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School look and feel

The school look and feel. That intangible something that makes the school unique. People contribute to it; the head, staff, pupils and parents. As do the buildings and grounds.

So, who or what gives the school it's buzz, its atmosphere, its "special sauce"?

Good behaviour and school discipline

Schoolsmith · Published: Jan 24, 2019 · Updated: Apr 10, 2019

Image of an ornate door lock for the School discipline post

Mutual respect is the new school discipline. What do you think of when you think of school discipline? A mortar board wearing male teacher flexing a cane? And then, when you think of bad school discipline? A 1970s classroom of feral behaviour and a hapless teacher struggling to be heard? Old imagery, but the stereotypes […]

What you can tell about a school from its teachers

Schoolsmith · Published: Sep 25, 2017 · Updated: Apr 10, 2019

Image of a shabby room for the Meeting the Teachers post

If your child engages with one of the teachers, it’s a good sign. It’s the “meet the teachers” event in the main hall at the school where you’d like your daughter to go. You’ve read lots of school brochures and websites. So you know how important teachers are for “not the filling of a pail, […]

The strange lure of the school’s notable alumni

Schoolsmith · Published: Jun 28, 2017 · Updated: Apr 10, 2019

Image of a mossy stone wall for the How to be one of the notable alumni post

Notable alumni are not typical alumni. It’s the other 99.9% that reveal what the school is truly about. Browsing a school website you’ve probably come across a notable alumni page. It’s a list of people who attended the school at some time in the past and have achieved some kind of notoriety. The longer the […]

Is an attractive school really a better school?

Schoolsmith · Published: Jun 8, 2017 · Updated: Apr 10, 2019

Image of an ivy clad building for the Is an Attractive school a better school? post

An attractive school can offer a better, similar or worse education. Our heads tell us that. Our hearts, on the other hand… It can happen. Two, three, four years into your child’s school career. Someone asks you why you chose the school. You pause, reflect, struggle for the right words, but all you can offer […]

What school pupils tell you about a school

Schoolsmith · Published: Jun 6, 2017 · Updated: Apr 10, 2019

Image of a satchel for the What pupils tell you about a school post

You can tell a lot about the culture of schools by observing the behaviour of school pupils. Polite, presentable pupils promote positive impressions to prospective parents. Why the clumsy marketing catchphrase? Every marketer knows that there are four Ps to manage when marketing any product; price, place, promotion, product. For schools, the pupil is the […]

How important are Headteachers when choosing a school?

Schoolsmith · Published: Apr 27, 2017 · Updated: Apr 10, 2019

Image of suit material at a tailors for the How important are headteachers in choosing a school? post

When schools are undifferentiated parents rely on their impressions of the headteachers. It’s the School Open Day. You arrive and take in the wonderful show of pupils, teachers, deputy headteachers doing interesting stuff in state-of-the-art surroundings. Your child is fascinated by the pyrotechnics, bangs and smells coming from the Chemistry lab. But you are ill […]

What does a Headteacher do to help your child?

Schoolsmith · Published: Mar 16, 2017 · Updated: Apr 10, 2019

Image of brown brogues for the What does a Headteacher do? post

Here are five important roles that a headteacher fulfils. Yours may be stronger at some than others. Let’s get one common misconception out of the way. You don’t actually have to like the headteacher. Whether or not the headteacher is charming or a “good laugh”, can unduly influence some parents’ decisions. Just as you don’t […]

The Parents’ Association

Schoolsmith · Published: Jan 5, 2017 · Updated: Apr 10, 2019

Image of a wooden frame for the The Parents' Association post

Schools need good Parents’ Associations. They don’t need bad ones. It’s a first day quandary. Should I embrace the Parents’ Association or run a mile? Responses usually fall on gender lines. Women will wrestle with guilt and a sense of civic duty. Whereas men are off before you can say “would you like to help […]

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