How to choose the best secondary school for your child

Your local catchment area school could be any of the following:

· Alderbrook School, Solihull

· Arden, Knowle

· Langley Academy, Olton

· Light Hall School, Shirley

· Lode Heath School, Solihull

· Lyndon School, Solihull

· St Peter’s Catholic School, Solihull

· Tudor Grange Academy, Solihull

Or the other alternative is to apply for Solihull School, a private school in the town centre, that caters for children up to the age of 18. While you might not like the idea of paying school fees, it’s worth bearing in mind that you’ll have to pay over the odds to move into popular school catchment areas, such as Arden and Tudor Grange.

It’s important to do your research as your child is likely to be at senior school for 7 years, from the ages of 11 to 18. That’s a lot of time spent being unhappy if it’s not the right school for them. Visit the open days of all the Solihull secondary schools you’re interested in to get a feel for the pupils and the ethos of the school; review the Ofsted reports; have a look at the school’s website and social media; talk to other parents of pupils at the school and see what they think about the school; try online chat forums or Facebook to ask questions if you don’t know any local people or the area.

If you are considering moving for the right school, it’s worth looking into this 2-3 years before you need to move. However it’s worth bearing in mind that many schools now use distance as a criteria, rather than a set catchment area. This can vary from year to year, depending on the local demographics, so if you’re planning a move, there are no guarantees, unless you buy a house next to the school! Have a look at the admissions criteria over the last few years to see if you can identify a pattern that will give you the best chance of success.

When researching Solihull secondary schools, trust your instinct about where you think your child will be happiest. Some schools are known for their academic results, others for their artistic qualities, others for their sporting and extra-curricular activities. Finding the best for your child will make them happier and more successful.

Photo by ROBIN WORRALL on Unsplash