How To Find Out About Primary Schools
 Your
toddler is hardly out of nappies - or maybe still wearing them - but it's
time to start thinking about primary schools already!
Your
local authority will produce a booklet listing all the schools in your
area, with basic information and their admission policies.
For more detailed information, try the Department
For Education And Skills (DfES) and Office
for Standards in Education (OFSTED) websites.
OFSTED
- did the school measure up?
You have a right to read what the Government
inspectors thought. OFSTED reports are available
online.They should give a detailed picture of the school - its
character, teaching standards, relationships with parents and its approach
to social and moral education. Reports will also tell you the school's
weak points.
Under
special measures
Be wary if the school has been 'placed under special measures' - this
means it has serious failings. However, if the report was done a few years
ago, things may have improved. Equally, a glowing report from 1997 may
now be out of date. Check the current OFSTED report but also do your own
research.
League
tables
Every year, local authorities publish performance tables showing the percentage
of each school's pupils reaching test standards at 11. Again, don't write
off schools that are less than perfect - this may reflect factors such
as pupils who speak English as a second language, rather than teaching
quality. You can find the tables on the DfES site, or ask at the schools.
Independent schools
If you're unhappy about the available
schools and you can afford it, you could always go private. Independents
tend to have smaller classes and teachers have more flexibility in what
they teach. But be aware that they are not inspected by OFSTED as often,
and they can vary widely in quality.
|
