Blog

New UCAS Personal Statement: A Parent's Guide (2027 Entry)
06 October 2026
      From 2026 entry onwards, the UCAS personal statement is no longer one long essay. Students now answer three separate questions, with a 4,000-character limit across all three and a minimum of 350 characters each. Admissions staff still read the answers together as a single...
How to Prepare for A-Levels: A Complete Guide to Subjects, Revision and Getting Ahead
18 August 2026
  Preparing for A-levels well comes down to four things: choosing the right subjects, keeping the number manageable so you can go deep rather than wide, building good revision habits from the start of Year 12, and testing yourself actively rather than passively re-reading notes. Get those...
After-School Childcare Explained: Nanny, Childminder or Club and What It Costs
19 July 2026
  After-school childcare in the UK falls into three main categories: after-school nannies, who collect children from school and provide one-to-one care at home; childminders, who are Ofsted-registered and look after several children in their own home; and after-school clubs, which offer...
Moving City with Children: School or House First?
01 June 2026
When my family was weighing up a big move, I did what most parents do. I looked at the area first. Checked the commute, walked the high street, scrolled through Rightmove at 11pm. Schools were on the list, but they were not at the top of it. I have spent thirteen years running School Guide...
The Expert Guide to Primary School Admissions
15 April 2026
5 Steps to Primary School Admissions Success  Finding out when your child starts school is a milestone moment. But once the date is in the diary, the 'Application Anxiety' usually kicks in. With over 600,000 children starting primary school in the UK each year, the competition for places...
12 Educational Family Days Out in London
30 March 2026
How to Have an Educational Family Day Out in London (Without Anyone Feeling Like They’re Back at School)   Let’s be honest. You can count the number of older kids and teens who get excited by the phrase “an educational day out” on the fingers of a mitten. Basically, it sounds suspiciously...
Secondary School Catchment Areas
25 March 2026
  The move from primary to secondary school is one of the most significant transitions in a child’s education. For many families it is also one of the most stressful, largely because secondary school catchment areas are bigger, the competition is fiercer, and the differences between schools...
Primary School Catchment Areas
25 March 2026
Choosing a primary school is one of the first big decisions you will make for your child. With over 16,000 primary schools across the UK, understanding how catchment areas work at primary level can make the difference between securing a place at your preferred school and facing an unexpected...
How old are you in each school year? UK year group ages explained
18 March 2026
Children in England start Reception at age 4 and move through to Year 13 at age 17 to 18. Here is every year group, the typical age range, and the key stage it falls under. The school year runs from 1 September to 31 August. Children are placed in year groups based on their date of birth,...
How to ask your MP to raise the social media age to 16 
14 January 2026
  The discussion in the UK about raising the minimum age for social media access to 16 has heated up this week despite freezing January temperatures across the country.  The Conservative party announced they will implement the ban if they win the next general election. The idea would follow...
How parents can prepare children for AI in schools. Insights from AI expert Andrej Karpathy
28 November 2025
At School Guide, we help parents stay ahead of the changes shaping their children’s education. Few people understand those changes better than Andrej Karpathy; a leading figure in artificial intelligence and one of the clearest voices on what AI means for schools and learning.   Who is...
GCSE results day 2026: grade boundaries & post-16 advice | School Guide
21 August 2025
It’s ‘big brown envelope day’ for hundreds of thousands of students across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Whether you are celebrating top marks or looking at Plan B, here is everything parents and students need to know about GCSE results 2026. GCSE Results Day 2026 falls on Thursday...
A-Level Results Day 2026: 5 Essential Tips for Parents | School Guide
13 August 2025
A level results day is on Thursday 13 August 2026 in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. It’s estimated that 250,000 students will collect their grades.   A-Level results day 2026: four things parents need to know   1. When is A levels results day 2026? Thursday 13 August 2026 is...
How to choose an online school
21 February 2025
• Online school vs traditional school  • What to look for when choosing an online school • 10 questions to ask when choosing an online school      What is online school?  Many people associate the rise of online schools with the COVID-19 pandemic, but the concept of the "virtual...
Why are Google Reviews for Schools Blocked? (And How to Review Instead)
24 January 2025
  If you’ve tried to leave a review for your child's school recently or as a school governor you've wondered why your Google star rating has 'frozen', you aren't alone. Google has quietly disabled new reviews for all schools – here is why, and where you can still make your voice heard. For...
The ultimate guide to GCSE revision for parents
10 December 2024
School Guide Founder Victoria Bond has more than a decade of experience interviewing revision experts, head teachers and examiners. Here she shares her tips for parents who want to help their teens ace GCSEs   Updated July 2026 Every year as the GCSE exam season approaches, parents across...
First UK school to offer lessons in Bitcoin
29 October 2024
  The teacher who introduced the first course in cryptocurrency explains its wide reaching benefits for pupils and why more schools should offer lessons in Bitcoin    Why did I never learn about money at school? We spend so much of our adult life working for money, thinking about how we...
One-word Ofsted school ratings scrapped
03 September 2024
The government has announced that one-word Ofsted inspection ratings of state schools will no longer be published in new reports from September 2024.  The one-word judgements – outstanding, good, requiring improvement or inadequate – will not be added to new reports. This means parents will...
General Election 2024: what are the main parties promising on education?
13 June 2024
Now all the main parties in England have published their manifestos, here’s our summary for parents of their main policies on education and schools Education is going to be an important issue in the election campaign. Voters, particularly those who are parents, are concerned about the state of...
How to spot and find help if you think your child has a learning difficulty
28 March 2024
  Navigating your child through the peaks and troughs of school life can be hard enough. Notice they don’t quite seem to be keeping up with classmates, and it can add an extra layer of worry.   How do you know when and how to seek help for SEN?  While it might be the first time...
How many unauthorised absences are allowed before a fine is given?
27 March 2024
Last updated: June 2026 A fine must be considered when a child misses 10 sessions — equivalent to 5 days — of school without authorisation within a rolling 10-week period. Since August 2024, the fine is £80 per parent per child if paid within 21 days, rising to £160 if not paid within 28...
How to Win an Oversubscribed School Appeal: 2026/27 Parent’s Guide
29 February 2024
  Help for Parents in this Guide: Things to do before you appeal Grounds for a successful appeal How to write a persuasive appeal letter What happens at a school appeal hearing? Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)   Missing out on the first...
A parents' guide to choosing a progressive school
02 February 2024
  We explore the high achieving alternative schools around the UK that offer a forward-thinking approach to how children learn and are tested including: • Fewer exams  • More time outside  • Later start times • Progressive curriculum  Here at School Guide we’re all about finding the...
How to write an outstanding uni personal statement
11 December 2023
  Top uni personal statement expert shares her tips to make your 4,000 characters open doors to offers Elizabeth Burrows has got a superpower: she has an unbeaten track record of helping students secure offers from their first choice university by unlocking the potential of their personal...
Private schools for autism
11 December 2023
Last updated: July 2026 Private schools for autism provide specialist education for children with an autism spectrum diagnosis, offering smaller class sizes, trained staff, sensory-friendly environments and a curriculum adapted to individual learning needs. In the UK, there are more than...
Best private schools in London
28 November 2023
Choosing a school for your child can seem like one of the biggest decisions parents have to make. School Guide's league tables can help you find the right school for your child. We’ve analysed all the government and Ofsted data, recent school performance and parents’ views of the school to give a...
GCSEs 2024: additional support materials for maths and science
17 November 2023
  Students sitting GCSE maths, physics and combined science will be given formulae and equation sheets for "one more year" for the summer 2024 exams to help compensate for two years of disruption during their secondary school learning due to the pandemic. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan...
VAT on school fees: everything parents need to know
14 November 2023
  There are around 2,500 private schools that educate around 6% (560,000) of pupils in England. These range from large well known public schools to smaller and less financially secure schools including specialist schools and faith schools.  The Labour Party believe that private school fees...
What types of faith schools are there?
19 October 2023
Around a third of state funded schools and a significant number of private schools are faith schools. These schools offer an education and school ethos based on one particular religion. Church of England and Catholic Schools are the most common but there are also other Christian schools and...
When do I find out which school my child has got into in 2024? 
27 September 2023
Applying for a school for your child at both primary and secondary stages can be a complicated and nerve wracking process. Parents and carers can have lots of questions about how everything works. When does the application need to be made? How are school places allocated? When will we hear which...
