Secondary school admissions
What is the admissions policy?
Schools will explain this at the open evening but sometimes the rules are complicated so make sure you understand it as there's no point trying to get your child into a school that they have no hope of going to, or that's outside your catchment area.
Understand the appeals procedure. If you can't get into either of your first choice schools then you will have to go to your third choice, if you meet their criteria. If you meet none of the criteria you'll have to go to another school that's usually unpopular and a long way from your home.
What else can I do?
Although it might sound like the sort of thing you read when you really can't sleep, the school's Ofsted report will give you a fairly detailed and honest overview of the school. It will outline the exam pass rates, behaviour problems, welfare of the pupils, level of teaching, facilities and any other schemes or measures that the school is involved with.
Open days are always useful, even though they may seem like a big PR exercise. They give you and your child a chance to walk around the school and talk to the pupils and teachers.
If there are certain things that you're concerned about, for example, maybe your child is especially nervous or has had problems at other schools, you can ask to see the deputy or head teacher.
If you think that your child will have to go to a school that you don't like, try not to influence them too much as this could negatively affect your child's experience of the school and encourage them to misbehave.
Finally, remember that a child needs support from the home, the teachers can't do it all. So even if your child has got into the best school in the area you'll still need to help with homework and projects.
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