Before choosing a school, it's wise to visit it. The head teacher will arrange a mutually convenient time for you to be shown round.
Schools will also have a brochure, a prospectus and often a website which contain a wealth of useful information.

Things to think about:

• location How far is the school from your home, and what's the availability of transport. Remember that distance can be a factor if your child is likely to want to do extra-curricular, after school activities.
• friendships Moving to a new school can be traumatic, and if a child's close friend is not expected to attend the preferred school, you should discuss this with your child. If you choose a school further away, your child may live a good distance from new friends, making socialising difficult.
• siblings It may be important to you or the children that all brothers/sisters attend the same school.
• welcome Is the school a happy and welcoming establishment? If so, the relationship between home and school may also be a positive one.
• physical environment What state are the school buildings in, and the efforts made to make the environment attractive?
• reputation If a school enjoys a good reputation, what are the objective indicators? Rumours about a school being good or bad should be treated with caution. Which schools have verifiable evidence of what they are really good at?
• external exam results are readily available on request. They are useful but by no means the only indicators.
• extra-curricular activities What's on offer?
• leadership Does the school enjoy strong leadership?
• class size Do you feel your child will get the attention they need?
• teaching methods and issues such as mixed-ability teaching, streaming or banding may be important for you and your child.
• subjects Every school will provide common grounding in key subjects set by the National Curriculum. You may want to know which subject combinations may be available in Year 10.
• Post 16 provision Many, but not all, schools offer Post 16 education leading to various external examinations, including A Level. Is your child likely to want to study in the sixth form, and would they mind changing schools if their school didn't provide the right education? Your LEA can give you details of its post 16 provision.
• Welsh The active use of the Welsh language varies from school to school. Ask for details.
• disciplinary ethos The way children are treated is crucial. Is the school a civilised place where discipline is firm but fair? What is the school's behaviour and discipline policy, including punishments and sanctions?
• pastoral care Every pupil should have one or more particular teacher who knows them well, can indicate strengths and weaknesses and encourage the youngster to give of their best. What system for this pastoral care does the school have?
• standards and expectations How does the school discover the particular talents of a child and encourage them to aim for the best and capitalise on their strengths?
• academic aims Does your child need a challenging and competitive academic environment - and if so, will this school provide it?
• Will they be happy? A child who is happy in school will generally be well-motivated. This is perhaps the most important consideration of all!

Useful websites

BBC Parents
Practical tips on starting school

Advisory Centre for Education
Information and guidance on appealing for a school place

Read about Ceri Meazey's experience of choosing a school for her younger son.

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