Making the most of school open days – some tips for parents

Many schools, both state and independent, have open days in the coming weeks. These are a good opportunity to start your research by seeing schools in action, meeting key staff and getting a general feel for the atmosphere.

How do parents make the most of these fact-finding missions, seeing through the ‘marketing speak’ to make important decisions about the right school for their child?

Firstly meet the Head. How accessible they are to prospective parents can be a guide as to how the school is run. It is crucial their philosophy for education meets yours. Do they come across as a capable leader, respected by staff and pupils alike and are they in touch with the day-to-day school life?

Observe staff relationships with pupils within a lesson environment. Is it formal or more relaxed and which will suit your child? Single sex or co-ed has a different feel -do all children appear engaged and included? Is I.T. being used constructively, to support excellent and engaging teaching, not as a substitute for it? Are teaching assistants being used successfully, if your child will need learning support?

Are pupils smartly dressed and belongings tidily stored around the school? Books, files, school bags and lost property should be out of sight. Are walls and furniture in good decorative order and does the school site appear well looked-after?

Can pupils speak confidently to visitors and talk knowledgeably about their school, outlining its strengths?

Do noticeboards give a picture of a busy school with a breadth of educational opportunity across all academic subject areas, sport, music and creative arts?

Book your Open Day visits at The Future Schools Fair in Aylesbury this Saturday 21^st Sept from 9am-1pm. Free event for parents. Research school choices at 11, 13 or 16. Register www.futureschoolsfair.com

#11+ test this week - a few calming tips for #parents

So the new format 11+ tests for grammar schools are this week and the annual parent ‘nail-biting fest’ begins. Here are a few tips to ensure your worries for the outcome do not transfer to your child, who should feel confident to take the tests in their stride, knowing that whatever the result, you will be proud of the effort they made.

Avoid discussing fears over the result with a partner or friends within your child’s earshot. This will raise the pressure they feel and lead to raised stress levels. Your child should know that you see the test simply as a gauge of their ability so they will gain a place at the right school. Use of the word ‘fail’ should be limited. You must reassure them that whatever senior school they go to, you will make sure they have access to opportunities that will lead to success.

Have a relaxed evening the night before the test and a good night’s sleep. Last-minute cramming into the night will not allow their brain to switch off and will lead to an unsettled night, meaning they will be less alert for test day

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A good breakfast is crucial. I read recently that research suggests blueberries can enhance concentration and memory, so why not try some sprinkled on breakfast cereal?

Plan a treat or buy a small gift to celebrate their efforts and the test being over. Whether you also plan a treat for results day is up to you, but now is your chance to focus on rewarding the effort they spent preparing, whatever the outcome.

If you are looking to review alternatives to grammar, incase the 11+ doesn’t go to plan, why not visit The Future Schools Fair on 21^st Sept in Aylesbury? A free event for parents. For more details and to register for free tickets visit the website www.futureschoolsfair.com

Choosing the right #school and subjects for sixth form

September is here and schools are back to work. For year 11 the priority is working towards GCSE. Now is also the time to consider sixth form studies, incase a move of school is advisable. I usually discourage this unless for an educational or financial reason. Knowing teachers and supportive friendships built over several years are an unquestionable benefit of staying put.

However there are circumstances where a move may be the best option. Some schools do not have a sixth form and now is the time to research options and start the application process.

For some, applying to grammar via 16+ is an option. Movement from state to independent day school or vise versa is commonplace. Considering boarding can be a way to broaden horizons, develop independence and confidence.

Single sex to co-ed is often raised. In my view this should not be the sole reason for a move.

The right subject choices are crucial. Not all schools offer all subjects and all combinations. Give this thought now to ensure your school accommodates your preferences.

Considering which qualifications to take is also important. Some schools offer the International Baccalaureate or Pre U as an alternative to A Levels for example. Apprenticeships or vocational qualifications might suit some. It is hard to dispute the capability of the new University Technical Colleges to prepare teenagers for employment.

