23rd January 2018 1:00
By Blue Tutors
It comes as no surprise that most primary schools in this country are massively oversubscribed. Almost everyone has thought about that dreaded postcode lottery when moving home, whether they can afford to factor it into their calculations or not, and access in some areas really is far behind others with high-performing schools thin on the ground. A recent surge in pupil numbers has exacerbated this problem further, generally creating what is a pretty intense time in the lives of parents of five year olds.
Various publications offer their take on the ‘top 100’ or similar primary, prep and nursery schools in the country. From the pages of Tatler to your local Gazette, once the annual figures composed of student results in national tests is published and the resulting league tables announced, everyone is releasing a ‘schools special’ in an effort to aid and attract tried mothers and fathers hoping to make a reasonable, informed decision fir their child.
You can compare schools in your area on Department for Education website
Quoted on the BBC website the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, Paul Whiteman, warns parents against setting too much store by league table data: "At face value, all the numbers tell you are how a relatively small group of pupils in a school performed in a set of narrow tests, focused on a small segment of the curriculum… Tests and exams are only part of the picture.” Indeed, the BBC goes on to extol the virtues of looking ‘behind the Ofsted banner’, which will often be blazoned across the school gates throughout the year these days.
The best thing a parent can do, however, is ignore these journalistic takes on school league tables, try as best as possible to see through the hype a banner might cause and get strait to the heart of things. Just as a weak report might lead to apparently bold statements about looking beyond the paperwork, so, ideally, should a good report. One head teachers' union has even suggested that those extravagant banners should be taken down. "Inspections are obviously important but they don't tell the full story," Stephen Rollett, of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, told the BBC. "Let's replace those banners with something more inspiring… We could instead put up quotes from parents and pupils about the things they love about our schools, the things which really make schools tick."
Nothing, however, it is widely believed, beats going to the source. Visiting a school, getting a sense of the learning environment, and most vitally - talking to the head. While there are open days for prospective parents, most allowing you to take your child along, you can also arrange private visits.
‘It is crucial to visit a few schools to get a feel of which ones best suit your individual child’ Anne Lyons, NAHT president, advised the BBC. ”Get a feel for the school to see if it offers the environment for your child in terms of the quality of education and the relationships between children and staff. Think about your child's personality and the sort of school you want for them. Try and find out whether the school is creating the sort of learning environment that would suit your child," she says. "Does your child face any particular health, learning or family issues? Will your child thrive in this school?"
Indeed, you might even find a chance to talk to parents with children already at the school, though clubs and societies your child attends or simply by arranging to leave your meeting around pickup time. Ms Lyons goes on to say that “sending their first child off to school for the first time can be a leap of faith for parents.Existing parents are the ones who can tell you how the school communicates with families and how effectively they settle in new pupils. Do they feel welcome at the school? They can also tell you how well their children are doing in terms of learning and getting on with their classmates, whether they have had any problems and how well they feel the school dealt with those problems."
Visit the Department for Education website for further information - but also check your local authority website for important details on catchment areas and any additional requirements for admission to faith schools.