Involving your child

For most parents, they will be approaching the process of choosing a school from the angle of needing to shortlist. But where to begin? You may have heard things from friends about particular schools. Indeed, your child may also have strong views about a future school, especially when it comes to the transition to senior as they may have friends planning on going to a particular school. At a young age, parents are very much having to make a decision in their child's best interests but as they get older, this responsibility shifts; it is therefore unwise not to listen very carefully to your child's views and opinions. The consequences of sending a child to a school they don't wish to attend goes far beyond not succeeding academically. Indeed, your child will often know whether or not it is the right place for her or him by instinct.

We have already established the obvious mantra that happy children succeed so it is counter- productive for parents to pursue an ambition to send a child to a...