A level grade boundaries 2023 for AQA, OCR and Edexcel
17 August 2023
A-Level results were released in England at 8am on 17 August 2023. It was widely expected that there would be up to 100,000 less top grades at A and A* The grades each teenager gets is determined by the grade boundaries, which change each year. A grade boundary is the minimum mark you would...
A parent’s guide to finding the perfect tutor
10 July 2023
  Updated July 2026 Finding the right tutor for your child starts with being clear about what you need, whether that's exam preparation, catching up on missed work, building confidence, or specialist GCSE and A-Level support. This guide covers everything parents need to know, from what...
Why schools need stricter mobile phone regulations 
10 July 2023
  We’ve had the tigers, helicopters and snowploughs; now there’s a new breed of parents at the school gates and they are quietly growing in numbers. So-called holdout parents are closing ranks to wait until after primary school to give their child access to a smartphone. Data collected by...
Mastering the 11+ exam: how to prepare your child for success
28 June 2023
Competition for places in grammar schools and academically selective independent schools is extremely high. There are typically around 100,000 applications for just 20,000 grammar school places. Similarly, the competition for places in independent schools can be intense, particularly in...
What changes have Ofsted made to inspections?
15 June 2023
  Ofsted have introduced several important changes to their inspections process following a campaign by Professor Julia Waters whose sister, headteacher Ruth Perry, took her own life after her school was downgraded following an Ofsted inspection. Inspectors will now return more quickly to...
Understanding how your child's brain works - so you can help them do better in school
24 May 2023
Can you help train your child’s brain so they do better in school? Yes, according to new work in neuroscience which says that intelligence is not fixed or determined from birth As parents, it’s important to understand how children's brains develop so that we can provide the best possible...
What would a five term school year look like? 
28 April 2023
Post Covid, plans for pupils to catch up on lost learning regularly included proposals for a five term school year. The government saw it as a simple but effective way to give pupils more time back in the classroom and parents more time back at work without the stress of navigating erractically...
How to choose the right school for your child in the UK
20 April 2023
Selecting the right school for your child is a critical decision that can have a significant impact on their future. The UK has a vast range of schools that cater to diverse needs and preferences, from state-funded schools to private institutions. This article aims to guide you through the...
Can I get a school uniform grant? 
17 March 2023
Parents spend an average of £315 per year for primary school uniform per child and £337 for secondary, according to a recent report by The Children’s Society. This is three times more than most parents think school uniform should cost. The recent cost of living crisis has made things even harder...
Will schools ban ChatGPT?
12 March 2023
Across the land, teachers are huddling over essays in school staff rooms trying to figure out who – or what – has written the homework. Was it completed by a bot or not?  ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence language model that can generate human-like text in real time, only launched in...
UK School Year 2026/27: Term Dates, Holidays & Exam FAQs | School Guide
12 March 2023
  How many terms in a school year? In England and Wales most schools have 3 main terms which are split again into half terms. Autumn Term runs from September to just before Christmas. Spring Term runs from January until late March / early April depending on the date of Easter. Summer Term...
Can my child go to school if I have Covid? And other post pandemic Coronavirus questions for parents
05 March 2023
The guidelines on managing Covid in schools have changed a lot over the last few years and it can be hard for parents to keep up. To try to help, we’ve put together the latest information on some frequently asked questions.  Are there still any Covid rules schools have to follow?  There are...
What is my catchment school?
13 February 2023
Last updated: June 2026 Your catchment school is the state school closest to your home address. It is usually the school you are most likely to be offered a place at, but living in the catchment area does not guarantee a place. Use School Guide's catchment checker to find yours...
Changes to Personal Statements confirmed by UCAS
07 February 2023
  Summer 2024 Update UCAS has confirmed for 2026 undergraduate courses, they will scrap the current personal statement format and will instead ask: • Why do you want to study this course or subject? • How have your qualifications and studies helped you preapre for this course or...
Teacher strikes: everything parents need to know
31 January 2023
When are the teacher strikes and which schools will close?  Why are teacher strikes happening? Will every school be affected? Will there be online school? Is it compulsory for your child to do online lessons on teacher strike days?   Following the failure of talks between the...
2026 Primary School data explained for parents
26 January 2023
School Guide is here to help parents navigate the world of official school statistics. We've done all the homeowork and put together this straightforward jargon buster to help parents understand key school statistics and choose the best school for their child with confidence and...
2026 Secondary School data explained for parents
26 January 2023
  In recent years, even school leaders have labelled the performance tables published the government "baffling". The Department for Education has chosen to drop many 'old school' statistics from their headline measures (e.g. the percentage of pupils achieving 5 or more good GCSEs at each...
When are primary SATs in 2024? New dates and key information for parents
28 November 2022
Here are the dates and all the information you need on Key Stage 1 and 2 SATs this year.    Key Stage 1 SATs – what do they test and when?  The SATs tests are not longer statutory so it is up to individual schools to decide it they want their pupils to take them. The phonics tests are...
Location is number 1 factor for choosing a school
25 October 2022
  Location is the most important factor or parents when choosing a school our survey of 1000 parents of school-age children has revealed. 74% of secondary school parents and 71% of primary school parents said they would opt for their nearest school or the school that is most convenient to...
Changes to A levels and GCSEs in 2023: confirmed
03 October 2022
The government and Ofqual have now set out how GCSEs and A levels will run next summer. The Department for Education and Ofqual, the exams regulator, have confirmed that GCSE, AS, A level and VTQ exams and formal assessments in England will return to “near normal” in 2023 as the country...
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – 1926-2022
18 September 2022
School Guide joins the nation in remembering Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Queen Elizabeth is the longest service British monarch in history, and our thoughts and condolences are with her family and all those who loved her. Much has been written about Queen Elizabeth in the last...
How to help your child get good A level grades
24 August 2022
  Helping your child do well at A-levels starts well before exam season. Unlike GCSEs, where a focused final push can still deliver good grades, A-levels reward consistent effort over two years. The volume and depth of content means gaps compound quickly, and students who build strong habits...
Best holidays with teenagers | Mark Warner Paleros Beach Resort
10 August 2022
Mark Warner's Indy Club (14- to 17-years) ticks all the teen holiday boxes Mark Warner's award winning childcare is not just for babies and younger children All-inclusive activities for teens include sailing, windsurfing, sea frisbee and evening socials  The Indy Club boosts teen...
Alternatives to school: home education and online learning in the UK
01 July 2022
Naomi Fisher is a leading clinical psychologist who decided school wasn’t the best place for her children to learn. What, she says, if we started to think of alternative learning options like educating at home or online as stepping IN to something positive with our children rather than dropping...
Single sex vs co-ed Schools
24 June 2022
Which benefits pupils more – single or co-ed schools?  If there’s one debate in education that can knock the state vs private debate off its educational perch, it’s the pros and cons of single sex schools. Do all-boys schools breed hyper masculine behaviour? Are all-girls schools really the...
The Real School Guide 2026
01 June 2022
Official data for 2026 including the latest Ofsted ratings is provided for parents by School Guide, the UK's number one school information site for parents   We show the latest pre-pandemic academic results for 30,000 schools in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and have added...
Top ten questions to ask a school when you visit
01 June 2022
Whether you’re starting, moving up or relocating to a new school, finding the right fit for your child can feel daunting. To take some of the stress out of a school visit, we’ve come up with our School Guide's Top Ten Questions to help you navigate your way through the decision-making process for...
Private vs state school? Hidden costs explained
23 May 2022
Choosing whether to go the private or state education route? Termly fees are the core cost of sending a child to private school but it’s also worth factoring into your decision making the supplementary and sometimes hidden costs. Even in the state sector, with the rising cost of food and fuel,...
How much does private school cost?
23 May 2022
Weighing up state vs private schooling can be a minefield. Not only are there the financial implications, but there’s the logistics of the school run, SEND provision, academic data and pastoral support to consider. All this whilst identifying the school that best fits your child's indvidual...
Ofsted ratings and inspections for schools explained
18 May 2022
Choosing one school over another is often one of the most important decisions parents face. Side stepping the usual dilemmas over catchment areas, faith, state or private schools, feeder pre-schools and friendship groups, a school’s Ofsted rating offers way to compare state...
