How To Choose A School

Start with the website. The school website will generally give a good sense of the school's priorities. It will also provide useful background information about subject choice, homework hours, sporting success and lunch menus.

Visit the school. Most schools have open days or open evenings and a school visit, particularly on a working day, is a crucial part of the decision-making process. Have a close look at the pupils (do you want your child to turn out like them?); and the parents (do you feel you have something in common?) Does the school feel welcoming and safe? Is it well lit, well equipped and well maintained?

Examine classrooms carefully. Are they well organised and tidy? Are they light, clean and comfortable? Children's work will be carefully displayed on the walls, but also try and peep inside their exercise books. You need to know how the strugglers are getting on as well as the stars.

Read the notice boards. They'll tell you what's going on and who'se getting noticed. They'll give you a good idea about what sports and other activities are popular and well attended. Check up, too, how up-to-date they are - you need enthusiastic and well-organised staff and pupils to keep up with the latest news.

Ask around. Talk to parents with kids already at the school. If you have a child with special needs, for example, you should be able to discover something about what help is genuinely available and, if you're concerned about bullying in the playground or bright children being 'stretched', you'll also get a better understanding of how well the school addresses these issues.

Talk to local business people. It's surprising what you'll discover out about how pupils behave and how they're treated.

If it's possible - and it isn't always - try and meet the head or, at least, hear them talk. All science labs look the same, but the principal defines the school's unique approach to discipline and expectations.

Even more informative can be a chat with the school's clientele. With little prompting, pupils are usually happy to spill the beans about cliques and gangs, the awfulness (or not) of school food and the availability of drugs As one old joke goes: parent to pupil, ' Do you have a problem with drugs at this school?'; pupil to parent: 'No, sir, you can get anything here.'

Ask leading questions: What's your favourite subject? What changes would you make if you were in charge? Who would not be happy at this school? You may be surprised at some of the answers.

What are the teachers like? Talk to them if you can. Do they seem intelligent? Enthusiastic? Well informed?

Watch how teachers and pupils get along. The relationship shouldn't be strained, but it should be mutually respectful.

What is the average age of the staff? Too old? (They may be fixed in their ways and boring) Too young? They may be inexperienced and possibly move on quickly.

Pay attention to the toilets and the playground - often the real trouble spots for those new to schooling. Make sure the cloakrooms are clean and easy to access; the playground not dominated by careering boys intent on scoring that lunchtime goal.

One thing parents often neglect in their keenness to get their child into the 'best' school is how far it is from home. A long journey at the end of the school day, particularly in these early years, can spell tears before bedtime.

If you're a working parent, inquire about what the school offers in the way of early-morning care, homework clubs and after-school activities. These can make all the difference to the logistics of life.

Exam grades are more important at secondary than in the early years, so do read the statistics carefully and find out where pupils go on to university or college.

Ask about school trips, extra-curricular activities and careers advice. Though you may have a ten year old at your side, adolescence is about spreading wings and looking to the future.

At secondary, your child's input is as important as yours. Find out where their friends are going and at least take into account which school they'd prefer.

If your child has a special interest - in maths or music, modern languages or science - you may want to prioritise a school which has a speciality in this area and the additional resources to make the subject really exciting.

Look at the library? Is it centrally located, well lit and well stocked with the latest newspapers and magazines as well as books? Are there many pupils using it?

Find out much homework is set - and examine exercise books carefully to see whether (and how) it is being marked!

Ask how often the school reports to parents about progress? Once a year is not enough. Find out, too, how often and in what way they let pupils know about their progress.

Lisa Freedman runs the schools advice service - www.attheschoolgates.co.uk