How do I go about choosing a primary school for my kids?
Published 1 year, 3 months ago in Kids stuff.I feel completely paralysed when I think about choosing the primary school that my family will attend 5 days a week, 40 weeks a year for the next 9 years. I have lists of questions and suggestions, comments from mums coming out my ears and professional, expert opinion in all manner of leaflets, talks and articles.
How do I sort the important stuff from the rhetoric and how do I decide what is most important for my child (not to mention my second child who will just have to go to the same place!)? One newspaper article suggests choosing a school where the whole family feels comfortable, and this sounds good, but what about the specific needs of my 5 year old. How do I identify what he most needs in a school (I think he will need most support socially rather than academically) and how do I make sure the school will cater for him … and deliver what it promises.
And (sorry to ask for so muc advice!) … How do I make sure I get what we need while still being a friendly, happy and not painful problem mum?
Please help with any advice, experiences and thoughts.
16 Responses to “How do I go about choosing a primary school for my kids?”
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go and visit , do a tour , preferrably during school hours , and let your child join in with some class room activites.
investigate .
talk to other mums at the school .
I think word of mouth is the best. I wouldn’t put my children in a state school. It’s really bad when kids say they can’t wait for their dads to get out of jail. That’s pretty extreme though. I would protect them and put them in a church school (if you like that) or a private school. At the end of the day, it’s your choice, but it’s definitely word of mouth that is the best thing. Ask the parents how they feel - that’s the best gauge.
When my son was due to start school I enrolled him in a school that some of my relatives & friends children attended, it had a good reputation, especially academically, but when I went to the orientation day it just didn’t feel right.
I was panicing as it was nearly the end of the year what if I couldn’t find somewhere else.
I stewed on it for a bit then rang another local school that I’d heard good things about. The moment I stepped into that school I knew it was right, the staff were so friendly, the Principal showed me around, and he had such a passion and enthusiasm for his school, my son was with me, and the Principal chatted away to him as much as to me. That school just felt so right, fortunately they accepted my sons enrolment and couple of years latter his sister followed him there.
It was the best decision I could of made, they’re both in high school now but they recieved the best grounding, both they & I made some great friends and I even now work at that school & the Principal is still passionate. My advice trust your gut instincts.
I would advise to start your search for a school as close to home as possible - after all, no matter how much research you do or word of mouth you hear, you don’t know for certain how great a school is until your child’s been there for a while. So I figure look at nearby schools first, and only if you think they won’t be suitable, then move further afield. My parents carefully chose schools they thought would be best for me, both a loooong way from home, and they turned out not to be so great. The closer a school is to home, the more free time a child has, the easier it is to make friends close by, and the less transport needs to be arranged.
Many schools have websites, it could be worth having a look, especially if they have FAQs.
Don’t stress too much - remember, if a school isn’t suiting your child, they can always move. Some things about schools can’t be predicted, and all you can do is your best.
Like others have said, you will know if the school is right, by gut instinct. But, youre not locked into this decision, if its not working, and you’ll know by then what you expect and are looking for, then move him. No big deal. I’ve found that if the teacher are a tight knit group, then they are all working from the same basis. And as for your comment about your new child having to follow on………….not true, I chose schools on my kids needs…….they went to the same primary, but totally different secondary schools, and theyre well adjusted………..I think.
Eni Meeni Mini Mo
Choose a cool school - the way to go.
I second Lady Chaos …
And I am a mum who agonised, sent my kid to the school I liked (several kms away) and then had to move him because he was not happy … to the closest school, where he knew lots of kids from different grades and so felt very comfortable there BECAUSE IT WAS THE CLOSEST SCHOOL.
The closest school might not always be the best - what about where there is good community harmony outside the school, morning and afternoon.
Why not talk to each principal and ask him/her why they think their school is the best in the area?
Go to each school at about 3 pm and talk to the parents who are there picking up their kids and ask them about their school.
Thanks for your advice everyone!
I have revisited my favourite school three times now and will put the application form in tomorrow. The kids seem so happy, confident and friendly there - also it is the only school I have only heard good things about - not mixed reports! One mum actually moved house so that her kids could walk there. I will have to drive for the moment but it is less than 10 mins and I think it is more than worth it if it lives up to half my expectations.
Gut instinct was really the way to go!
If you are happy, I am certain that your 5 year will be safe and sound. Now comes the hard part… letting go, that little person has been in your life for the past 5 years and now you have to entrust someone else to take care of them. Be brave.
I can’t believe no-one has spoken about the curriculum being a priority. Is it not important that our children be exposed to a well rounded curriculum program? One that has a range of focuses ranging from music, PE to a good literacy and numeracy program.
hi sandra - hadn’t revisited this post for a while! I agree with you - many mums from my kinder have chosen schools that offer a number of specialist programs with specifically talented teachers. I guess it is about choosing the school that fits best with your child. All schools seems to boast about their literacy and numeracy programme but who knows how much is reality and how much is rhetoric until you’re actually there! The principal of the school I chose is a large part of the reason I was happy for my child to go there - she used to train teachers in one of the state literacy programmes about 10 years ago (I know because she trained me!). I was so impressed with her then and I believe that all the expertise and passion she had as a trainer will be carried over to her role as principal. will let you all know how it goes early in 2008!!
it is great!