Warminster Schools - what's on offer?

How do Warminster parents choose a school and how do they know if

they have made the right choice?

A good start is to go to the Schools Performance information on this website by going to the Latest Buzz section - see above -  and clicking on Schools . On the right hand side of the screen each school is listed with information about achievements in national curriculum tests.

What follows suggests ways the choice may be made, gives details of the application system and lists  options available.  It gives no information about any school's individual strengths or weaknesses - comments welcome! 

The selection process

After looking at the performance tables At the very start the following may count:

• which is most convenient

  geographically?

• where friends are sending their children?
• which has the most impressive website?
• or the most impressive Ofsted report?

 All these factors

have influence before actually seeing the school. Then come questions raised

by:

•   staff personalities
•    facilities and resources on

  offer

•    the school site and accommodation  

Making the application

Parents

can apply for any school in the area and last year 94 percent of children

applying for a reception place and 88% of applicants for a secondary school

were offered their first preference.

Wiltshire Council website has a large amount of information

about the 236 schools it lists within its area,  including a 23 page download about choosing a primary

school.   Although it says “finding a place for 2010/11”, the next page asks for

applications to be in by November 2009, which does not exactly build confidence

in the system.

The booklet has a calendar of dates for terms  in 2010 and 2011 and a map showing location

but no directory,  although that is billed on the front. 

Applications on Line

The Council are inviting applications for places in 2011.  “Wiltshire parents are being encouraged to

apply for the school they would like their children to attend in September

2011."  Education officer, Bryan Cash said: “Last year more than 54% of

applications were received online, a figure which increases every year. The

council will receive applications for reception year at primary and infant

schools, year three at junior schools and year seven at secondary schools.The online application form 

www.wiltshire.gov.uk, will be available from September 1. 

“Whatever method is used, it is important application forms

reach us in time. Those submitted by the deadline stand the best chance of

getting a place at their preferred school.”

For people who do not have access to the internet, paper

application forms will be available from all Wiltshire schools at the beginning

of term and County Hall direct from Monday, September 13. Anyone wanting a

paper copy should call 01225 713010 after that date.

The closing times for applications are noon on October 31

for secondary schools, and noon on January 15 for primary schools. These are

national dates.

All applications received by the appropriate deadline are

considered together and ranked using the oversubscription criteria for each

school. Details of the process will be on the revised web site which goes live

on 1 September. 

Primary Schools

With seven primary Schools in Warminster there is a good

choice. The advice must be

to go and visit with your child to see what your reaction is. The schools which take children between the ages of 4 and 11 are:

The Avenue School at the back of the Central Car Park also includes a Children's Centre and Sure Start.

New Close Community School, between Woodcock Road and Imber Road.

St Johns C of E Primary School, Boreham Road.

The Minster School, Emwell Street.

Sambourne Primary School, Sambourne Road.

St George's Catholic Primary School, Woodcock Road.

Princecroft School, Princecroft Lane.

Secondary Schools

When it comes to Secondary level the choice in Warminster is restricted to Kingdown Community

School, which serves the outlying villages as well as the town. 

There is also St Augustine’s Catholic College in

Trowbridge.

 

Indpendent Schools

Warminster also has an option in the independent sector.  Warminster School, which occupies historic buildings in Church Street and Vicarage Street, takes girls and boys, has a pre-prep, prep school and senior school, through to a sixth form where some pupils study for the International Baccalaureate.

The above may list the schools available and suggest how to make a choice.  Can anybody answer the question of how they know if their choice was the right one?