Looking for a School in a new area
Moving house is highly stressful. The problem that worries all parents is how to assess schools in the new location and find one with places that will best suit their children’s educational needs. It is a daunting task. Although all children in state schools follow the National Curriculum, many Local Authorities have different systems and run a bewildering array of different types of schools which may include academies, middle schools, grammar schools, first, primary and comprehensive schools, colleges, free schools and upper schools. The application process is fraught with problems. If your move coincides with your child joining a school at one of the main points of entry the Application Form has to be submitted by a fixed date. If it is not submitted on time your child will not be considered for a place in the first round of the Allocation of Places. Choosing an independent school is equally confusing. They all produce glossy brochures making much the same claims. It is difficult to form an accurate assessment of an independent school from its prospectus or web site. League Tables only give information about one aspect of the school and do not give a rounded picture of the school life. Inspection reports are useful but should be treated with caution if they were published more than two years ago. Family and friends may have opinions on schools but a school that is a perfect fit for one child can be a nightmare for another. They will benefit from being able to tap into our in-depth knowledge of the education system from nursery to university and into up to date information about the schools in the new area. Whatever the type of education is being sought, School Guidance takes the worry out of the decision making for parents. Below is a broad outline of a School Search. Use this link for details of the different types of school searches and their prices Preliminary Stage The School Search package is agreed (click here for prices) The completed Questionnaire is sent, usually by email to School Guidance. (download a copy here) The child’s latest school report is sent, usually by email to School Guidance. If the child has Special Education Needs, reports, IEPs and any other relevant documents are also sent, usually by email. Education Consultation The School Search starts with a consultation. The consultation normally takes an hour and may be by telephone or face-to-face depending on the level of School Search. Your aspirations for your child and his or her educational needs will be discussed. Your child’s academic ability, hobbies, interests and character will be discussed in detail. If the child has Special Education Needs this will be fully discussed. Information will be given about the different types of schooling available in the search area. The timescale will be agreed. The area for the school search, the type of schooling you require and the Criteria for the School Search will be discussed and agreed. Any specific information about the schools that parents wish to be included in the Report will be agreed. School Search and Education Report When the School Search has been completed the Education Report containing information about the schools that meet the criteria and have places, is sent to the parents, usually by email. Depending on the level of service the report will contain information on a selection of the following:
Additional Information Information may be sent to parents usually by email on educational topics. Titles include: Visiting and Assessing Schools School Visits Parents choose which schools they want to visit from the schools short-listed in the Education Report. The School Search packages except for the Basic School Search include a Schedule of Unaccompanied School Visits. Accompanied School Visits can be added to the Standard and Gold Standard School Search packages but not to the Basic School Search. DECISION MAKING AND APPLICATION PROCESS After the visits the family is de-briefed and help and guidance is given with the decision making process. Assistance is given throughout the application process until school places are confirmed.
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Penny Bysshe.
School Guidance Consultancy Orchard House, High Road, Cookham, Berkshire SL6 9JT Tel. +44 (0)1628 810696. Email. consult@school-guidance.co.uk |
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