Choosing the right secondary school for you and your child is a huge decision that we want to help you with. In this article, we guide you through the selection and application process. Read on for some useful hints and tips that you might want to consider when researching and visiting school open days in Weston super Mare and Bristol.
Finding the perfect school
Doing some prior research to find out a bit more about the schools in your local area can be a good starting place. School websites, prospectuses, and Ofsted reports can start to give you a flavor of the school. Visiting for an open day is also a great way to get a feel for the school environment and whether it will be right for you. Visiting will give you the opportunity to meet school staff and listen to the principal speak about the vision and ethos of the school. You will also get the opportunity to see the facilities and buildings in person. We would recommend looking around a few schools in your local area, even if your heart is already set on one. It will give you chance to make comparisons between all the options; helping you make a much more informed decision.
The Process
In England, you can start the application process in the September that your child starts year 6 at primary school. The deadline for applications is 31 October, and you will find out from your local council which school you have been allocated on 1 March. Most secondary schools will start to advertise open days in the autumn. Open days for our secondary schools in Weston Super Mare and Bristol will be held during September and October.
What should I look out for?
An open day is a perfect opportunity to get into a school, have a look around, and see what it is all about. Most of our schools in Weston Super Mare and Bristol open their doors to parents to give them the opportunity to look around. When you look around the most important question you should ask yourself is: “Will my child be happy here?”. Every school has a different feel, and every child is different too. Choose the school that best fits your child’s needs, where they will be happy and thrive.
Subjects and Teaching
The prospectus and school website will give you a good idea about the subjects that are on offer. You will get an idea of whether these align with your child’s interests and talents. Visiting a school for an open day gives you the opportunity to speak to subject specialists and see the facilities on offer. You could also find out how much the school focuses on emotional or creative development through subjects such as arts, music or sport.
Rewards and Behaviour
Secondary schools all have different rewards and behaviour systems. A visit will give you the opportunity to find out about these systems and how they are implemented.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Most schools have opportunities to learn about more than the core academic subjects. Schools often offer clubs and activities on all sorts of topics. There may even be opportunities for trips and residentials. Examples include the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, ski trips, or visits to museums.
