Choosing a primary school can feel daunting and stressful. After all, the education of our precious little ones is of key importance to any parent. With so many schools to choose from and so many factors to take into consideration it can, at first glance, seem like a minefield. In this article, we will aim to help you navigate this landscape by signposting the most reliable ways to research and compare state-funded primary schools in your local area.
Finding schools in your area
In the first instance, it is worth doing a general search of local primary schools. This can be done in various ways, including a simple Google Maps search. However, the best way is to use the gov.uk School Performance Tables. This is a really useful tool which allows you to search schools within varying radii from your postcode and allows you to filter your search according to any specific requirements you may have, i.e. school type, Ofsted rating, religious character, etc. In addition to the search feature, you can view a detailed profile which also displays performance data for each school. Not only this, but you can then begin to compile a list of your preferred schools in the ‘My Schools’ tab. When you have more than one school on your list, data for each school is displayed side-by-side so you can easily compare.
Catchment areas
Catchment areas for schools are not set in stone. In fact, they can change year on year depending on the applications schools receive. Some schools will give priority to children who live within the nearest walking distance, while others according to straight line distance on a map. It is worth checking with each school about their previous year’s catchment area. Alternatively, AdmissionsDay is a useful, paid-for tool which allows you to check catchment areas for schools in the UK.
Performance data
Primary ‘League Tables’ are published annually by the government. Rather than ranking schools from best to worst, the government performance data allows you to view and compare data for the main primary school subjects which are assessed in the KS1 and KS2 SATs (Standard Assessment Tests), these include maths, reading and writing. Performance data allows you to see the percentage of pupils who achieved the expected standard as well as the percentage of those who achieved above the expected standard in these end of key stage assessments. This data is shown in comparison to the national average alongside the local authority average.
Progress scores
Progress scores are a better way to assess a school’s performance, rather than a single year’s KS2 SATs results, as they take into account the different starting points of pupils and show how they have progressed from the end of KS1 to the end of KS2, compared to other children nationally. Importantly, they measure children’s KS2 results against pupils who had similar levels of attainment at the end of KS1 make the comparison fairer.
It should be noted that the UK government has announced it will not publish any school educational performance data based on tests, assessments or exams for 2020, due to COVID-19.
Factors affecting SATs results
Interpreting primary school league tables is not as straightforward as simply comparing data between schools. There are a plethora of other factors which can affect a school’s SATs results. These can include the percentage of pupils with SEN (Special Educational Needs) or EAL (English as an Additional Language); the number of disadvantaged pupils in receipt of the Pupil Premium; staffing ratios; the size of the school.
Ofsted ratings
Ofsted ratings can certainly be a good indicator of the quality of teaching and learning in a school. However, it is important to bear in mind that they are a snapshot of a school over what is normally a two-day inspection and occur approximately every four years. Ratings alone should therefore be taken with a pinch of salt. Instead, take the time to read the latest inspection report as this will provide an in-depth assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the school. Lots of parents are only interested in schools with an ‘Outstanding’ rating. It is worth comparing the school’s Ofsted rating with their performance data over time. A school that was rated ‘Outstanding’ at their last inspection several years ago could have seen their performance data decline in the subsequent years. While a school rated ‘Good’ might display an upward trend in their performance data. Certainly, any school rated ‘Requires Improvement’ or in ‘Special Measures’ would require a more in-depth look to find out which areas require improvement and whether anything has been done in the interim to address these.
School open days
So, you’ve researched your local schools, compared data and Ofsted ratings, now you need to go and view your preferred schools. This is by far one of the most important and useful things to do when choosing a school. Tours are usually conducted by the Head Teacher. This is a chance to get to know the Head and understand their vision for the school and its pupils. On these open days, you can get a real feel of what the school is like in terms of the attitude of staff and pupils and overall atmosphere, as well as checking out the facilities and the condition of the learning environment. You will normally have the opportunity to ask questions, so go prepared! You may want to find out more about: the school’s performance results; additional subjects (Geography, History, Music, PE); extra-curricular activities; the school’s behaviour policy; how the school nurtures gifted and talented pupils.
Trust your instincts
You know your child best and will have a feeling about which school will be the right fit for them. Basing decisions solely on performance data discounts so many other factors which may benefit your child. Trust your instincts!