September and October are open evening season. You will walk through science labs with Bunsen burners going, hear the orchestra, and meet a Year 8 who is more articulate than most adults. It is lovely. It also tells you very little about whether your child will be happy there.
I have toured a lot of schools over the years, as a teacher and as a mum. These are the questions I would ask, and the things I would watch for.
The short version
- Grammar schools are free and select by test. Independent schools charge fees and set their own entrance exams, usually later in Year 6.
- Many families apply to both. The dates can work together if you plan for them.
- Ask about the typical child, not the star pupil.
- Watch how students speak to each other in the corridors as well as on the stage.
The basic difference
Grammar schools are state schools. They are free, they select by an entrance test, and places are offered through your council on 1 March. Independent schools charge fees, set their own entrance exams and interviews, and make their own offers, usually in early February.
Neither is automatically the better choice. Some grammar schools are big and fast-paced. Some independents are small and nurturing, and some are very academic indeed. The question is which school suits your child.
Questions for any school
- What does a typical week look like for a Year 7? Ask for the real timetable, including homework.
- How are Year 7s settled in? Look for a clear plan for the first half term. A residential trip on its own is not a plan.
- What happens when a child falls behind? Is there extra help, and who notices first?
- How big are the classes in Year 7, and in the GCSE years?
- How do you set or stream? From when, in which subjects, and how often do children move?
- Who would my child go to if something was wrong? You want a named person, not a department.
Extra questions for grammar schools
- How do children who joined with lower scores get on? Every grammar has a range. Ask how the school supports the children at the lower end of it.
- How much homework is set in Year 7? Some grammars set a lot. A child who scraped through after months of tuition may find that tiring.
- What are the sixth form entry requirements for existing students? Some grammars ask their own students for particular GCSE grades to stay on.
Extra questions for independent schools
- What do the fees include? Lunches, trips, exam fees, music lessons and uniform can add a lot.
- Are there scholarships or bursaries, and when do we apply? Bursary deadlines are often early, sometimes before the entrance exam.
- What is the deposit, and when is it due? If it is due before 1 March, ask whether it is refundable if your child is offered a grammar place.
- What does the entrance exam cover? Many independents set their own English and Maths papers, and some use online pre-tests. The format can be quite different from the SET.
Do not choose a school for the child you hope to have in five years. Choose it for the child sitting next to you in the car on the way home.
Manju Pillai
Things to watch rather than ask
- How students talk to each other when they think no one important is listening.
- Whether the head talks about results only, or about children as well.
- What your child notices. Ask them in the car afterwards what they liked. You may be surprised.
Planning both routes together
Many of the families I work with apply to grammar and independent schools. The dates mostly line up: grammar tests in September of Year 6, grammar results in October, independent exams between November and January, independent offers in February, and state offers on 1 March. The pressure point is any independent deposit due before 1 March, so ask about it early.
If you are sitting both, remember the tests differ. The SET is multiple choice on the Key Stage 2 curriculum, with written papers at the second stage. Independent schools may include reasoning, creative writing or an interview. Plan preparation for the tests your child is actually sitting.
Preparing for the 11+?Our Year 4 and Year 5 classes run in Croydon, Sutton and online. Start with a short assessment and we will recommend the right group.
Should my child come to open evenings?
Yes, for the schools you are seriously considering. Their reaction is worth listening to, even if you do not agree with it.
Can I visit during a normal school day?
Many schools run daytime tours as well as open evenings. They are often more revealing, because you see ordinary lessons.
Do independent schools look at the SET score?
No. Each independent school uses its own assessment.
