In September 2015, four-year olds will be venturing into the world of formal education for the first time. Primary schools throughout the County will be keen to demonstrate to parents why they should choose their particular school over others.

Taking the search into your own hands, the internet provides a good place to start, with most schools now having their own website. Northants County Council, Ofsted, and the Department for Education all publish various facts and figures about schools online; however, both Ofsted reports and SATs results should be approached with caution. They provide some measure of a school’s academic progression but don’t tell the whole story.

There are no SATs for PE, Art or Music and you can’t get a feel for a school or how your child will fit in from a report. The most important question that you need to answer is: ‘will my child be happy at this school?’ The best way to evaluate this is to attend one of the many Open Days that will be taking place in the coming weeks. You know your child best, so rely on your instincts when you visit. Do you think your child will settle into a large town school, or would a rural village school suit them better? Do pupils seem happy and confident and, when asked about the school, do they speak positively about their work and the teachers? Does the school offer extracurricular activities that your child will enjoy and does the school offer breakfast clubs and afterschool care for working parents?

Once you have visited a number of schools, met the head teachers, and obtained a ‘feel’ for the school, then it’s just a matter of identifying your preferences and returning your form by the closing date of 15 January 2015. Good Luck!

Internet resources:
www.education.gov.uk
School Performance Tables (SATs)
www.ofsted.gov.uk
Ofsted Inspection Reports
www.northamptonshire.gov.uk
School Admissions process

 

Choosing a Primary School

Choosing a Primary School