A question for secondary school teachers

Agutka

I'm currently choosing a primary school for my son and was wandering what a secondary school teacher expects/likes to see in a year seven child.
Is it the best possible test results
Is it behaviour
Is it life skills?

I have two schools, one will be outstanding with excellent results, the other good, but with better, I feel, outcome in personality of the child, such as standing up for yourself, working in a team

Am I right in thinking that learning can happen later, in secondary school, but moulding a child in primary school can set them up for life?

jackyann

I am not a teacher & I suspect they would find this difficult to answer. As a mum of grown-ups, I would say go where your son will be happiest and most fulfilled. The most important thing at this point is to enjoy education, not to tick boxes.
Worth remembering that schools with "good outcomes" sometimes suggest that the children who will not help them achieve those move to another "more suitable" school!

JC9297

Your son is going to be at primary school for seven years so choose the school you feel he and you will be happiest with, don't worry about secondary school. Your son's results at the outstanding school may not be any different to at the good school anyway, and results don't always indicate a child's true ability as some schools spend all year 6 preparing for SATs and when those children get to secondary it is obvious their ability does not match their SATs level. Education is about so much more than test results, teachers want children who are engaged with learning not just children who know how to answer test questions.

There is no reason why the things you list should be mutually exclusive, much of it comes from home rather than school anyway. Your son's behaviour will be down to you far more than which primary school he attends school. Not sure what life skills you mean- do you mean confidence or social skills? Children from some primary schools do seem to be more confident than others however this is often a reflection of the catchment area or social mix of the school rather than the school's teaching.

angelil

I would say good basic academic skills - even if this doesn't necessarily equate to good test results. Social skills etc can be nurtured by you outside of school, and of course can be continued in secondary, but without good basic academic skills they're going to be at a severe disadvantage from the moment they walk through the secondary school doors. Secondary school is not the time to be playing catchup with basic skills.

Agutka

I do mean confidence and social skills.

I was brought up that having the best results is everything in life and I was never happy, so I'm trying to find a nice medium for my kids.

Oldernotwiser

Schools don't get outstanding academic results without concerning themselves with life skills as well.

In addition, the skills you mention are really a parents' responsibility and can be learnt from outside activities like scouts/guides, whereas the academic side may be less possible for many parents to influence.

In your situation, I'd choose the first.

mandragora_2

You're the mum. Go with the one you feel offers the most to your child, and the one you will have most confidence in. Parental commitment and support is the biggest factor in children's achievements in education. Research (and common sense) shows it again and again.

Secondary school teacher, decades of experience!

Poppy9

I'd trust your instincts and make a decision after visiting both schools.

Just one question though, what if your child is not academic and you choose the school with outstanding results and he doesn't perform at the end of Y6?

thegirlintheattic

Life skills and a happy child - you wouldn't believe the number of kids I teach who cannot do anything without their hand being held through each step.

Behavior comes with having a happy, well rounded child.

Life Skills + Behavior will lead to the child achieving their potential.

I would go with whichever school seems to fit your child and everything else will follow.

dizziblonde

Go for the school you see your child best in when you close your eyes. Outstanding results can be achieved by all sorts of skullduggery (I worked in one school that went right up the league tables for most improved - but did it by pressure cooking the kids they identified at year 1 level with having a chance - and basically leaving those picked out at the age of 5-6 as no hopers to rot... now me being me, I'd rather go for a school with less outstanding results - but where they looked after EVERY kid and not just the ones who were spat out by a computer programme at an early age as having potential level 4s and 5s on their foreheads).

The other big thing I find is behaviour - a few with behaviour issues left unaddressed and allowed to run amok can very effectively shut down the learning of an entire class - seen that happen far too blooming many times.

FBaby

I had the choice between two good local schools, but one seemed to be much more popular, with a waiting list whereas the other one doesn't, and I assumed that is where our daughter would go although further away. Well we all changed our minds after we visited both schools. The popular school was impressive with kids very well behaved, polite and helpful, but they came across to me as very coached. There was a lot of emphasis on how students are very supported and looked after. The kids reminded me of well trained army cadets. The other school was totally different, the kids were also well-behaved, but so much more themselves, comfortable and confident. The speech from the head was very much about discipline, but where the school encourage kids to learn skills to self-discipline themselves rather than becoming obedient soldiers. Kids are encouraged to be involved in decision making about the school, to get involved with the local community, and be entrepreneurial. This suited my education views much better. I was very surprise the other school was so much more popular, because the overall results of this school is actually a fraction better, but I can understand how many parents would feel more confident with a more directive school. My DD best friend local school was the top school on the town, people travel for 1/2 hour to go to this school (Churcf og England) yet she chose my DD school rather than the local one on the same basis. That school is extremely strict, which has had huge benefits as the school went from being the worse in the area about 7 years ago to the best, but it just doesn't suit everyone. I have no regrets at all. My DD is already very involved, thinking for herself, organising her work without requiring any guidance, and I think the school attitude has helped a lot to get her there.