How do I decide which school would best suit the needs of my child?

All schools in the Borough try to achieve the highest standards possible and are continuously improving.

Every school produces a prospectus giving information about the school, including the subjects on offer, extra-curricular activities, class sizes, arrangements for school meals and the school uniform. You can see if a school has a prospectus by clicking here www.stockton.gov.uk/schooladmissions and clicking School Finder.

The prospectus also includes details of policies the school has on behaviour, discipline, avoiding bullying, and special educational needs. School prospectuses are a valuable source of information and you can get them direct from the school.

Every Secondary School has an open evening which is usually held during the Autumn Term. Visiting the schools you are interested in will give you first-hand experience of the facilities and teaching staff and will allow you to ask any questions you may have.

You can get more information, such as performance tables published by the Department for Education and Skills, from local libraries or by looking at the following link www.stockton.gov.uk/citizenservices/learning/schooladmissions/SchoolsandLearningProviders/ofstedreports/ . You should use this information carefully as it can be misleading if you are not aware of all the factors which can influence results. You should only use performance tables as part of the overall decision about the school you feel is most suitable for your child. The DFES website is www.dfes.gov.uk

Choice Adviser

If you would like some help with any information about which school to choose, you can get help from the Choice Adviser by ringing 01642 526603 or email choiceadvice@stockton.gov.uk Or go to www.stockton.gov.uk/citizenservices/learning/schooladmissionshome/choiceadvisor/