How to choose the right secondary school for your child’s personality, needs, interests
WHAT makes a good secondary school? Picking one can be a minefield for parents so here’s what you need to know to choose the right secondary school for your child.
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THERE is no one-size fits-all approach when it comes to choosing a secondary school.
Every child is different, which means selecting a school is more about finding the right fit for their personality, strengths, interests and needs than choosing based on blanket success metrics.
How, then, do you define a ‘good’ school? Is it an overall VCE ranking? ATAR scores? A prestige reputation? Campus facilities? Money?
While performance is important, Independent Schools Victoria chief executive Michelle Green says it’s not the only measure of a school’s worth, with exam results and study scores not always telling the whole story.
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“There are some 220 Independent schools in Victoria, educating about 145,000 students,” she says.
“Just as students are all unique, there is no such thing as a ‘typical’ Independent school — each has distinct characteristics that make up their ‘personality’, influenced by principals and school leaders.
“Some are single-sex, some are co-ed. Some have a strong ‘traditional’ academic focus; others describe themselves as ‘alternative’. Some have detailed uniform policies; others don’t require a uniform at all … This diversity acknowledges that children are unique and different individuals, with varying strengths and interests.”
It makes sense, then, that each child’s education needs will be unique, too.
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A SCHOOL
FIRST THINGS FIRST
In deciding if a school is right for their child, Ms Green says parents need to first ask themselves — and their child — some questions.
What are they interested in? What are they good at? Do they have clear aptitudes and strengths in particular areas? What are their aspirations? Do you have a family connection to a particular school? Where are your child’s friends going — and is it important for them to maintain those social connections? Do they offer scholarships? Are you in the catchment zone for your preferred local secondary school?
“Parents can then start looking for a school that matches their child’s needs and personality,” she says. This should take into consideration all aspects of their development — social, emotional, physical and cognitive.
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DO YOUR RESEARCH
With so many options out there, where do you even start?
If you have particular non-negotiables or requirements, such as special education or boarding options or a preference for private schooling, this will reduce the pool of eligible providers.
If not, one of the best things to determine early on is how far you’re prepared — or able — to travel, which sector, denomination or teaching philosophy is most appropriate for your child (i.e. public, private, independent, Catholic, Steiner, International Baccalaureate), and what your financial capabilities are.
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Once you’ve got an initial checklist, take into account if your child has particular academic strengths, could benefit from a strong arts, science or sporting program, or even if they have heart set on studying a specific niche subject, such as agriculture or algorithmics, as this will further narrow your choices.
CREATE A SHORTLIST
The My School website, where basic statistical information about all schools is published, can also be a helpful starting point.
The website allows parents to search by school sector, type and location and provides basic insights around total enrolments, gender distribution, number of teaching staff, NAPLAN performance and finances, as well as more detailed information on how many students completed VCE and the percentages of those who went on to university, TAFE or other employment.
You can also look through the statistics for previous years to gain a better understanding of how the school’s profile has changed.
It is also a helpful tool in making initial comparisons between schools based on size, number of students, performance and VCE outcomes.
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Once you’ve identified a list of schools that meet your requirements, it’s time to start looking into what they actually offer and how that fits with your child’s needs.
“School websites are an obvious starting point,” Ms Green says.
“These will outline the values of the school, its philosophy and approach to education. They are also likely to highlight areas in which schools have a particular focus, as well as have practical information, like enrolment processes.”
GO TO OPEN DAYS
After narrowing your search, the next step is to start attending open days, which is one of the best ways for parents (and prospective students) to get a feel for the school.
“Gauging the ‘feel’ of the school involves less tangible factors,” Ms Green says.
“What’s the atmosphere like? Can you see your child fitting in and thriving in the environment? And what is the impression your son and daughter gains from the visit?
“These are personal experiences that can give you an insight into how the school matches your expectations and your child’s personality.”
Attending open days is also an opportunity to ask questions — of both teachers and students.
“Ask teachers and students what they like about the school, and what the school’s strengths are. If students are acting as an open day guide, you might ask them if there’s anything they don’t like about the school. Watch how they interact with staff, and vice versa,” Ms Green advises.
“If your child has a strong interest in a particular area — arts or science or sport, for example, ask about the school’s programs in those areas.”
SELECTIVE ENTRY HIGH SCHOOLS
If your child is an academic high-achiever, they might benefit from the enriched learning environment of a selective entry school.
There are only four of the selective schools in Victoria; Melbourne High School (boys only) in South Yarra, The MacRobertson Girls’ High School in Melbourne, Nossal High School in Berwick and Suzanne Cory High School in Werribee.
Entry to these schools is highly sought after and, given there are only limited places available, the admissions process is very a competitive and a demanding one.
Eligible students are required to sit an entrance exam, which is comprised of six tests in total (you can find practice tests, as well as other exam preparation tips and information at education.vic.gov.au), assessing both ability and achievement. Applications open mid-February and close early May.
SPECIALIST SCHOOLS
As well as selective entry schools for academic high-achievers, Victoria also has a number of specialist schools that cater to students whose strengths — or passions — fall outside of academia.
Victorian College of the Arts, which admits on the basis of folio and/or interview, is one of the most established special interest schools, dedicated to music and fine art.
At Monash University’s Clayton campus, you’ll find John Monash Science School, the first specialist secondary school in Victoria focused on science, mathematics and technology.
Various other schools run standard curriculums but offer special programs to develop certain talents, such as Maribyrnong College, Rowville Secondary College and Box Hill Senior Secondary College, each of which has their own dedicated sports academy. The Victorian School of Performing Arts (located at St Margaret’s School, Berwick) and Williamstown High each have strong programs for budding performers.
Note: The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) does not publish or make available the proportion of high achievers in particular studies in individual schools because this can easily lead to unfair comparisons. This is because not all schools offer all studies and so performance in different studies can be impacted as much by the general ability of students in that study as by the additional value generated by the teachers in a particular school.
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