January 19th 2022
Charlotte Carty, Registrar here at Sherborne Prep writes for the Sherborne Times this month.
The New Year provides a fresh start and an exciting 12 months of adventure and opportunity lie ahead. There may be some key dates already in the diary and there may be other tasks that you know are approaching. At this time of the year, many are considering which school will suit their child for the next chapter in their lives.
To whom will you entrust your most treasured possession for a significant period of their life? This can seem a daunting question. However, the answer could be as simple as A, B, C!
A is for ‘Ask’
Ask about the school. Research and try to find out as much as you can about the schools you are considering. Ask friends, relatives, parent networks. Ask your child! Depending on their age, they could be one of the most important resources available to you. Each child is different and what might be right for one child may not be right for another.
Scour the websites of the schools and try to narrow down your choices to your favourite three or four. Focus on what you are looking for. What does the school offer that will ensure your child thrives?
B is for ‘Book’
Book a visit. Open events are useful tools but dig a little deeper with an individual visit, if possible. You can then see the school in action, see the children about the school, see them interacting with staff and with each other. It is these glimpses into life at the school that will tell you so much about what actually happens there. Take a close look during your visit. What is available outside the classroom as well as inside? Do the children look happy and engaged?
Whilst academics are the life-blood of any educational institution, consider whether the school has similar values to those you hold dear. Schools and home should be a partnership and you should feel comfortable with the people who will be supporting your child in the coming years.
Frequent questions I have from prospective families are around class sizes, extra-curricular clubs and outdoor space. However, each tour is different and I have been asked about the food, bus routes, scholarship entry to senior schools, support in the classroom, our policy on devices at school, wrap-around care and so on. The questions are as individual as the families enquiring.
No question is silly if it is important to you.
C is for ‘Choose’
Now is the time to choose a school for your child. Choose with confidence. Choose a school which you believe will suit your child and your family best. Remember, everyone is different and parents will have different criteria for choosing a school for their child.
Do engage in any transition events offered by the school over the months before joining. This is very helpful for both the child to get to know the school and to start making friends, but also for the parents to start to understand how the school operates on a day-to-day basis.
After all the research, after all the advice and after all the visits, it will almost certainly come down to a gut feeling as to which school is right for your child. Trust yourself. You know your child best.
