As well as making the difficult decision on where your child should go to school, parents often worry about whether they made the right decision once their child is there. It can be hard to know if they’re happy at school, particularly if they’re a little uncommunicative. There are some signs you can look out for though to determine if your child is attending a good school. Read on to learn more about these signs from an independent school in Essex.
Good communication
If you receive regular and clear communication from your child’s school about important updates or events, as well as feedback from the teachers about their progress, this is a sign of a good school. Different schools will have different communication methods, including corresponding by email, letter, messaging platforms or apps; but as long as the school is keeping you in the loop both with regards to your child’s progress and school life more generally, this is a sign of good school management as well as regard for parents.
Test results and Ofsted reports
Of course, test results aren’t everything, but a high level of achievement is a good indicator that pupils progress well at the school and are supported by quality teaching staff. Ofsted reports assess a variety of aspects to determine how well a school is being run and managed, and whether pupils are achieving according to a standard benchmark. A ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ report will indicate that your child’s school is reaching a high standard in most if not all the areas assessed by Ofsted. This might put your mind at ease that your child is receiving a good education and robust support from their school.
A sense of community
Good schools try to instil in their pupils a sense of community and belonging to the school family. This will often extend to inviting parents and other caregivers to become part of the community by encouraging them to get involved in school life through activities such as fundraisers and social events. If your child’s school encourages parental involvement, whilst imparting to pupils the importance of community, then this is definitely a good sign.
If you’re worried about your child’s progress, it can be hard to know whether it’s something to do with the quality of their school; but if the school is doing all the things outlined above, you can rest assured that it’s likely your child is attending a good school.
*This is a collaborative post