Picking the Right School for your Child

Picking the Right School for your Child

Your child starting primary school is a big moment in their young lives and can be a nerve wracking but exciting time for you and your child. With the right amount of planning and research, the process can be rather easy. 

Important Dates
If your child was born between 1st September 2019 and the 31st of August 2020, they will be eligible to start school in September 2024. 

Choosing and Applying
You are able to apply for your child’s school place from today, (6th November) until the 15th of January 2024. National School Offers Day is then Tuesday 16th April 2024. 

Book a school visit

The best way for you to decide whether a school is the right one for your child is to take a look for yourself.  Any Head Teacher will be happy to show you round their school and talk about the benefits it can offer your child.

You may also like to talk to talk to the teachers and other parents to get a better idea of what the school is like and how it will suit your child’s temperament and abilities.

Every school is different. Each has many individual qualities that make it unique, from on-site facilities and extra-curricular activities to class sizes and the strength of its links with other schools and the community.

Visit the school website which will give additional information about school policies on behaviour, homework, special needs provision. It may also contain a summary of the school’s key stage and exam results.

Things to Consider 

  • Be prepared: A lot of parents begin to look at options around two years before you need to apply. There is a lot of research to do and schools in your area to visit, so don’t think it’s too early to start planning. 

What to Look For

  • Atmosphere and Ethos: Does the school feel friendly? Are the children valued or cared for?
  • Academic Standards: How do the children do academically? Are there high expectations and ambitions for the children? Do the children make good progress? 
  • Rich Curriculum: Is the school investing money in the wider curriculum?
  • School Site: Is there plenty of outdoor space? Are the classrooms nice? Do they have any special facilities? 
  • Location: Is it near to your home or near your work? Will the school run be? 
  • Before and After-School Club: Are there any breakfast clubs or afterschool clubs ]
  • Friends: Are there any friends from your child’s nursery that are going to the same school? Will it be easy for your child to make friends? 
  • Ofsted Reports and School Reputation: 

There are also other things you can look at to help give you a fuller picture of a school and its achievements (see links in the resources list below)

Completing the application

We recommend that you use all four preferences as listing only one preference could substantially reduce the chances of your child being allocated a preference. We also recommend that at least one of the preferences on your application should be for a school where you are sure that your child will meet one of the higher criteria for admission. Once you have decided which four schools to apply for, you need to list them in order starting with the one you would most like your child to attend. Your preference order is very important.

 

Admission Criteria

All schools have admission criteria to decide which children get places.  The school or local council usually sets these.

Admission criteria are different for each school. They may give priority to children:

  • Who live close to the school (catchment area)
  • Who have a sibling at the school already
  • From a particular religion (for faith schools)

Children in Care

All state-funded schools must give top priority to admitting children who:

  • Are in care or being looking after
  • Have been in care  

If you want your child to start later

If you do not think your child is ready to start school at the usual time, they can start later – as long as they’re in full-time education by the time they reach ‘compulsory school age’ (the term after their fifth birthday).

They can start:

  • Part-time 
  • Part-way through the year
  • In the next school year, in the September after they turn 5

You’ll still need to apply for a school place at the same time as everyone else.  You request your child’s later start when you apply.

Resources 

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