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.
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So, the first question is...
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...
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When should you start the process?
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What should you look for on open evenings?
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Where can you find data and information?
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Should I choose a single-sex school? Grammar-school option?
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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.
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.
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Should we accept our allocated place or appeal?
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How do we prepare ourselves and our child for the transition to secondary school?
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What do I need to know before this all happens?
Then, once your child starts in September, the questions really begin....
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Is this normal?
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How do we build strong relationships with the school?
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What should I do about the problem my child is encountering?