Choosing a school is an important decision. It’s possible that there could be many schools in your area to choose from - you need to work out which is the best for your child’s development and ultimately their future. Below are some things to consider when helping your child to choose a school.

Do your online research

You can find out a lot of information about schools in your area online. Go to each school’s website and you should be able to find an online high school learning guide that answers FAQs about that particular school. There may also be information on the resources available.

It’s worth also researching into each school’s reputation by checking out local parent forums, local news sites and grades rankings sites. If there’s a lot of negativity about a school online, it could be a red flag not to send your child there. Meanwhile, if people have lots of positive things to say, it could be a sign that it’s a good school worthy of your trust.

Attend open days

Open days can allow you to get a better feel for the school and see what it is like in action. Some schools may host open evenings when there aren’t actually any students around - these events may not be the best opportunity to judge how good a school is as you won’t be able to see how teachers interact with students.

You can usually find information on open days online. If you’ve missed the open days, don’t worry - many schools may still allow you to organise private tours providing that you warn them in advance.

Ask the right questions

It’s important to ask the school staff and students any questions you may have. Don’t be afraid to address any concerns you may have to staff such as how they deal with bullying or how much homework is given out. You may want to write down a list of questions to ask or for your child to ask so that you don’t forget any important questions.

Consider your child’s individual needs

Some children may have disabilities or learning difficulties that need to be accommodated to. In these cases, you may want to weigh up a mainstream school with a school specifically catered to those with disabilities - which will benefit your child the most? Similarly, if your child is particularly gifted at a certain subject, you may want to consider which schools can help your child to excel. A school for gifted children may be better suited than a mainstream school in some cases. Obviously, specialist schools may cost more - which is also something to weight up.

Other needs to consider could include how your child gets to school. The school will need to be close enough that they can travel to it easily. If it’s not in walking distance, make sure that there is at least a bus route with stops nearby (unless you are prepared to drive them to and from school every day). It is likely certain schools will not accept you if you are located a certain distance away. This is particularly the case with popular schools.