Choosing a child’s primary school is a big decision, but once secondary school time rolls around chances are the decision will be made with lots of input from the child.
Adolescents usually want to attend the same high school as their friends without necessarily considering what facilities the school has to offer or the quality of the teachers.
The website Raising Children Network suggests making a list of five things that are most important to you both when choosing a school.
As the selection process is considered together, you might want to add to or revise it as more information is gathered.
Here are some conversation starters and points to consider:
■ The facilities the school has to support your child’s learning (library, music, sport and art programs, counselling)
■ The school size, including number of students
■ The school’s religious affiliations, if any
■ Opportunities for family involvement and how communication between home and school is managed
■ Location: can your adolescent walk to the school or is it accessible by public transport?
■ The school’s connection with the local community
■ The school’s academic results
Another good way to find out about potential secondary schools is by talking to parents connected to those schools. They can provide unbiased information about the pros and cons of what the schools provide to students.
And don’t forget to enrol your child into secondary school early (often around May in the year prior to their starting); however, each school is different so check with them.
Consider enrolling your child into several schools in case the first choice doesn’t work out.
For more information on secondary schools in your area, visit myschool.com.au and if you have specific schools in mind visit their homepage for more detailed facts.