When will exams go online? Plans for on-screen A levels and GCSEs by 2025
06 May 2022
– Online testing for GCSE and A levels could be rolled by 2025 – Ofqual said the pandemic had made on-screen exams a matter of 'not if, but when' – Exams regulator said it would also explore adaptive testing   It was announced this week that Ofqual, the exams regulator, will actively...
Exams 2022: What happens if a pupils misses an exam due to Covid?
26 April 2022
Everything you need to know if a pupil has to miss a GCSE or A level due to Covid  The Joint Council of Qualifications (JCQ) and the Department for Education have issued guidance on protocol for students who miss key exams. After two years of cancelled GCSE and A levels, exams will be going...
Primary School Offer Day 2022: What to do if your child didn't get their first choice school
19 April 2022
National Offer Day 2022 in England and Wales is Tuesday April 19. Offer emails will be sent by your local education authority. Offers are usually sent out on April 16, but it is different this year because it comes after the long Easter bank holiday weekend. April 19 is the next working...
What are the new 'living with Covid' rules for schools?
01 April 2022
The Government has issued new advice for school pupils as free Covid testing scrapped and isolation period reduced Children who test positive for Covid-19 are being advised to self-isolate for just three days rather than five under new guidance for 'living with Covid' from today. The new...
2026 School Guide Certificate of Excellence Awards
01 April 2022
The best performing schools in England can now claim their School Guide 2026 Certificate of Excellence. Schools awarded 5-stars or 4-stars by School Guide can download their new Certificate of Excellence for free. School...
Secondary School National Offer Day: What happens next?
01 March 2022
If you’ve applied for a primary or secondary state school in England, here’s everything you need to know about National Offer Day.   When is National Offer Day in England in 2022?  National Offer Day in England for secondary schools is Tuesday 1 March and National Offer Day for Primary...
How to find GCSE and A-Level advanced information on summer 2022 exam topics
07 February 2022
Exam boards have today published advanced information about what will be on summer 2022 tests, to help with coronavirus disruption.  The information will help students focus their revision for the final months and will give an indication of some of the content, texts, topics, themes and...
Face masks in schools: What is the evidence?
07 January 2022
• Government guidelines introduced this week require all secondary school pupils to return to the classroom wearing a mask • Calls for the Department for Education to publish evidence to back up “premature” policy  • Backlash as supporting document includes admission that there is...
Back to school 2022: Latest Covid guidelines for pupils
07 January 2022
As children return to school this week, the education secretary Nadhim Zahawi says 'we must be everything we can' to keep schools open and announces new measures and extra help as Omicron cases continue to surge.  Here’s everything you need to know about the latest guidelines for...
Visit our first ever SIX STAR school this Christmas
22 December 2021
'Tis the season of goodwill and we are delighted to announce that we have awarded our first ever School Guide Star Rating of six stars – just in time for Christmas.  North Pole Primary School was this week given a magical extra star making it School Guide's one and only six star...
FINAL: Changes to GCSE and A level exams for 2022
10 December 2021
Everything you need to know about the confirmed planned changes for next summer's GCSE and A level exams  After pandemic disruption and grade-prediction pandemonia, the return to exams may bring relief of normality for some students – and their parents. Plans to push ahead and return to...
How many children have been vaccinated at school so far?
22 October 2021
It was announched that the government will not hit its half term target for school vaccinations with rate of jabbed 12+ pupils only going up by 1% per day and overall take up at 14%. Why are rates so low? – Partly reflects high infection rates among young people. If a child tests positive...
UPDATE: Changes to 2022 "Transition Year" Exams
30 September 2021
2022 has been labelled “a transition year” for GCSE and A levels by Ofqual as plans were revealed today for exams to go ahead with a grading system that aims to “maximise fairness”. Papers will be marked more leniently than 2019 but not as generously as 2021.  The exam regulator has also...
What is the Covid Winter Plan for Schools?
17 September 2021
This week the government announced its plan to manage Covid over the next few winter months and this includes some new rules for schools including giving up the right to order closures, changes to testing and the vaccination roll-out for 12-15 years olds.  Here’s our guide to the measures that...
Private School: what are the extra costs on top of fees?
17 September 2021
If you are currently visiting school open days and weighing up state versus independent options, it’s worth considering the ‘extras’ bill that comes on top of the school fees each term.  Extra costs are not necessarily optional. We have listed those you should expect, together with some...
Nadhim Zahawi: What We Know About The New Education Secretary 
17 September 2021
There's a new Head Boy on the education block: former vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi was appointed Education Secretary this week in the PM's cabinet reshuffle. The Department for Education is under new management with Gavin Williamson and schools minister Nick Gibb both getting the...
Starting School: 3 Proven Ways To Help Children Head Into The First Weeks With Confidence 
02 September 2021
Experienced Primary Head Teacher Emma says it’s 100% possible to get through the first weeks of your child starting school without the stress. Here are her top three tips Starting school is a big deal. Your once tiny baby is suddenly about to enter into the world of education and the fact it...
8 Reasons to Choose a Language at GCSE and A level
02 September 2021
It’s never been a better time to study languages with hi-tech teaching to boost grades and employers saying language qualifications give candidates the edge. One leading language expert shares 8 reasons why opting for a language at GCSE and A level is the smart choice    Language learning...
Review of Mark Warner Holidays Paleros Beach Resort
16 August 2021
Founder of School Guide and mum of two teenage boys, Victoria, visits Mark Warner's Paleros Beach Resort in Greece and discovers the secret to a perfect family holiday Also Read: Best Holidays With Teenagers  UPDATED AUG 2022 I admit it: Paleros Beach Resort has stolen my holiday...
GCSE Results Day 2021 – Record Passes & Top Grades
12 August 2021
  GCSE students have received another set of record grades, in the second year of pandemic chaos disruption and cancelled exams in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Government confirmed earlier this year that grades would be based on teachers’ assessments (TAGs), with last year’s...
A Levels Results Day 2021 – Best Resources for Parents
10 August 2021
What if...? What's next? How do we appeal? School Guide's pick of the best A level results day resources   All years of school runs, days in the classroom and hours revising have finally turned into minutes. A level results day is here and grades are released from 8.30am. The...
Initial Plans for 2022 GCSE and A levels Revealed
13 July 2021
Official plans outlining changes to next summer's exams have now been published. They aim to help address “considerable disruption” to schooling due to the coronavirus pandemic. Proposed changes to 2022 GCSE and A levels include: • Teachers to be told to streamline syllabus next term •...
Advice for Starting Secondary School from Top Head Teachers
02 July 2021
Two highly experienced head teachers – one from primary school; one from secondary school – share their tips and advice for pupils preparing to move up in September   Moving from primary school to secondary school can be exciting and daunting in equal measure. Ongoing coronavirus disruption...
Parents call for school rules around Covid to be updated
25 June 2021
Many sports days are cancelled but 60,000 footy fans are allowed to gather at Wembley. Rules are inconsistent, unfair and confusing say parents who are calling for Covid guidelines for schools to be updated    I run a Facebook group for mums and dads in my home town of Bath and each week...
What is the One Britain One Nation song children are being asked to sing in schools?
24 June 2021
It's been labelled "hyper-creepy" and Boris Johnson has been accused of "barmy brainwashing" for backing the plan to ask school children to sing a new song to celebrate One Britain One Nation Day (OBON) on June 25th. Would be happy for your child to sing along?   The Department for...
Schools get green light to #PrioritisePE following School Guide's campaign
18 June 2021
      The government confirms £320m PE and sport premium for next academic year following pressure from schools and leading sport charities School Guide was delighted to learn this week that the Department for Education finally announced that schools will be able to carry forward...
Mental Health Minute: Listen to the 60-second Radio Message
14 May 2021
    Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 runs from 10-16 May and this year's theme is nature.  Mark Rowland, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation, the organisation set up to help people understand, protect and sustain their mental health, explains why they chose the theme of...
Sixth Form College vs. School Sixth Form: Which is Best? | School Guide
21 April 2021
  Want an A* at A level? Try leaving school! A new breed of sixth form colleges has opened up a world of online learning and wide range of A levels to ambitious students. Many are highly focused on closing gaps in education due to the pandemic and also offer a university-style experience....
