What to look for in a Primary School

Primary school years are when children start to learn and understand more about themselves, and parents start to see their child develop their interests, skills, academic attainment and who they are as a person. Choosing the right environment to nurture a child’s growth and development is essential for their primary school years.

In the UK, there is the state-funded school system where families submit their top school choices to the local authority and are allocated places based on factors including geographical location and number of applications. The alternative is private education, where parents pay fees. Classes tend to be small and benefit from specialist teachers for subjects such as PE, music, drama and languages. The rural locations of many private schools across the UK allow for premium facilities for sports, performing arts, STEM and outdoor learning.

Regardless of choosing state or private, parents have to look at how they’ll decide which primary school to choose for their child or children. Below are our top 10 considerations when choosing a primary school.

The learning environment. This is where you factor in the overall look and feel of the school, and what facilities are on the grounds or in the area for students to be transported to including sports, play areas and outdoor learning. What do the classrooms look like – are they bright and colourful and relaxed, or a more formal layout? How formal is the school day, and what requirements are there from students on a daily basis?
Curriculum. State-funded schools in the UK follow the National Curriculum which is set at Government and Local Authority level. This is the standard curriculum in the UK, however, independent private schools often simply use this as a guide and adapt it to suit the ethos and values of the school. Alternatively, there are primary schools that offer an international curriculum, or one country specific, e.g. the American curriculum. It’s important to assess which is best for your child and family, considering what comes next in secondary school years as well.
Learning opportunities. What opportunities are there outside of the curriculum being offered at the school, whether it be British, American or international. Co-curricular activities are where students develop hobbies and discover new passions; from chess clubs, coding activities and arts through to sports teams. Educationally, are there challenge and enrichment programmes for students, or what support is in place for children with any special educational needs?
Pastoral care. Who would your child or children have to approach if they needed additional support in school? Many schools offer a school counsellor service, or have access to services. It’s important to know that the primary school you choose has the support you believe would be best for your family.
Length of the school day. Many schools offer a breakfast club and after-school wrap around care, an invaluable service that working parents look for in a primary school. Breakfast clubs often incur extra costs, as does after-school care and co-curricular activities so ensure you have the full information. Wrap-around care is often a high priority for parents to look at and understand, especially given that school days for independent schools can sometimes be shorter.
Canteen. Ask to see a sample lunch menu and understand what options are provided, especially if your child can be a fussy eater. Or alternatively, can you take in a packed lunch to school?
11+ preparation for secondary school. The 11+ is an entrance exam for secondary school, used by both state-funded grammar schools and many private independent schools to identify the most academically-able children. These exams do require preparation, so if this is a route that you are exploring for secondary school then find out what tutoring or support services are available within the school, or whether you would need to look for external support.
Uniform. School uniform is commonplace in primary schools in the UK, and can be a significant added expense, especially for private independent schools. For state-funded schools this has tended to relax in recent years to simply requiring black trousers or skirts and 1-2 branded uniform pieces, such as a t-shirt, jumper or coat. Private schools often have second-hand uniform sales where parents look to resell barely-worn or used uniform to new parents or parents with younger children. It is rare, but some schools do not require any uniform at all and simply have a code of conduct for what clothing is and is not appropriate. Sports clothing is often an additional expense and a stricter requirement.
Commute to school. What does the commute to the school look like? Can you walk to the local primary school, or would you have to drive? If you have to drive, what parking is available and how safe are the roads once parked? Are there trains, or buses for when your primary school child is old enough to travel to school on their own? Many independent primary schools also offer a busing service, either door-to-door or from central pick-up points.
Bursary and scholarships. Many independent schools offer these; find out what the criteria are and if you might qualify.

Whilst these provide some guidance on what to initially look for in a Primary School, booking a visit or attending an Open Day and speaking to the Head of School and teachers will be key to understanding the ethos and values of the school and assessing whether the environment is right for your family.