Your journey through secondary school, with confidence, starts here...
From choosing a school to helping your child thrive once they arrive, I help you understand the system, navigate key decisions and support your child with confidence
Secondary school is the most important part of the school journey...
You are probably finding the school system complicated.
You may be wondering:
• How do I actually choose between schools?
• What questions should I ask when visiting?
• How do I support my child once they start?
• How do I build a good relationship with the school?
Without a compass, it’s easy to feel uncertain about the decisions you’re making.
The School Compass Framework
Understand the system
Navigate the system
Your child THRIVES in the system
Navigating the school system isn’t about following someone else. There is no perfect route. There isn't one 'right' school. Every family, every child and every school community is different.
School Compass isn't a map or a sat nav. It is something much more empowering: a compass.
A set of ideas, tools and insights to help you understand the system, navigate key decisions and support your child with confidence.
Where are you on your journey?
Age 9–11 | Years 4–6
Applying for Secondary School
Applying for a secondary school can feel like a decision of life changing importance. The stakes feel higher than when you applied for primary school. They are bigger, more complex and end with qualifications which will open doors for your child.
At first, you have the following questions...
-
When should you start the process?
-
What should you look for on open evenings?
-
Where can you find data and information?
-
Should I choose a single-sex school? Grammar-school option?
-
Is a big school or small school better?
Then, how to make sense of it all and rank-order the schools?
Most parents don't even stop to reflect about what THEY think makes a good school and a great education for THEIR child in THIER context. But, you do.
This is why I built the Secondary Applications Toolkit for you - it guides you through all aspects of the journey so that you can make the best decisions for your family and your child.
Age 11–12 | Starting Year 7
Starting Secondary School
Once your application is submitted and your child is allocated a place - a whole different set of questions and worries emerge.
-
Should we accept our allocated place or appeal?
-
How do we prepare ourselves and our child for the transition to secondary school?
-
What do I need to know before this all happens?
Then, once your child starts in September, the questions really begin....
-
Is this normal?
-
How do we build strong relationships with the school?
-
What should I do about the problem my child is encountering?
This is why I built the Secondary Transition Programme for you. It takes you on a journey beginning on allocation day through to the end of the first half term of secondary school.
About
Hi, I'm Joe - since becoming a dad I have been on a mission to help parents navigate the school system with confidence.
I have been a teacher, school leader and education consultant for more than 15 years. I have won awards for my contribution to education, I am a published author and have given evidence at the Education Select Committee in the House of Commons.
I'm also a dad to two young boys.
Just like you, my partner (who's also a teacher) and I care deeply about our children's education.
However, as insiders, we know how to navigate, and thrive in the school system, without spending wasted hours searching for information or being swayed by the opinions of our friends.
I want to share these insights with you too. That is why I set up School Compass.