Post-16 options: everything you need to know about life after GCSEs
21 April 2021
  Sixth form options are changing and moving to a new school or college for post-GCSE study is an increasingly common option. Here's the lowdown on what's on offer, how to choose and when to apply.  Sixth Form Options Explained  There are traditionally two options for Sixth Form study....
Primary school places: what if we don’t get our first choice school?
15 April 2021
Three things you can do if you didn't get your first choice school for your child, according to an experienced primary school head teacher    Whether you’ve gone through the application process for primary school for the first time or are a seasoned pro, opening the school offer email (or...
What is the schools sex scandal? 
02 April 2021
It’s been called the ‘Me Too’ moment for education as a growing number of reports have emerged of sexual harassment and abuse in schools. Urgent calls have been made to stamp out 'rape culture'. • Schools abuse helpline launched by NSPCC  • Review into sexual abuse in schools has been set...
Government U-turns on rapid flow tests and trials daily testing in schools
31 March 2021
The government has U-turned on school Covid-19 testing policy – rapid tests taken in schools should now be followed up by a confirmatory lab test. The move has been hailed as "better late than never" by scientists.    School Guide called for a government U-turn and for guidelines to be...
Warnings for pushy parents over teacher grades
26 March 2021
Warnings have been issued for pushy parents as the exams regulator published guidelines for schools on assessing grades this week, and told head teachers to keep records of parent pressure over exam grades.  Ofqual, the exams regulator, in guidance on submitting grades published this...
Covid vaccinations for children: what’s the plan and when will children get it? 
26 March 2021
School Guide's Essential Q&A for Parents on Covid Jabs for Kids It was reported this week that 11 million school-age children could get a Covid vaccination ahead of returning to school in September if new clinical trials show the jab is safe for children under the age of 16. Safety data...
Advice for parents of pupils asked to self-isolate after school Covid test
16 March 2021
Hailed as a 'game changer' that would reduce the number of children being sent home, rapid Covid tests in secondary schools in England are causing confusion among families. Children are being asked to self-isolate based on a standalone rapid test with no opportunity for parents to submit a...
Parents furious over false positive rapid Covid tests in schools 
12 March 2021
It’s estimated that as many as 250,000 kids could be stuck at home during the first week back to school due to ‘false positive' results from rapid Covid-19 tests. Will the government's refusal to allow follow-up lab tests to weed out incorrect results be their next big U-turn on...
GCSE and A levels: key dates, deadlines and results
12 March 2021
Exams in 2023 are returniung to a full assessment format following disruption caused by coronavius and cancelled exams since 2020. The first full set of results determined by external exams were published in 2022 and summer 2023 will, according to the Department for Education, see GCSE and A...
Let's Prioritise PE say School Guide and Sharron Davies
08 March 2021
It's time to prioritise PE alongside maths and English as part of 'catch up' plans • 81% of parents want schools to offer 30 minutes of activity a day as children return  • Two thirds of parents worried their children's activity levels have dropped "dramatically" during lockdown  •...
90% of parents concerned about lack of kids' physical activity during lockdown
05 March 2021
School Guuide's latest survey reveals a huge amount of parents are worried about how fit their children are as they return to school on next week.  We asked School Guide parents if they were concerned about their children's activity levels. We sent a survery to 4,000 mums and dads and asked...
Parent's Guide To Rapid Covid Tests In Schools
01 March 2021
All you need to know about the new rules on testing in schools including: When does Lateral Flow Testing start in schools? How does Lateral Flow Testing work? How many rapid Covid tests does my child need to have? How do parents opt in to the new 'click and collect' scheme that tests...
LATEST: Mini exams to be ‘optional’ for schools for summer 2021
25 February 2021
Externally-set questions to be ‘optional’ for schools the Schools Minister Nick Gibb has announced today.  There had been a backlash to the idea of so-called mini exams being part of this year's grading system when it was tabled as part the joint consultation by Ofqual and the Department for...
When will pupils get GCSE and A level results in 2021?
25 February 2021
It's been confirmed by Schools Minister Nick Gibb that exams results in 2021 will be published as follows:  August 10 is results day 2021 for A-levels August 12  is results day 2021 for GCSEs   The dates are two weeks later than the early-July date tabled in the consultation by the...
What are the new rules on face masks in the classroom?
23 February 2021
School Guide unmasks the new guidelines on face coverings in schools Do pupils have to wear face masks for PE? What is 'double masking' and should your child do it?  Are face masks compulsory in all classrooms from 8 March?    When PM Boris Johnson accounced all schools would reopen...
Do I have to send my child back to school on March 8?
23 February 2021
The leaked document first landed in School Guide's Inbox late on Sunday evening, and by Monday morning it was confirmed:  All schools in England to reopen on March 8  PM Boris Johnson had opted for the so-called Big Bang approach with all pupils returning to the classroom on the same day...
Newspaper launches 'Scream Line' for exhausted homeschooling parents
05 February 2021
The New York Times has launched the Primal Scream Line, a free phone line for parents to vent their homeschooling and lockdown frustrations.    It started in September, as the school year inched closer but the school gates stayed firmly closed. A group of mothers from New Jersey decided they...
How To Get Into A School Out Of Catchment Area
04 February 2021
Getting your child into a good school is one the most important goals of modern family life. But for many navigating the postcode lottery of admissions, it can feel like trying to crack the Crystal Maze. School Guide is here to help.  The good news is that the proportion of secondary school...
UK Parents Divided On Whether To Vaccinate Teachers
01 February 2021
New poll School Guide reveals we are a nation divided on the teacher vaccine issue with results coming in close to 50/50 among parents of school age children School Guide, the UK’s leading school information website for parents, surveyed almost 800 parents of school aged children and the...
Classroom Nutcracker Basketball Routine
22 January 2021
As we approach the third week of Lockdown, we thought we all deserve a smile.  This classroom Nutcracker basketball routine is 60 seconds of pure lockdown joy.  It was first featured as our Video of the Week on the School Guide Newsletter, the weekly hub for education news and insights,...
Have Your Say on Exams 2021: Official Government Survey Now Open
17 January 2021
The official consultation on how exams will be set and marked in 2021 has now been published and parents are invited to have their say on the proposals. We've read the 45-page document and summarised the key areas and published all questions to make it easier for parents and students to jump...
How will exams be replaced in 2021? Government sets out latest expectations
13 January 2021
*UPDATE* Friday 15 January  The Department for Education and Ofqual have now officially launched a 2-week consultation – open to parents, students and anyone working in education – so you can have your say. We have read the 45-page document, and outlined the 16 key areas and 74 questions it...
Primary School Applications Explained
12 January 2021
Will my child get into their first choice school? Am I more likely to get my first choice school if I don’t put a second choice? What if I miss the school application deadline?  With primary school admission deadlines this Friday (15 January 2021), School Guide's Inbox is packed with...
GCSE and A levels cancelled for 2021 as England goes into third lockdown
06 January 2021
"This year we are going to put our trust in teachers rather than algorithms." – Education Secretary outlines latest arrangements for cancelled GCSE, AS and A level exams in 2021 including teacher assessed grading Teachers' estimated grades will be used to replace cancelled exams, Gavin...
Return to school delayed for secondary pupils in England
30 December 2020
Back to school arrangements for England –– NOW CONFIRMED (Wed 30 Dec) by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.  Millions of pupils will not return for the first two weeks of school of 2021.    > Start of term to be delayed in England. Government will allow more time so every school is...
GCSE and A-level exams in Wales cancelled for 2021
10 November 2020
Wales' GCSE, AS and A-level exams in summer 2021 are to be cancelled, with grades based on classroom assessments, Education Minister Kirsty Williams has announced.    Just one day after emerging from its national circuit break lockdown, Wales is the second of the home nations to announce a...
2026 Certificates of Excellence for schools now live on School Guide
15 October 2020
They are out!  School Guide's annual Certificates of Excellence are now live on School Guide Download one for your child's school today.    School Guide has been awarding star ratings to schools across the UK since 2014. The star ratings are added to a certificate we create for every...
A-levels and GCSEs to be delayed in 2021
13 October 2020
Gavin Williamson, the UK education secretary, has announced most GCSEs and A levels will be delayed next year. The Department for Education has said there will be a change to the ordinary timetable in light of disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.  Pupils in England will take most...
