PTNotts_BackToSchool18

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FOCUS ONEDUCATION Question time! Struggling to decidewhich secondaryschoolisbest? We’vesummarised some of thekey questionsyou shouldbeaskingduringyourresearch (and whotoask!) What next if you’ve made initial searches and have drawn up a shortlist of favoured secondary schools, mostlikelybasedon practical requirements such as distance from home and admission rules? Once you know which exams pupil sit and have a good idea of how they perform, go astep further and start making comparisons between the schools using some sensible and probing questions. In the search for your child’s secondary school, you’ll want to dig far deeper than the latest league table results and the pages of aglossy school brochure. Which is why we wanted to help arm you with some useful questions for when you visit each school in person. Be sure toask the same questions consistently of each school in order to stack the responses up against each other so that, by the end of the exercise, you’ve a clear feeling for which school strikes a chord with you and your child. To garner the most genuine insight into each school, try to organise your visit for a normal school day (most schools will accommodate this) and have the confidence to ask some very specific questions of the people you meet. This way you can bypass the rose-tinted promotional image presented to parents during school open days and you’ll be better placed to decide which school is best able to help your child fulfil their individual potential. Here are some important questions to ask every secondary school on your shortlist: WHATDOES THE SCHOOL NEED TO DO TO IMPROVE FURTHER? Asking to hear about aschool’s targets is asensible way to get advanced warning about aschool’s weaknesses. Even ‘Outstanding’ schools have targets for further improvement included in their Selectiontimeline •31st October 2018 is the closing date for completed applications •1st March 2019 is ‘National Offer Day’. Parents can log onto their local authority’s website to see their offer, after which letters will be posted out. How can Icontact mychild’s teachers and how often will they contact me? Ofsted reports. Visit reports. ofsted.gov.uk to arm yourself with background information before each school visit. Who to ask? The Head IS CAREER GUIDANCE ON OFFER TO PUPILS AS/ WHEN THEY WANT IT? With access to advice on possible career paths and higher education options pupils can fuel their passions, find inspiration and make informed choices throughout their secondary school life. Who to ask? Teachers and pupils HOW ARE BULLIES AND BADLY-BEHAVED PUPILS DISCIPLINED? This question gives aschool the opportunity to explain its behaviour policy and the rules it enforces on issues such as banned items, lateness and standards. Find out how pupils who break the rules are treated. For example, is detention imposed, are fights physically broken up and are pupils removed from class. A school’s approach to bullying must also be included in the behaviour policy. Who to ask? The Head, teachers and pupils IS THERE A POSITIVE SCHOOL SPIRIT AND CAN PUPILS CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY? Apositive school spirit can add greatly to achild’s education and opportunities to volunteer on community projects can help them to develop valuable skills and life experience. Stories of a school’s contribution to their local community (think charity initiatives, environmental projects etc) are often picked up and published by the local media, so keep your eyes peeled. Who to ask? The Head, pupils and internet searches Finally, don’t forget to ask your child where they think they’d be happiest. Perhaps the best choice of secondary school jumps straight out to your child based on their friends’ choices or the facilities offered by certain schools, for example, a swimming pool or dance/performing arts studios. Add their opinion to the mix before weighing up the benefits of each school and submitting your selection this October 31st. Take the opportunity to see how much information you’ll receive from the school, beyond the annual parents’ evening and annual school reports, and how much interaction with teachers you’ll be expected or able to have. Are urgent messages, such as school closures communicated via text or email? Could you expect to see letters being sent home with your child? Are parents encouraged to email teachers directly? And if so, under which circumstances? Who to ask? The Head and teachers
Sir William Robertson Academy Come and find out how your child can ASPIRE to abrighter future… Choosing asecondary school is one of the most important decisions you will have to make for you and your child. With this in mind, we would like to extend an invitation to parents/carers and your child to come and tour the Academy where you will see first-hand the excellent behaviour of our pupils and the high-calibre learning taking place in the classrooms. Sir William Robertson Academy is judged as Ofsted ‘Good’ in all areas of the school and has also been recognised as being one of the ‘Top 100 non-selective state-funded schools in England’ by Nick Gibb MP – Minister of State for Schools (February 2016). The Academy is ahighly successful 11-18 school with a fl ourishing Sixth Form. The school fosters an aspirational ethos in which every child is expected to achieve the very best they can in all that they do. SWRA provides asafe and idyllic learning environment with superb pastoral care and support and avaried programme of enrichment and extracurricular activities. The school is well resourced, with wonderful outdoor facilities for awide range of sporting activities. We offer a full and active programme of musical and performing arts from our purpose built studios. Join us at our Open Mornings 17th – 19th September or our Open Evening on 19th September 2018. Please visit www.swracademy.org to find out more. Primary Times Nottinghamshire The Garibaldi School The school is a high achieving school which provides asafe environment where students can feel comfortable, well supported and confident. Garibaldi has been awarded Leading Edge School Status; this award is only given to asmall number of schools nationally and recognises exceptional achievement by the students. The words ‘pride’, ‘respect’ and ‘achieve’ summarise the school vision. Students are encouraged to take pride in themselves, the school and their community. Respect for each other and staff is extremely important and the students understand this. The mutual respect and shared goals of the staff and students coupled with outstanding and innovative teaching all contribute to the students’ excellent achievement at both GCSE and Alevel. The hard work of both the students and staff was recognised during the 2017 Ofsted visit when Ofsted confirmed Garibaldi remains a ‘Good’ school. Along with outstanding exam results, students leave having developed arange of skills and qualities that will equip them for a successful future. Join the learning journey Years 5and 6Open Evening Thursday 27th September 2018 at 6:00pm For further information: Telephone: 01623 464220 Email: gcadmin@garibaldi.notts.sch.uk www.garibaldischool.co.uk @GaribaldiSchool Garibaldi Road, Forest Town, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire NG19 0JX FOCUS ON EDUCATION YEAR 5AND 6 OPEN EVENING Thursday 27th September2018 at 6.00pm TheGaribaldiSchoolisahighachieving,caringand innovative school graded ‘Good’ by Ofsted in 2017. If your child is currentlyinYear6,due to startsecondaryschool in September2019and youwould like to find out more about The Garibaldi School,weinviteyou to attend ourOpenEvening on Thursday 27th September2018at6.00pm. “Pupils andstaff feel valued. Thereisasenseofsharedresponsibilityfor all aspectsoflifeatthe school.” Ofsted(January2017) TheGaribaldi School Garibaldi Road Forest Town Mansfield Nottingham NG19 0JX 01623 464220 www.garibaldischool.co.uk @GaribaldiSchool www.primarytimes.co.uk/nottinghamshire | BACK TO SCHOOL 2018 11
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