Parent resources

Prospectuses are essential reading – either the paper versions or on (or downloaded from) the school website. These should give you a feel for the buildings and environment, as well as the staff and pupils. It may give you a sense of the school’s ethos.

Prospectuses vary enormously. The worst give just sketchy outlines, motherhood-and-applepie aspirations and some pious phrases. Others are highly professional with elegant text, beautiful photographs (even a virtual tour on a website) and, crucially, loads of information; not just ‘many extra-curricular activities’ but lists of what they are, the ages/times these are available, the trips out of school that may be involved and where to etc.

Read these thoroughly − but with caution. Prospectuses are only revised every three to five years (maybe some minor updating to the website). Their aim is to present the best features of the school. They will not dwell on the smoking behind the bike sheds or last year’s A-level physics failures, or any of the shortcomings which surface occasionally, even in the best-run establishments. To get a real feel of a school, do not rely solely on the prospectus, visit it.