What is a half term ‘circuit break’?
09 October 2020
What parents need to know about scientists' proposal for a two-week national lockdown over half-term   With a large number of schools starting half term as soon as next Friday, confirmation of whether a national “circuit breaker” will go ahead is now pressing.  This week, Sage, the...
Covid-19 Map For Schools Launched
30 September 2020
A new interative map has been launched today that allows anyone to search for their local school and see government data on the number of cases in the area, and whether it’s on a local “watchlist”. The Covid-19 Map for Schools has been created by the National Education Union to show the Covid...
Back To School Routine: How Many Hours Sleep Does My Child Need?
18 September 2020
A teacher shared her advice on THE EXACT time kids should go to sleep each night... ... And here is the handy table.    A teacher in the USA unwittingly broke the internet when she added a "helpful chart" on social media that lists out exact bedtimes for pupils. Surfacing just as...
GCSE Results Day 2020 – Record Grades For Class of Covid
20 August 2020
GCSE grades for England's pupils released today mark the highest pass rate and the highest proporation of top grades since the qualification was reformed in 2017.  Pupils who had their GCSE exams cancelled during the most disrupted academic year in UK history, saw grades increase after a week...
A Levels Results Day 2020 – Education Secretary Confirms Students Can Use Mock Grades
13 August 2020
It’s here — an historic day for A level pupils. No exams results day. The Education Secretary has introduced at the eleventh hour a "triple lock” system which he says will be fair to A level pupils who did not sit a single A level exam due to schools being closed during the Covid-19...
Exams 2020: How To Appeal GCSE and A-level Grades
24 July 2020
When is an appeal not an appeal? When it’s a 2020 appeal.  Appeals will not happen as normal this year. Many parents have already received emails from schools telling them there is no appeal process and there is nothing pupils and their families can do if they are unhappy with their results...
State v Private: The Difference In Online Learning During Lockdown
17 July 2020
Research suggests that gap between private and state school pupils has widened during lockdown. Over a third of private schools have offered a full daily timetable of online lessons compared to only 8% of state schools. What does this mean for pupils, especially those facing the most important...
Why Schools Should Cancel Prize Giving This Year
06 July 2020
The annual school awards season can often fill pupils – and parents – with dread. Exams have been cancelled in 2020 and School Guide’s Founder Victoria argues that schools should give the gongs a rest too    Schools have been closed for the majority of secondary school pupils now for over...
Bye Bye, Tie? Five Return-To-School Rules You May Have Missed
03 July 2020
A round up of the less publicised points from the Big Back To School Plan announced this week by the Department for Education   It's not all bubbles and hand washing. Here's five points that have been written about less but may have a large impact on your child.    1. School...
FINAL: Plans For Full Return By Schools in September Confirmed
02 July 2020
All schools in England will reopen at the start of the new academic year in September, the government confirmed today. Finalising details that were discussed earlier in the week.  Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced today a firm intention to re-open all schools in September if...
UPDATE: All children to go back to school five days a week in autumn, reveals Education Secretary
29 June 2020
The Education secretary spoke for the first time today about the plans the government will announce in full later this week to get all pupils back in the classroom in England at the start of the new academic year. The Headlines • All pupils back five days from September • Bubbles to...
Will schools go back over the summer? All you need to know about the PM's big "catch up" plan
12 June 2020
A five-minute read on the latest plans for the six-week break    This week the chancellor Rishi Sunak said it was a  “tragedy” that many children will not be back in school until this autumn. He was speaking the day after the government's school u-turn, in which plans for all England's...
Schools May Not Be Fully Open Until November, MPs Told
05 June 2020
Remember, remember…  Why our children may not be back to normal until November      Guy Fawkes once set the Houses of Parliament alight in November but this week the seat of government was enflamed by news that November could be the time when we see schools finally fully reopen after the...
Key scientific evidence on opening schools revealed
22 May 2020
The key evidence on the safety and impact of reopening schools was published today by the government's scientific advisory group, Sage. It was the report many parents were waiting for but what does it tell us?  Here are the main points:  > Risk of coronavirus to pupils going back to...
Will you send your child back to school on 1st June?
22 May 2020
  Many parents have had "the email" this week. The one from their child’s head teacher inviting them back into the classroom on 1st June. While over 2,000 primary schools say they will remain closed, two parents with children due to return after half term explain why one will and one won’t be...
Everything You Need To Know About Your Child's Return To The Classroom
15 May 2020
When will the schools go back and is it safe to send your child into a classroom? School Guide looks at the current advice and guidance to help you decide This week the government announced that June 1st would be the earliest that parents across England would see the beginning of the end of...
Are You Irritated By "Perfect" Homeschool Parents During Lockdown? You Are Not Alone.
30 April 2020
If you irritated by what other homeschool parents are doing with their children right now, you are not alone. We've reached the irritation phase of the pandemic and being annoyed by pretty much everyone around you is a normal reaction, experts say.  Ditto if you are apparently even more...
What's your homeschool Ofsted grading?
24 April 2020
What unofficial Ofsted grade would your lockdown homeschool get? Here's a selection for you to download and display. No clipboard required.  Instructions: Parents homeschooling during the COVID-19 lockdown are welcome to self-evaluate and display the most suitable rating in your window...
How do I get my pre-schooler ready for school during the pandemic?
22 April 2020
With nurseries closed and settling in sessions impossible during lockdown, many parents are worried their pre-schoolers won’t be ready for ‘big’ school. But focus on this simple set of skills and your little ones will be all set for September   Primary school places were announced last week...
This Graph Shows NZ Lockdown Strategy Wins Hands Down
17 April 2020
We are usually most focused on grade trajectories here at School Guide and looking at what constitutes a Grade 9 performance at school.  But it was a tweet about a different trajectory that won the internet this week.  Author Matt Haig posted a graph from the Financial Times showing daily...
When will schools reopen in the UK?
16 April 2020
UK School Closure Timeline • Most likely date for children to go back • Some schools 'may reopen next month' • Primary pupils will return first  • Tandem approach to opening being considered • Summer holidays could be scrapped   On Wednesday, nurseries and primary schools in Denmark...
Will primary school places still be announced in 2020?
10 April 2020
School Guide tells parents everything they need to know about primary school admissions based on the latest information including how schools and local authorities will handle:  • Announcement of primary school places  • The appeals process during lockdown  • Transition and handover for...
Should the schools even be closed? Scientists question school closures during coronavirus crisis
07 April 2020
  As the UK heads into week three of school closures, a team of scientists at The University College London says keeping pupils away from lessons has little impact on the spread of coronavirus, even with other lockdown measures. Looking at countries like the UK that have closed nurseries,...
Should we be stopping homeschool for the Easter holidays?
03 April 2020
  School's Out... or is it? Help on how to handle lockdown holidays As the School of Mum and Dad reaches the end of week two, many of us across the UK have kids who would be breaking up  from school tooday – if the schools weren't closed due to the coronavirus crisis.  In this video, I...
FINAL: Agreed Details on How GCSEs and A levels will be marked In Light Of Coronavirus School Closures
03 April 2020
No further work or assessments required, teacher judgements not to be shared ahead of submission to exam boards and the big reveal is expected to be in August   Ofqual have today (Friday 3 April) set out the final agreed details about how GCSEs, AS and A levels will be awarded this summer in...
UPDATE: Primary SATS results may be used as a guide for teachers awarding cancelled GCSEs and A levels
30 March 2020
Following the decision to cancel public examinations this summer due the coronavirus pandemic and school closures, new information has emerged today on the way in which pupils will be graded.  The Headlines • Teachers must answer the key question: What grade would this particular student...
The School of Mum and Dad: A Simple Survival Guide
27 March 2020
How parents can stay sane while children are learning at home during the coronavirus outbreak  The homepage of School Guide has a picture of smiling pupils sitting in a classroom with their hands up. I think a pupil with their hand up captures the essence of happy learning. It says I’m curious...
One mum hilariously sums up the pressures of home schooling during the coronavirus shutdown
23 March 2020
  As Monty Phython once sang, always look on the bright side of life. We know it's hard at the moment but we think you are all in for a much needed treat.  And here she is.  If you've not yet seen the video going viral of the mum of four bemoaning distance learning, it's hard not to...
