Education Review 2009 | Features | Leisure | Homepage - The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald

Picking the best school for your child can be daunting, but remember there is help at hand

State Schools...

RELATIVELY few people realise that they have the right to choose which state school their child attends. This choice sounds - and is in many respects - good in principle, but there are plenty of potential complications.

As any parent who has done even a little research into the subject knows, the first hurdle is the fact that the best schools in any given neighbourhood tend to fill up fast. This means that, even if you go as far as to choose your home on the basis of the quality of local schools, your child could still end up without a place if you don’t apply for one in good time.

Remember, if you fail to secure a place for your child at the school of your choice, he or she may end up being assigned a place in a school you do not wish them to attend, and perhaps an uncomfortable distance away. When considering potential schools, whatever stage your child has reached in their academic career, it is always advisable to visit www.ofsted.gov.uk and look up recent reports by inspectors.

These reports cover not just academic attainment but also give valuable insights into the way schools are run, the dedication of the teachers, the motivation of staff and pupils and other important issues. Parents are also strongly advised to visit any school they are considering sending their child to. If a school says it does not cater to such visits, it is probably best avoided. However, most schools ask for appointments to be made prior to a visit, and there is nothing sinister in this.

A visit, even if relatively brief, is a good opportunity for parents to find out what makes a school tick, speak to staff and assess whether the teaching environment is a nurturing and useful one.

...Versus Private Schools

PRIVATE schools enjoy a reputation for offering certain educational standards over and above those of their state counterparts. This is often - although by no means always - the case, but private school pupils can usually look forward to smaller class sizes, better staff-pupil ratios and superior equipment and facilities. However, this does not mean that private schools are much of a muchness, or that parents choosing a private school should place less importance on research.

When considering private schools, parents should study all information issued by those schools. They should also consult the latest reports issued by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, which evaluates most private schools, or by Ofsted. It is also important for parents to assess whether they can afford the expense of sending their child to a private school.

This means taking into account not just the basic fees, but also any additional costs such as providing uniform, sports kit and money for extra-curricular activities. A good starting point for anybody considering private education is the Independent Schools Council. For more information log on to www.isc.co.uk.