Covid-19 has taught us many things: sometimes, we have to change plans unexpectedly. Whether you have had to relocate due to work or family, you have encountered unanticipated events, or your priorities have changed, you may find yourself having to find a new school for your child at short notice.
Moving to a new school halfway through an academic year or outside of the standard entry years can be very disruptive, and your choices may be limited. So what can you do to ensure you choose the right school?
- The old saying “People buy People” is so true; choose a school where the Head shows genuine interest in you as a family and your child as an individual and wants to meet you in person.
- When you visit the school, are you given the chance to meet the children? A pupil-led tour will give you a great insight into whether you feel your child will be welcomed by existing pupils. You should come away with a sense that the pupils are happy and love their school; the tour shouldn’t seem over-rehearsed or scripted.
- Joining a new school and feeling comfortable takes time; you do not want to make the transition more unsettling by placing your child in an overly competitive environment. By visiting the school, you should have a sense of the ethos and priorities.
- Is the school well established? A school with a long history and good reputation indicates tried and tested learning methods, stable staffing and comforting traditions, with a grounding in the local community.
- You may be in a situation whereby you are moving to a new location. Will the school offer you the opportunity to talk with current parents? A strong PTA with a culture of support and inclusion will help you make the transition and enable you to meet new people and hopefully forge new friendships for yourself and your child. What are the parents’ priorities? What excites them about the school? A parental culture should not be competitive but should seek to make all community members feel welcome.
- A school should be diverse, one which gives opportunities to all and makes every pupil feel welcome – somewhere which celebrates the cultures of its pupils. As you walk around the classrooms, can you see how the school embraces its families’ cultural backgrounds?
- How many pupils do potential new schools have enrolled? A smaller school with small class sizes may seem less daunting for your child than moving to a larger school. Smaller class sizes may be more welcoming and make the integration process less stressful, where strong relationships exist between pupils, teachers and parents.
- Does the school offer the opportunity to continue post-11? If so, they will support you and your child through the 11+ and will likely emphasise the breadth of curriculum and opportunities; it will also provide more stability if you choose to remain after 11+ whilst removing the need to move schools for a third time. There are also opportunities for younger and older pupils to mix and learn from one another.
- What level of pastoral care does the school offer?
- Do potential new schools focus on the subjects your child excels in or wishes to pursue in the future? Do the school’s teaching and learning methods support all learners? A good school will embrace pupils of all abilities and learning styles and emphasise individual care and nurture.
- Choosing a new school is not dissimilar to choosing a new home; you know very quickly whether a house is right for you, and you will soon know whether a school is right for your child in much the same way. Does the school exude warmth?
- What feeling do you get from the physical space? A homely, bright and airy building is much more likely to make your child feel at ease.
- The easiest way to make new friends is through a shared passion or hobby; a school that offers comprehensive extracurricular activities and clubs will help your child settle into a new school and forge new friendships and maybe new interests.
- A school that recognises the importance of play and outdoor time is equally as important and goes a long way in helping your child make friends more quickly.
Queen’s Gate is an independent girls’ school in South Kensington for 4-18-year-olds.126 Queen’s Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 5LE 020 7589 3587 https://www.queensgate.org.uk/
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