GCSE and A levels to be decided on previous grades and teacher assessment
20 March 2020
The latest: calculated grades based on a combination of factors and the opportunity to sit an exam early in the next academic year Education Secretary this afternoon announced the government's decision on the way GCSE and A levels will be graded this summer.  The Office of Qualifications...
The Education Secretary's first announcement about School Exams during Coronavirus
19 March 2020
Clarity on GCSE and A levels? Wash your hands – but don’t hold your breath   School’s out and the public exams scheduled for May and June are cancelled in the light of the coronavirus pandemic. But, even this morning, there has been a suggestion that a new style of lockdown exam might be...
The Real School Guide 2026 – All The Latest Data from the UK's #1 School Resource
26 February 2020
All the latest official data for 2026 is now at your fingertips on the UK's most trusted School Guide for parents School Guide, the UK's best school guide, is now showing all the official data from last summer's key tests and exams published by the government this month.  We are the only...
The rise and fall of the unconditional university offer
03 February 2020
An unconditional offer from university is so last decade according to new reports. Universities have been slammed for “pressure selling” to sixth formers and the education secretary has now ordered the practice, which peaked in 2019, to stop    One in four universities made unconditional...
Do this one thing to help your teen do better at school
24 January 2020
It's freely available to all but over 25% of teens don't get enough. Sleep is the forgotten secret to school success says a new report A new World Health Organisation study has revealed one in four 11 to 15-year-olds in England have too little sleep, and this could be the single biggest...
Dear Teachers. We love you - but please cull the craft homework at Christmas
11 December 2019
School DIY projects send parents over the edge at the end of the the busiest term of the year says Victoria Bond, Founder of School Guide   It came in last night. The One. Like a lot of families across the UK, my two senior school boys and I are limping through Christmas productions, end of...
Why Estonia is Europe's newest education powerhouse
04 December 2019
The small country on the Baltic sea outperforms all the major European economies, including the UK who sits at number 22 in the influential global education tests, and ranks sixth in the world. How do they do it?    The results of the international education league tables are published...
What is ‘sharenting’ and should we be doing it?
28 November 2019
  Think twice before you post pictures online of your children, experts warn.   Proud parents sharing pictures of their darling children sounds like the most natural thing in the world. But experts are warning about the perils of ‘sharenting’ – the practice of parents sharing images...
Are A grades at A level easier to get than they used to be?
24 August 2019
The stats don't lie. New evidence shows pupils are three times more likely to get an A at A level in 2019 than in 1989 A level results were critised last week after it was revealed that candidates taking one maths paper could achieve an A grade with only 55% of the marks. This means pupils...
How To Boost Your Child’s CV On Holiday
21 August 2019
Having a flourishing CV is as important as getting good exam results says School Guide's Founder Victoria. Here's how to help your child get ahead while you are all on holiday   GSCE and A level results are just out and, for many, the piece of paper with their grades will be the most...
SATs week 2019. How watching BGT might help
13 May 2019
SATs week 2019. We thought long and hard about what to say to help all the wonderful pupils – and, you, their tremendous, hard working parents – as they face fronted adverbials against the clock. We decided to put the politics and pressure to one side and just share 5-minutes of pure...
How To Help Your Child Do Better At School. Tips to Boost Their 'Happy Brain'
03 April 2019
One leading Deputy Head shares her tried-and-tested tips on how we can best help our children help themselves when it comes to health and wellbeing in the classroom – and beyond.   It is a worrying time to be a parent. We are constantly told we have a generation of young people who cannot...
Google: the map snatcher. Internet giant takes school maps away from parents
06 September 2018
     *** Update December 2018. We are very grateful to Mapbox for supporting School Guide with a new mapping system and allowing us to return the pupil heatmaps to the site ***   We are so sorry to announce that due to huge hikes in the cost of using Google maps we have had to...
Baffled by school league tables? School Guide is here to help
21 February 2018
It's no wonder many parents find official league tables harder to read than ever when one of the most senior school leaders in the country recently branded the new GSCE performance tables "potentially baffling".  Parents are "struggling to keep up" and most of us would need a Grade 9 in...
How To Have A Screen-Free Summer Holiday With Your Kids
20 September 2017
It's possible – as School Guide's Founder Victoria discovered on her first ever family activity holiday. Here's how she ticked the screen-free family holiday box at Mark Warner's Levante Beach Resort in Greece   We’ve all read (and probably eye-rolled at) the newspaper stories about reversing...
Schools issue Snap Map warnings
06 July 2017
Snapchat, the social media app loved by teens, recently added a new location-sharing feature called Snap Map.  Snap Map lets users share their exact location in real time with people on their "friends" list.  Schools, however, are issuing warnings to parents over serious concerns about the...
SOS: A parent’s survival guide to the start of secondary school
05 September 2016
7 tips to get YOU through the start of Year 7   When I discovered I was pregnant for the first time, I was over the moon when a friend passed me a well-thumbed copy of What To Expect When You Are Expecting. The book is as close as it gets to a baby bible, and helped me get to grips with the...
School Guide's post-Brexit guide to 5 key changes in the world of education
18 July 2016
What a term. What a time. What to make of it all?  Summer 2016 and the end of the school year coincides with one of the most turbulent times in recent political history. Post-EU Referendum, we barely digest one piece of news and another seismic change hits the headlines.  Here at School...
School Guide teams up with TutorMapper 
23 March 2016
We've shined our School Guide shoes and straightened our ties this week to welcome a new partner to our fast-growing Tutor Directory. School Guide has joined forces with TutorMapper to offer parents an additional tried and tested resource when looking for tutors and a new badge scheme that...
2016 Schools White Paper: six key points for parents
17 March 2016
A white paper is an authoritative report or guide that informs readers concisely about a complex issue and presents the issuing body's philosophy on the matter. It is meant to help readers understand an issue, solve a problem, or make a decision. Wikipedia The government published its...
Every school an academy by 2022: the pros and cons
16 March 2016
It's budget day and parents across the land are waking up to the news that all state primary and secondary schools in England will become academies by 2022.  Words like 'forced' and 'no choice' are being used in the news and it's hard as parents to grasp whether or not these changes will be...
Tried and tested: The Maths Factor – online primary maths practice
29 February 2016
School Guide's Founder Victoria and her son, Billy, 8, give Carol Vorderman's maths website the thumbs up It’s just gone 7am on a Saturday morning and my 8-year-old son, Billy, is pestering to switch on the laptop. The object of his screen time affection is not an episode of Pokemon or a new...
Tips for parents worried about their child's mental health
14 February 2016
This week is Children’s Mental Health Week and, according to a new survey published by oganisers Place 2 Be, one in five children are now experiencing mental health problems before the age of 11. Place 2 Be is a national counselling and support network and their patron, the Duchess of Cambridge,...
New GCSEs: a guide for parents
01 February 2016
The government releases its official GCSE results each year in January for secondary schools in England and it's always an exciting time for School Guide. We pull in the new performance data and watch the GCSE dials on our school pages go up and down. For the first time we display our...
All 11 year olds to face on-screen times tables tests
04 January 2016
On the 11th day of Christmas, the government announced plans to crackdown on “innumeracy" and introduce a new computerised test to ensure that all 11-year-olds know their times tables by the time they leave primary school. Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said today that a pilot scheme will be...
Why all entrepreneurs should go back to school
05 November 2015
It’s back to school in the UK this week but it’s not just pupils who have been returning to the classroom. Increasing numbers of successful business leaders are also going back to school thanks to a fast-growing initiative called Founders4Schools.  Founders4Schools connects teachers and...
Early government GSCE league tables published for parents
16 October 2015
The Department for Education has this week published early league tables for state secondary schools in England, based on provisional data from this summer's GCSE results. The aim is to give parents a taster of 2015 GSCE data to help those families frantically completing application forms for...
The new primary national curriculum: a parent's guide
05 October 2015
Now that the last minute dash to the shoe shops and the late night labelling sessions are fading to a distant memory, we thought it was time for School Guide to take a look at the new national curriculum and give parents a beginners guide.  As of September, all children aged between five and...
"Do this one simple thing to transform your child’s maths." New Expert Help video
29 September 2015
“The very word – maths – can evoke a lot of emotion, and much of that emotion is wrapped up in anxiety. Anxiety from the pupils who know they needs this golden ticket – this maths GCSE – but also anxiety from parents who often have negative feelings about maths themselves from their own childhood...
