Reply to: Questions to ask Secondary Schools

[SueEllen]

Having met up again at 6th form with people from primary who failed 11-plus and went to secondary (as opposed to the local grammer I bounced into), it was clear that in their school it was wise not to be too clever in class as you would become a target for the usual scrotes.
In my school, it was clear that you tried your best not to be the thickest as it was these who got the hardest time - an interesting distinction at an impressionable age.
Still, you could say its character building and the cream will rise if it is cream.....

Loads of secondary state schools have streaming.

That means if your child is bright at every subject they aren't going to be in a class with the children who are likely to be the most disruptive.

[chef]

Having met up again at 6th form with people from primary who failed 11-plus and went to secondary (as opposed to the local grammer I bounced into), it was clear that in their school it was wise not to be too clever in class as you would become a target for the usual scrotes.
In my school, it was clear that you tried your best not to be the thickest as it was these who got the hardest time - an interesting distinction at an impressionable age.
Still, you could say its character building and the cream will rise if it is cream.....

dats street innit

[lukemg]

Having met up again at 6th form with people from primary who failed 11-plus and went to secondary (as opposed to the local grammer I bounced into), it was clear that in their school it was wise not to be too clever in class as you would become a target for the usual scrotes.
In my school, it was clear that you tried your best not to be the thickest as it was these who got the hardest time - an interesting distinction at an impressionable age.
Still, you could say its character building and the cream will rise if it is cream.....

[DodgyAgent]

It would be the local private school but the only decent one is 25 miles away and even that seriously failed a friends daughter so I'm not that impressed with that one.

The rest are not as good as the currently preferred State school and I don't believe that the business model for private education is going to last in my neck of the woods - two have become or are becoming academies and I'm hearing of a fair few more in the pipeline.

I presume your house was cheap

[d000hg]

Dunno. I thought all this data was available through the government but it's possible some of the data I see is only because the wife's a teacher.

I will ask if I remember but if it's anywhere, I'd try Home - Welcome because the OFSTED site doesn't seem to have that data.

[gingerjedi]

Who said it was a state school?


The comment on % getting free lunches is a good one too, this is actually one way schools themselves cut their data internally because statistically poor kids are less bright (in the early years anyway).

However a poor school is not automatically a rough school - some schools in very deprived areas achieve great things. Mrs. d000hg's new school is nowhere special in County Durham compared to all the other poor villages, but achieved a perfect score last OFSTED.

How do you get the free school lunch data?

[d000hg]

Contractors sending their kids to state schools.....

Who said it was a state school?


The comment on % getting free lunches is a good one too, this is actually one way schools themselves cut their data internally because statistically poor kids are less bright (in the early years anyway).

However a poor school is not automatically a rough school - some schools in very deprived areas achieve great things. Mrs. d000hg's new school is nowhere special in County Durham compared to all the other poor villages, but achieved a perfect score last OFSTED.

[gingerjedi]

Contractors sending their kids to state schools.....

Contractors aren't as 'expensive' as they used to be.

[eek]

Contractors sending their kids to state schools.....

It would be the local private school but the only decent one is 25 miles away and even that seriously failed a friends daughter so I'm not that impressed with that one.

The rest are not as good as the currently preferred State school and I don't believe that the business model for private education is going to last in my neck of the woods - two have become or are becoming academies and I'm hearing of a fair few more in the pipeline.

[Sausage Surprise]

Contractors sending their kids to state schools.....

[Old Hack]

Also remember, the worse the ofsted report, the more money will be spent on the school.

Unfair, but there you go

[Scoi]

See what extra curricular activities are on offer, it shows whether the school is solely concentrated on exam results or aim to have a more well rounded program.

When I was in school we were placed in sets within 6 weeks of starting in maths and science in year 7. English sets after year 8. Having 3 years being taught the the standard of the weakest results is a lot of lost time and generally the disruptive kids won't get into the top sets so if your kids are bright then they won't lose lesson time to those who would rather not be there.

Schools are now introducing a fast track option so GCSE's, some subjects are sat 6 months or even a year earlier, it gives the opportunity for resits or reduces the workload during the year 11 finals. This may change as the exams are finally getting tougher though. When I sat mine even the top set in a good school royally failed our mocks and needed the full 2 years but the way GCSE's are currently being run there's a good proportion who are deemed capable of getting A*'s early.

Look into what options are available for GCSE. Its a long time in the future but if having not so common options such as economics, sociology and psychology at GCSE may become important.

Things like travel time and method are important as well. Make sure there are good bus links if they are not walkable.

[doomage]

Ask not what your school can do for you. Ask what can you do for your school.

[d000hg]

Good comments from NLUK.

Also get hold of the OFSTED reports.

[speling bee]

What is 19 + 14?

What is their aspiration for your child?

That should cover everything.