Sixth form is now about so much more than qualifications. School leavers need to be equipped with evidence of employability skills through work experience, as well as the capability to problem solve and study independently, if they wish to apply to university. Researching and planning for 16+ now will avoid making last-minute, rushed decisions later.

A good place to start - The free event for parents to meet schools face-to-face and attend 16 seminars giving advice on how to choose the right school, planning for 11+, 13+ and 16+ -The Future Schools Fair in Aylesbury on 21^st Sept 2013. Register for your FREE tickets now via  www.futureschoolsfair.com

Tips for preparing your child for #boarding school

All over the country mums are busy sewing on name tapes and buying school shoes, slippers and trainers. Dealing with the practicalities of getting ready for boarding in September is easy, but how can parents prepare their child so they feel reassured that they have the skills and independence to thrive, when away from home for the first time?

Make contact with other parents whose children will also be joining the school as new pupils and invite their child over a few times between now and school starting. Even if they are not in the same house or class, it will be a familiar face to bump into during break and sit with at lunchtimes, until new friendships have been formed.

Find out from current parents what is ‘cool’. For example, if it is considered cool to be dressed in uniform from the second hand shop, try not to buy shiny new from the school outfitters. This could save you a bit of cash anyway!

Ensure your child has everything that they will require from the school kit list. It can be very upsetting to get into trouble in your child’s first few weeks if they do not have rugby boots, hockey stick, laptop or a calculator.

Talk through in advance with your child the fact that they may feel homesick and agree a strategy as to how you might deal with this together. Discuss which staff at the school are there for them to talk to if they are feeling low and how to find them.

Talk about their new school over the summer holidays. Look at the school website and joining pack together and help them to decide which extra-curricular activities they will take part in and how they will sign up for these. What sports teams will they aim to get into and what musical instrument, drama lessons etc will they engage in?

Look at the map/plan of the school site and help them to learn where everything is. Getting lost on the school campus when trying to find a science lesson for example can be a trigger for homesickness.

Give your child small experiences of independence. Let them take the bus into the local shops alone or meet up with their friends. Encourage them to understand the importance of being on-time and keeping to time deadlines you have set, such as when to be home.

Senior boarding schools encourage independence and thinking for oneself so ensure that your child has practiced this before they go away to school for the first time. Encourage them to take responsibility for keeping their bedroom tidy, changing into clean socks, learning how to put on a clean duvet cover and to be responsible for keeping track of their valuables and belongings.

Try not to linger at school too long when dropping them off on the first day. Settle them in, help un-pack, say hello to the matron or the Housetaff, ensure that your child is busy chatting with a group of peers and make a discreet exit. The longer you stay, the harder it will be to leave.

Prepare yourself for a few worried weeks ahead. The best way to crack homesickness is not to call home too often so if you don't hear anything, consider this good news. Frequent calls home in the first few weeks are not a good sign and should be discouraged. Try to remember your child will only call you in the few low times, when most of the time they are happily making the most of boarding school life.

For help and support with choosing the right boarding school why not come to the FUTURESCHOOLS FAIR. 

A free event of parents. Meet lots of senior schools all in one place and attend free seminars all about making the right school choice. Register via the website www.futureschoolsfair.com

Tips for #parents with a child starting 'big' #school in September

So the primary or prep school days are over and you and your child are now looking with a little trepidation towards life at senior school in September. How can parents prepare over the summer, so their child settles in as quickly as possible?

Find out if the new school will pass on contact details for other pupils joining this September. They may even be offering induction fun days during the summer. Initiate contact with other parents and invite children over. Even if not in the same class, it will be a familiar face to sit with at lunchtimes, until new friendships are formed.

Familiarise yourself with the school rules and ensure your child has everything from the school kit list. It can be upsetting to get into trouble in the first few weeks for not having the right uniform, trainers, hockey stick or calculator. Short skirts, dyed hair or piercings may also lead to trouble.

