Choosing the Right Primary School: Quick tips
When Should You Start Looking at Primary Schools?
If you think you’ve got loads of time before your little one starts school, think again. Deadlines creep up faster than your child when you’ve tried to sneak a biscuit in the kitchen.
You could leave it all to the last minute and pray it works out. Or, you could start a little earlier, save yourself the panic, and actually feel like you’ve got this parenting admin thing under control.
The Quick Timeline
12–15 months before (Sept–Nov the year before):
You could start checking Ofsted reports now — if you care whether your child goes to a failing school or one that’s flying. (With the new 2025 Ofsted “report cards,” you’ll have to read more than just the headline. More on that below.) You might also want to book a few Reception open days before the keen beans nab all the slots.
12-18 months before (Oct–Jan):
This is the time to start visiting schools. Some schools start as early as October and may only have one open-day opportunity! Start asking the questions no one puts on the glossy brochure, and jotting down notes before every hall with tiny chairs begins to look the same. Think ahead: will this school run actually work twice a day for the next seven years? Is there wraparound care? And do the teachers still have a pulse by Friday afternoon?
By mid-January (application deadline):
You could fill out the form on time (usually 15 January). Or you could leave it, miss the deadline, and find your options have shrunk faster than your favourite jumper on a 90-degree wash. If you think “I’m safe, I already attend the school’s nursery” then think again my friend. Nurseries play no part in the admissions process into Reception. You must still apply using the Local Authority portals.
April (National Offer Day):
You’ll either raise a glass, or frantically Google “fastest bus routes to a school I’ve never heard of.”
Download “Picking the Right Primary School (UK Edition)” for guidance on the application process.
Why Bother Starting Research Early?
Because this isn’t just a form to tick. You’re signing up for seven years of drop-offs, pick-ups, class WhatsApp chaos, and school gates small talk. If you’d rather not be the frantic parent winging it, you could plan ahead and actually picture where your child will thrive — not just survive.
The Ofsted Bit (Should You Care?)
You could ignore Ofsted completely. Or, you could look at the new 2025 system that ditches the old “Outstanding/Good/Requires Improvement/Inadequate” one-word grades.
Now schools get a report card across areas like curriculum, teaching, behaviour, attendance, inclusion, and wellbeing. They’re ranked from Exemplary down to Causing Concern. Safeguarding still gets a straight “Met” or “Not Met.”
How do you read it?
You could just skim the headline.
Or you could dig into the narrative, because that’s where the school’s real story is.
If safeguarding says Not Met — that’s your deal-breaker. Full stop.
For more details on research and Ofsted, download the Picking the Right Primary School (UK Edition) guide.
Aren’t All Reception Classes the Same?
You could think so. After all, every school does phonics, PE (physical education), and some form of maths. But the way they do it can be night-and-day different.
I’ve been in over 30 schools across London — from sleek academies with rooftop gardens to one-form-entry schools that run on pure heart. Trust me, what’s written on paper doesn’t always match what’s happening in the classroom.
If your child is easy-going and adapts anywhere, maybe you don’t need to sweat it. But if your child is sensitive, spirited, or negotiates bedtime like a hostage deal, the school environment is going to matter. A lot.
You could just pick the nearest school. Or, you could do your homework now and save seven years of “this isn’t quite working.”
What You Could Actually Look For
Here’s where the differences really show:
Ethos & values – You could ask whether the school champions curiosity and play, or runs on discipline and silent corridors.
Behaviour approach – You could check if it’s stickers and charts, or actual restorative conversations.
Teacher stability – You could find out if your child’s teacher will actually be there every day, or constantly whisked off to meetings.
Curriculum priorities – You could look beyond phonics and maths to see if creativity, outdoor play, or social skills are valued.
This isn’t over the top — this is the stuff that could make or break your child’s day-to-day happiness.
Your Secret Weapon for Open Days
Open day prep
Before you go, during the visit and after a visit…What are you looking for?
Most parents don’t know what to ask — not because they don’t care, but because no one’s told them what really matters. That’s where my guide comes in.
It’s full of the questions that cut through the glossy brochure chat and reveal how a school actually works. Take it with you, and you’ll look like the parent who’s two steps ahead. The headteacher will secretly rate you, and you’ll walk away with real answers, not just free biscuits.
Download here: ‘Picking the Right Primary School (UK Edition)’ — and make those open days count.
Our complete guide also walks you through how to fill in all six school-choice boxes, plus exactly what to do if you don’t get your preferred school. No guessing, no panic — just practical, parent-tested advice to make the whole process less stressfull.