Would you hire a tutor to help your child do their homework?
16 September 2015
"OK so tomorrow we have swimming; Wednesday it's drama; Thursday, tennis; and Friday we have gymnastics. The weekend is pretty jammed with ballet and tap and then we're back to Monday with Tilly's tutor... hmm maybe we should schedule a play date for half term?" This was the conversation I...
Too young to teach? What one NQT wants to say to parents
14 September 2015
A big brown envelope arrived through my letterbox in July. It contained a certificate stating that I was now officially a teacher. My dedication and perseverance throughout the rollercoaster of my PGCE had paid off and, thanks to a gruelling round of interviews, I was fortunate to have my first...
I wish my child didn't have to start school at age 4
09 September 2015
This week has been an emotional rollercoaster in our household. Less for my daughter, Alice, who has just started primary school, but more for me as I come to terms with my youngest and last child leaving the golden preschool years behind and stepping into the time machine of our school...
Why are our kids carrying up to 15% of their bodyweight to school?
08 September 2015
Last week my 11-year-old son went off to big school. I know the definition of big school depends on your own family perspective. It's starting nursery if you have a 3-year-old, primary school for the nearly 5s and, for the thousands of pupils who joined Year 7 like my son, secondary...
Should kids switch off or swot up over the summer holidays? Both – says our undergraduate intern
07 August 2015
I am 20 and about to go into my second year at Durham University. I have had seventeen summers of trial and error under my belt. I’ve seen both sides of the great school’s out debate. There have been entire summer months when I have not written a word and definitely suffered the consequences when...
CEM 11+ exam: 5 questions you need to ask to help your child pass
02 August 2015
Is your child taking the CEM 11+ exam in the new academic year? We've helped millions of children pass their 11+ exam and have prepared this guest blog for School Guide to highlight the five key questions parents need to ask to make sure their child has the best shot at success.  1. Is my...
Choosing a school for your child? Don’t just read the inspection report
11 June 2015
 Highly experienced Lead Inspector talks exclusively to School Guide and reveals flaws in system "I can't believe anyone would send their child to a school on the basis of just reading an Ofsted inspection report" "Often the report is out of date and therefore you cannot set great store by...
NEW! Expert help video. How to help your children be happy at school
05 June 2015
Welcome to our new Expert Help series. School Guide is proud to be home to the UK’s most comprehensive schools dataset. We know that exam results and performance data tell an important story for parents but we also know that there is another side to school life: a softer side that celebrates...
Why I took my son out of school during SATs week
01 June 2015
I have three degrees and a Doctorate in Education. Understanding how children learn is not only my job, it is my passion. I was a teacher myself for many years and know how hard the job can be. It is the second hardest job in the world – after being a parent.  On reflection, I think I shocked...
Are erasers in school 'instruments of the devil?' One scientist says they should be banned
28 May 2015
Every now and then a news story related to schools really catches my eye. This morning there was a cracker on BBC News: Are erasers in school instruments of the devil? The story revealed that a leading cognitive scientist has suggested rubbers be banned from classrooms. In some schools,...
School Guide launches new school Open Day Calendar
27 May 2015
School Guide prides itself on making key school statistics easy to find online but there's no substitute for visiting a school on Open Day if you want to get a true sense of a school, it's ethos and community.  That's why School Guide has launched it's new Open Day Calendar; a new destination...
School Guide announces exclusive data partnership with Rightmove
19 May 2015
School Guide and Rightmove are today announcing an exclusive partnership to bring together two of the most important areas of British family life: school and property.  School Guide now shares our market-leading schools data set with Rightmove, the UK’s largest property website, and enables...
Floating ‘school run’ mums key to election
29 April 2015
Education, education, education. Tony Blair’s early Noughties election mantra may seem old school in an era when the political focus has shifted to the economy, NHS and immigration. But a recent poll saw education firmly back at the heart of the election for many ‘school run’ mums. 13,000...
School Guide's top 5 tips for stress-free Year 2 SATs
25 April 2015
I feel as though we are preparing for the 7+ exams #SATs #stressful #parenting So read the tweet posted on @SchoolGuideUK's Twitter feed last week by a worried parent. For many, the start of Key Stage 1 SATs on Monday marks their child’s first encounter with proper performance testing. SATs...
The rise of the Get Ahead Get Away. The benefits of an Easter revision camp
22 April 2015
Whether the Easter holidays are already a chocolate-filled memory or your child is returning to school this week, the annual April break is fast-becoming the ultimate time for families with children facing exams in the summer term to take a Get Ahead Get Away.  These days B is rarely for break...
The school uniform debate: one parent explores the pros and cons
11 March 2015
The school uniform debate would appear to be a very British affair. The Europeans are able send their children to school quietly without a monogrammed jumper fuss. Finnish secondary school children, the European darlings of the international performance league tables, do not wear blazers or ties...
School Guide speaks out about the gaps in new government performance tables
29 January 2015
Today is just another ordinary Thursday for the hundreds of thousands of school pupils across England. But today's also the day that the hard work and exam results produced by GSCE and A level pupils last summer are published by the Department for Education. The new performance tables are out,...
11+ success: last minute tips for your child's entrance exam
18 January 2015
So last weekend our little family did The Thing. My eldest son sat the assessment tests for a local selective secondary school. The school in question is one of his options for entry in September 2015 and we had discussed, long and hard, whether he wanted to go through the entrance exam...
Help your children be happy at school
05 January 2015
In Roman times, craftsmen would cover the imperfections of pots and statues with wax. The derivation of the word sincere comes from two Latin words: sine (without) and cera (wax). As the cracked waxed pots looked similar to the naked eye, it became important to test the quality of the pottery....
My journey through the complex landscape of school admissions
10 November 2014
I have two daughters under the age of 11 but I have already been through the school application process five times. I applied for their first primary school place, and then applied again when we moved area. I have most recently also pressed send on an application for a senior school place for...
New TripAdvisor-style parent reviews. Add your school review today
03 November 2014
Hands up if you have an opinion on your child's school? Thought so. It's as easy as ABC to add star ratings for local schools on School Guide. Sharing your parents-eye view on a school is a great way to share knowledge and help other parents find the best schools. Every school on School...
School Open Days: how to find your light bulb moment
29 September 2014
So, here I am. The morning after my first secondary school Open Day. High on PTA squash and easing myself in to the decision hot seat. My eldest son is in Year 6 of primary school and I find myself in the peculiar position of attempting to follow my own advice.  Last year I wrote Maximise your...
School Guide welcomes new sponsor Galore Park
22 September 2014
We're shining our shoes and straightening our ties today to mark the arrival of our new site sponsor Galore Park. Galore Park is the UK's number one publisher of learning materials for pupils studying at independent schools and have helped thousands of children unlock 11+ and 13+ Common...
Too cool for school? Study proves classroom design does matter
16 September 2014
One of the most shared images on the School Guide Facebook page in the last few months features this super stylish maths corner in a primary school classroom. Colour co-ordinated and stimulating, the bright design aims to stimulate bright little minds. Stylish and maths may not often be words...
New! Tutor Directory launches in association with Bond 11+
23 July 2014
Our new School Guide Tutor Directory launches today. It makes it quick and easy for parents to find the best tutor for their child. Many of you read our recent blog on the dilemma parents face about hiring a tutor and told us it was a useful tool. Read the article here. But those of you who...
This chart shows the government is 100% right to be strict about school attendance
08 July 2014
Read your child's end of school report yet? Don't skip the attendance section. This data proves that school attendance has a direct impact on how your child will perform in school. This chart, compiled using data from the Department for Education by School Guide, the data-driven site aimed...
School Guide joins forces with Mumsnet
28 May 2014
New partnership creates one-stop education information for parents School Guide and Mumsnet are today announcing a partnership to provide clear online school information combined with Mumsnet users’ first-hand experience of schools. School Guide’s bold infographic style and no-nonsense...
​Should siblings go to the same school?
23 May 2014
'Oooooh... so you are Sophie's sister!' This could be the best or worst sentence to hear when you start a new school. My siblings and I can’t even decide on the same film for film night, so how can we be expected to conform to the same education system? My sister, Annie, and I have just...
