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At Tigerchild, we know that choosing a school for their child
is one of the many important decisions any parent must make. To help, we
have compiled an extensive collection of information to help you choose
not only state schools but independent, primary and pre-schools. To give a
taste of some of the information available, read on!
CHOOSING A SCHOOL - WHERE TO START
The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) have a very
helpful website, the Parents’ Centre, that covers a host of issues of interest,
including how to choose a school.
There are various ways of finding out about local
schools and these are examined below:
School Prospectus
Every school must publish a prospectus with detailed information about the school,
its admissions policy, how it is run and its results. Prospectuses are available
from each school, contact details for which can be found in our schooldirectories
section and in the LEA booklet.
Visiting the School
This is probably the best way to find out what you think of a school and to get a
feel for the place. Primary schools vary in their visiting arrangements and may offerdays or an appointment system. It is therefore important to contact any
primary school that you are interested in to find out its visiting arrangements.
Contact details are in the LEA booklet.
Secondary schools holddays and evenings when you can meet the Head and some
of the teachers, observe the children and generally get a feel for the place.
These are usually in September and October, but if you are unable to attend the
scheduleddays, it may be possible to visit and talk to the Head teacher by
appointment. Again, contact details are in the LEA booklet.
Independent Schools
Advisory consultation services can help you choose an independent school
and offer a range of services, some of which incur a fee. Certain recognised
advisory consultation services are listed elsewhere on our web site.
Talking to Parents
Parents who already have children at a place you are considering have
first-hand experience and can be a valuable source of information.
They will be able to offer a parents’ perspective of parental involvement,
the teachers and the levels of homework. Bear in mind that things can change
significantly over a few years, especially with a new headteacher,
so try to talk to people whose children are still attending.
National Curriculum
The National Curriculum was established by the Education Reform Act 1988
with a number of goals in mind. It is essentially a framework designed to
ensure that all students between the ages of five and 16 have access to a
broad and balanced education. By requiring that schools across the country
follow the same general course of study, it contributes to a national educational
model and allows for academic continuity should children move.
The National Curriculum determines what students should be taught at each of
the four ‘Key Stages’ of their compulsory education and sets the standards they
are expected to achieve.
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