Discuss things that may be a bit daunting about the new school environment and how they might deal with these. Highlight which school staff are in their support network and how to find them. Familiarise them with the plan of the school site. Getting lost trying to find a lesson and being late can lead to angst.

Look at the school joining information together. Encourage them to get involved in extra-curricular activities from the outset. These are excellent opportunities to build friendships quickly.

Give small experiences of independence over the summer so they become resilient, able to think on their feet and have the skills to resolve problems themselves.

Instigating some of the above in the next couple of weeks, may make parents a little less anxious when September arrives, all too soon.

For advice on choosing the right school please give us a call on 01865 522066 or visit our website www.independenteducationconsultants.co.uk

Securing a #work placement - a few tips for students

It was with a sense of relief that I heard this week that my niece has finally secured a work placement, to gain invaluable experience in the work place, before resuming the final year of her degree course in 2014. A recent review of her numerous un-successful applications helped address where things were perhaps going wrong.  I hope sharing these may help others in a similar position.

Applications should demonstrate time has been spent researching the company and a keen interest in what they do. They should be addressed personally to the relevant individual, be clear, to the point, spelt and formatted accurately. Beware ‘copy and paste.’ An application letter with CV will give a better impression than an email unless the latter is requested.

Within the letter, emphasise a reliable, committed approach to working hard and that you are willing to make a contribution via mundane tasks such as filing, photo-coping, making tea or data entry, in exchange for the opportunity to learn and utilise new skills. Spending time in the work-place builds valuable experience and transferable skills no matter what tasks are undertaken on a daily basis. Work will not always be exciting and getting used to the varied demands of 9 to 5 will be beneficial later. Prove yourself indispensable by being very good at basic tasks, which support the effectiveness of the company as a whole and this will undoubtedly lead to other opportunities.

When invited for interview, turning up on time and dressed appropriately for the workplace will give a good impression. A portfolio showing examples of relevant project work or references from previous employers which demonstrate reliability and a hard working attitude will support your application. Appear enthusiastic, interested, well-informed and keen to learn. 

For more information about our services to advise and support youngsters with planning and applying for work experience and applying to university through UCAS please give us a call 01865 522066 or visit our website www.independenteducationconsultants.co.uk

A Level results not gone your way...pick up the phone and sell yourself!

With A level results out next week, many parents and teenagers are anxiously awaiting confirmation from #UCAS of a #university place in the autumn. Signs are good with reports of more places available this year, so don’t be put off if the grades received this week have slipped slightly.

In this event, the single most important piece of advice is to act swiftly and pick up the phone. It is second nature for a parent to want to put things right for their offspring, but in this instance, stand back and let your teenager make the calls.

Universities with places to fill will be looking for motivated, enthusiastic students who demonstrate an ability to live and study away from home. An anxious parent is not who they want to hear from, rather a keen teenager who can show they are not put off by a bit of grade slippage and can express why they still really want to study that course at their university. 

A bit of preparation and practice in advance of results day will help.

• Gather all the paperwork and course prospectuses together now and have admissions contact numbers ready.
• Re-read the course structure and modular content, to appear enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the parts of the course that appeal to you.
• Consider why you chose that university in particular and what you have to offer by way of getting involved within the university community. Sport, The Arts, volunteering, work experience abroad-university is all about new experiences and broadening your horizons.
• Texting, social media and email mean today’s teenagers don’t often talk in a 'business-like' way on the phone, so doing a few mock conversations with tips on how to appear confident, concise and credible will help.
  
• Store 01865 522066 on speed dial and our team of experts will be on hand to offer advice and support.

If your A Level results are not as expected and you need some advice and support with UCAS and Clearing, call us on 01865 522066. Our team of experienced, expert consultants are here to help.

http://independenteducationconsultants.co.uk/applying-to-uk-university/