Britain's next top (role) model. The schools helping girls find a hero
12 May 2014
Last month a university in New York State announced it was launching a course on the sociology of Miley Cyrus. According to its teaching professor, the singer provides the perfect subject for exploring the cultural conflict many of our girls face today. Miley appears to be both in-your-face...
Mum’s gone to Finland. One parent's lesson in why Finnish children excel at school - and love it too
07 April 2014
No formal tests until 18 and hair brushing during lessons. So how do Finnish children manage to put their UK counterparts in the shade? Maths teacher and mum of three Naomi Sani visited Helsinki to find out I was a young teacher in a secondary school when I first came across this quote from...
11 plus tutoring: is it right for your child?
27 February 2014
  Updated July 2026 Whether to get a tutor for the 11 plus is one of the most common questions parents face when considering grammar or selective secondary schools. The short answer is: it depends on your child, your area and the schools you are applying to. This guide covers what to...
School Noticeboard - free for all schools to add news and photos
24 February 2014
School Noticeboard gives every UK school the opportunity to create their own login and add news, photos and information about their school events. Register today and tell the parents who visit your page about: School Open Days New awards or school prizes Special trips or...
School Guide's A-Z Jargon Buster
11 February 2014
Modern school terminology can be confusing. Like Key Stage. Or SATs. Or the difference between the English and International Baccalaureate. Even school years are unrecognisable for many parents. Forget O levels in the fifth year; now it's GCSEs in Year 12. Parents need an -ology just to navigate...
It's good to let kids be bored. The rise and rise of the Kick Back Parent
14 January 2014
January: the season of stopping. Abstinence rules and the dark winter days are spent making amends for the sparkling excesses of Christmas. This year, however, not all the red light headlines have been related to rationing the Rioja. Since the start of the new school term, there has been an...
School's out for Christmas! Here's our special festive review of North Pole Primary
23 December 2013
FESTIVE BREAKING NEWS! 80% of pupils at North Pole Primary have seen Mummy kissing Santa Claus SOURCE: Headmistress Mrs Carol Singer As children break up from school for Christmas across the UK, annual performance data from a small school at the northernmost point on Earth, North Pole...
Bully proof your child for school
19 November 2013
This week marks Anti-Bullying Week (18-24 November) an annual event organised by the Anti-Bullying Alliance to encourage schools, clubs, individual children and young people across the country to band together with one mission: to make bullying unacceptable – for everyone, everywhere. The NSPCC...
​School Guide’s Victoria quizzes Education Secretary Michael Gove
31 October 2013
Earlier this week School Guide’s Founder Victoria Bond had the opportunity to put some questions to the Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove. Victoria, the mother of two school age children, wanted to discuss the issues that affect many of the thousands of parents who visit her site...
School Application Anxiety? Try putting 'the best' to the parent test
18 October 2013
You've known about the deadline for secondary school applications for months. So why, with just ten days to go, are you still angsting about pressing send? You may need to separate the best school from what is best for your child The average child in the UK will spend eleven years of their...
If you LOVE books, LIKE your school page and win books for your school library
10 October 2013
To celebrate Children's Book Week (7-11 October), we're giving away £100 of book tokens to the school with the most LIKES on their School Guide page. All you have to do is follow these three simple steps: 1. Search for your child's school via name, location or postcode on School Guide 2....
School Guide's heatmap of the best and worst schools in the UK
30 September 2013
We're sitting on a vast amount of data here at School Guide and we've recently opened our Data Lab to experiment with plotting trends and visualising data with the official statistics we hold on over 35,000 schools across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Our first test was to...
Top Ten Tips for Parents Attending School Open Days
23 September 2013
1. MAKE LIKE A CUB SCOUT: BE PREPARED Visit schools a year before you have to submit a school application. This takes the pressure off and means you can re-visit your shortlist just before you have to make a decision. Start in Year 5 (age 9 or 10) for secondary schools and look at primary...
Do you have Obsessive Catchment Disorder? Why it's school first, house second for many UK movers
18 September 2013
So house prices in England are at a record high according to a new report from the Office for National Statistics this week. But moving home is still one of life’s most stressful experiences and a positive shift in house price tags will only go some way to compensate for the anxiety of moving....
Back To School: baked beans, Gove and the high cost of shorts
26 August 2013
It was always the Woolworths window that did it for me. There it was – first day of August, sun blazing – and the poster screamed, ‘BACK TO SCHOOL’. Smart shirts, itchy jumpers and innumerable pencil case/A4 binder combinations were displayed for all to see. I remember as a girl of nine or ten...
New school tests. 63% of parents already confused says survey
17 July 2013
TODAY Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg unveils plans that could see children as young as five face “baseline” tests when they start reception as part of a new push to support pupils. According to a new survey, 63% of parents of school age children are not satisfied with school data that is...
School Guide wins Nominet Internet Award
07 July 2013
SchoolGuide.co.uk, the UK’s best school guide, was awarded a prestigious Nominet Internet Award at a ceremony held at The British Library in London on 4th July. Celebrating the internet as a force for good, these annual awards recognise UK businesses, charities, individuals and public and private...
Why it's okay for your child to come last on school Sports Day
27 June 2013
There’s a whiff of de-mob happiness in the air. Exams are coming to an end and schools are all set for the one day of the year when our children actually wear their daps: sports day. I’ve noticed a few blogs and stories popping up over the past week or so that got me thinking about the...
The Great Homework Debate: are you a Too Much or a Not Enough?
14 June 2013
As one UK secondary school is set to ban homework we ask whether work should stop at school It’s Friday and, for most, it’s the end of the working week. As I write, I can see it’s approaching 3pm and our children will be in the last lesson of the day. Pencil cases will be tantalisingly close...
School Guide wins a #WOW award
12 June 2013
It’s not every day we get our School Guide smalls in a twist. But when top entrepreneur and chief executive of Knickerbox and Anne Summers Jacqueline Gold announced our parent-friendly school information site had won one of her sought-after #WOW awards, we were all in a flutter. Jacqueline...
A is for August: should summer-born children get their grades boosted?
04 June 2013
My Leo ears pricked up recently when I heard about a new report that says summer-born children should have their exam results boosted to compensate for being almost a year younger than some of their peers. Born on a long hot August night in 1970, I started school a matter of days after my...
Look Mum... we're on telly! School Guide featured on the BBC
03 June 2013
There was a lot of cheering at the TV this weekend by the School Guide team. No, we're not talking about the Britain’s Got Talent Semi Finals but an appearance by our website built for parents on the BBC, Webscape reporter Kate Russell fronts BBC Click, the guide to all the latest gadgets,...
The UK's best School Guide launches
14 May 2013
A free website that puts essential school information at parents' fingertips launches today. School Guide brings key school statistics together in one place from several official websites including the Department of Education and Ofsted and makes it quick and easy for parents to choose the...
When is a qualification not a qualification? When it’s an EBacc
26 March 2013
In 2012, English schools were on course for the biggest shake up of the 16+ examination system since O-Levels were abolished at the end of the 1980s. The English Baccalaureate Certificate was set to replace GSCEs. It was a shiny new qualification engineered to end grade inflation and see a return...
Does your child need to go on a Media Diet? It could boost grades say educational experts
03 March 2013
Parents are familiar with the 5-a-day message but a growing number of children are being put on a different kind of health regime to get ahead at school. Welcome to the world of the new Media Diet. The Media Diet – or Digital Rationing as it is also known – involves slimming down kids’ use of...
Tiger Mum Maths: How the Chinese make doing sums super easy
03 March 2013
My pre-school son loves Judith Kerr's classic The Tiger Who Came to Tea and, as a maths teacher, I often find myself referring back to Amy Chua's book about Chinese parenting, Battle Hymn of The Tiger Mother. The term Tiger Mum was coined by Amy Chua. Tiger Mums believe in hard work and...
Why it could be chips for the school Breakfast Club
17 September 2012
Government funding cuts mean that many valued school breakfast clubs have not re-opened this academic year raising fears that the children who need the facilities the most may be left hungry. One newspaper labels some cuts "severe" and reports: "Essex County Council said they had provided 219...
New cash for Academy converts
05 July 2012
The government is to offer money for primaries who do the Academy deed from June 2012. The Department for Education has created the Primary Chains Grant (www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies/primary/a00210101/primarychainsgrant) to help primary schools that decide to...

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