After months of waiting, the results day came and went. Some got the news they wanted others were less fortunate. With many children not getting any of their choices; here is a small list for those who will have the important job of applying for a secondary school this year.
Rules to getting a School on your list
- Put 6 options Down
- Check the catchment area for your child’s banding
- Go to as any open evening/days as possible
- Take your child with you
- Put down at least 2 realistic schools within your catchment area
- Involved your child in the final decision process
My daughter got her 1st choice, and I am so happy for her. It was probably my second choice as it will take her 2 buses to get to school whereas she could walk to the 2nd option. But seeing her face made it all worth it. Even when she found out that not one of her school friends will be attending the same school as her, she was still filled with glee. So excited when she received post from her future school. Begging for me to complete the form with her as she really want to be involved.
I think it is really important to include your child as much as you can with this transition. I took miss K to every secondary school open day I could only missing one due to it over lapping. You really have to plan it out because the open days only run over a few weeks at overlapping times and if your looking to visit many schools then forward planning is the key.
Like most we had our favourites and a preconceived idea of the order we would rank the schools. But after attending the evening what I would have put as her 5th or 6th choice ended up being her 1st choice. Now this is going to be the school which will shape her into the young lady she will become. If I never visited the school she would not have go in for sure. Also 2 schools which would have been choices 2 and 3 never even made my final top 6.
So the moral of the story is visit as many schools as you can with your children, it really dispels/confirms any positive or negative preconceptions you have.
As a family after each open day/evening we gave each school a mark out of ten and this really helped us to see where each school sat as a whole. This wasn’t how we complied our final list but it helped.
Bring your child with you when you visit if you can. Schools are allowed to release your child during school hours to view potential secondary schools so make the most of this opportunity. If your child in included in the decision then they will be more inclined to make the most of their secondary school experience.
I also suggest putting all 6 options down. Some parents feel that only putting 2 or 3 will ensure that their child gets one of those schools. However after working for customer service for a local authority and handling school admissions calls, I can inform you that that will only limit the likelihood of your child getting a school chosen by you. Last year many did not get any of their chosen schools on their list, and ended up with a school the council picked some even out of borough. So I say if you only like 1 school, then put that as your 1st choice and then rank the the next 5 in order of least worst choice to most worse choice as if you don’t the council will.
All the best with your admissions.xxx
The Mumster 