Choosing a school
- Thread starter AHarvey
- Start date
To come up with such a beautiful post you'd have to think so!
When talking to parents, be sure they're expecting similar things from a school as you are.
I've heard plenty of parents complaining about our daughter's school due to the fact they sometimes discipline children and that it's not fair some kids get rewarded for good performance when little Jonny who, if he isn't eating crayons is poking someone in the eye with them, is "picked on" by the teachers.
I've heard plenty of parents complaining about our daughter's school due to the fact they sometimes discipline children and that it's not fair some kids get rewarded for good performance when little Jonny who, if he isn't eating crayons is poking someone in the eye with them, is "picked on" by the teachers.
I live in a nice area, in a grammar school catchment. However for primary school our only choice in our catchment area was in special measures and generally scummy. We visited a few different schools (there are around 6 within a 2 mile radius!) and chose a place and luckily got it. It's a 5 minute drive away but our children's education is more important than convenience. I don't think this topic is redundant at all, it shows caring and responsible parenting.
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Deleted member 66701
Deleted member 66701
Actually, I now agree with you.
Look at these:-
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-35375892.html?premiumA=true
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-49396624.html?premiumA=true
Right next to one of the scummiest areas of Blackpool, but I suppose as it's also next to the hospital, those houses attract the doctors, consultants etc, so they would be prime candidates to send thier kids to Rossal etc.
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Deleted member 66701
Deleted member 66701
+1
I'd rather commute to work and let the kids walk to school instead of the other way around.
No one here is talking about a school 20 miles away are they though? I love how internet discussions always end up with terrible exaggerated straw men. 
My nearest secondary school was not within walking distance, so I cycled or got a bus. When my kids are old enough they will be doing the same, it's about a 10 minute cycle, I guess 2 miles or so. As I actually said in my post we have around 5 primary schools within a 2 mile radius but only 1 awful one in catchment.
My nearest secondary school was not within walking distance, so I cycled or got a bus. When my kids are old enough they will be doing the same, it's about a 10 minute cycle, I guess 2 miles or so. As I actually said in my post we have around 5 primary schools within a 2 mile radius but only 1 awful one in catchment.
Even if it is a rubbish school? Would you really send your child to a rubbish school just so they could learn the value of walking to it?
Yes you're absolutely right. No schools are rubbish, they are all exactly the same. No point whatsoever in looking around in the local area and doing any research if you are a parent.
Poor A-C pass rate.
Poor Progress 8 rate.
Issues with bullying.
High turn over of staff.
Poor classroom management.
Little or no G&T provision.
Generally poor schools only get closed down if there is an over provision of places in the area so the places can be absorbed by nearby schools. This doesn't happen all that often.
The best advice I can give is make sure you view the schools when there actually a school rather than a set up open evening as you get a real feel for what the school is like,
Also ofsted reports are OK as a guide but the 2 things I found out are it depends if they go to do the report a couple weeks into the term where the kids are fresh back from the summer holidays or if at the end when there fed up and want there holidays, also apparently when a report is done it is only based around sitting in on 1 year group so doesn't give a good feel for the school.
Also ofsted reports are OK as a guide but the 2 things I found out are it depends if they go to do the report a couple weeks into the term where the kids are fresh back from the summer holidays or if at the end when there fed up and want there holidays, also apparently when a report is done it is only based around sitting in on 1 year group so doesn't give a good feel for the school.
Great advice. The schools we went around during the day were a mixed bag, and it was good to see what a normal day was like. The school we actually chose, they took the top year (year 11?) pupils out of class and put them into groups that showed the potential new parents around. The kids that showed us around were really astute and more than willing to tell us about the school, how happy they were etc. There were no teachers with the groups so they were all open and honest! It worked really well.
No but what I mean is a rubbish school doesn't just linger on for ever. Schools round here that constantly fail inspections either get closed down or merged into another school under some sort of trust/partnership with new head honchos or sold off to an academy. There are no rubbish schools in my area now.
Also poor exam results can just mean a greater than average intake of thicker kids in an age group with greater learning needs. Not every child is a brain box.
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I don't think its based on 'one year group' inspection. OFSTED see a variety of year groups because they need to report on all key stages at the school. I don't think they even grade a lesson based on teaching any longer. They look at the books and search for red ink, student responses, differentiation, homework and progress.
Deleted member 66701
Deleted member 66701
I wouldn't live in an area with rubbish schools.
Alas not everyone has that choice.