Yesterday Erin bought home a letter about the process for applying for secondary schools. I still vividly remember her starting primary, she had already been through so much with hip dysplasia and I was so worried about her starting school. It has gone in the blink of an eye though and pre teen in front of me is an opinionated crazy girl with wild hair and plenty of sass, intelligence and confidence.
Choosing a secondary school is a huge thing. The transition from primary to secondary school is one of the biggest stages in a child’s educational life. Long gone are the days of the primary class transferring to the local comprehensive in walking distance of your home.
The marketisation of schools has meant that parents have been seen as consumers of education for a number of years. Glossy brochures, snazzy websites and open days where the Bunsen Burners are out and cookies are being baked in Food Tech rooms are designed to entice children and their parents to a school. Displays would look sharp and headteachers will have perfected their sales pitches! Yet choosing a secondary school in 2020 looks very different.
Open Days for Secondary Schools Cancelled
These open days and evenings take place late September in preparation for parents submitting the CAF before the end of October. This year though things are different.
Very different
And it is anxiety inducing for parents and children alike.
Social distancing has put paid to such events as the safety of pupils in schools remains a priority.
11+ Grammar Test
I have done this twice before but every child is unique and decisions are based on individual need. We are going down the 11+ route this time and that is bringing its own challenges. The results are usually issued before the end of October so you know whether your child has a qualifying score. This year the test has been delayed and we will receive the results after we have submitted the CAF. Therefore we need to submit a mix of grammar schools but also a comp or two in case she doesn’t ‘pass’ the test!
However putting the grammar issue to one side for now I wanted to help parents who are trying to choose a secondary school without the benefit of being able to visit the schools they are interested in. There are a number of ways that I am approaching choosing a secondary school without open days to guide me.
Choosing a Secondary School Without Visiting
Firstly although many schools are not offering physical tours and open days there are number of virtual open days taking place. So get online and have a look at the schools website. This will explain what they are proposing. A virtual tour cannot compete with the traditional open days but at least you can see the school and begin to build a picture. My concern is that it is more about the feel of a school rather than just a tour of a building.
Secondly talk to as many people as you can. Ask neighbours about their children’s schools, ask friends who have older siblings already in secondary schools. The more you can talk to others then you will build a picture.
Look at the schools Ofsted, league tables and websites. I think its super important to look beyond the headlines of results and judgements but again, they add to the picture. Look at what they are improving and implementing.
Consider how your child will get to school. Many choose schools that are not within a walking a distance, so understand how much the bus costs and other associated costs. A bus fare maybe doable for one but could you end up with two at the school at the same time. In Gloucester you can expect to pay £600 /900 on a bus pass for the year.
Ensure you know what the entrance criteria is for a school. Over subscribed schools have to choose their pupils in some way and it is often based on distance. Siblings often get priority which is good if this is your second child hoping to go to the same school. Faith schools will ask for proof of faith either a letter from your minister or evidence of bapitism etc.
When ranking your school choice you are advised to fill all spaces otherwise you could be allocated a school not in your choices.
This year I imagine there will be more appeals than usual because of the cirumstances. Parents won’t know their childs grammar place score before submitting the form and this could result in lots of appeals once places are allocated.
Choosing a school is a big decision and this year it is harder than ever. As a teacher and governor, I am very knowledgeable about Education in general but all of this is so unprecedented. When I choose schools for the older two it was comps only that I was looking at and putting on my form. Erin has different needs and it is certainly challenging choosing a school in these circumstances but we can only do our best.
Good luck if you are currently the parent of a year 6 trying to choose in these trying times. If you don’t get the school that you hoped for you can appeal – this is quite an involved process and there are different reasons on the grounds of appeal, here Helen explains what happened at their appeal.
