and how clean and safe it feels.