Bonjour lecteurs! Choosing the right secondary school for your child is une grande décision to make together. While I took the lead on finding Stanley’s primary school, I think children should be part of the conversation when it comes to secondary. It is, after all, the place where they will spend five or more formative years becoming who they are going to be. But I appreciate that it can be a minefield and there is a lot to take into account. As we are starting to look at options for Stanley and recently visited Alleyn’s Hampstead in North London, it made me realise how difficile it can be for some parents to choose. So here are my top tips to choose the best secondary school for your child.
Understand Your Child’s Needs
Before you look at local schools, c’est important to decide what would work best for your child. Every pre-teen est différent. Some thrive in large environments; others feel more confident in smaller, close-knit communities.
Think about your child’s personality, strengths and areas where they may need additional support. You also need to consider other aspects, such as academic priorities, extra-curricular activities, pastoral care.
Personnellement, I feel that what really matters is a school that sees the whole child. Not just what grades they can achieve, but what kind of person they are becoming. When we visited Alleyn’s Hampstead, what struck me was that their founding ethos (All We Can Be) didn’t feel like a marketing slogan. It felt like something the whole education team genuinely believes. And when a school has been built on values that stretch back over 400 years (the original Alleyn’s in Dulwich was founded in 1619) you know that commitment has been tested and survived.
Research Local Secondary Schools
Make a list of all the local secondary schools and check exactly how places are allocated. The UK Local Authority Admissions portal is a good starting point. Enter your postcode and you can check catchment areas, sibling policies, and feeder school priorities.
At this stage, try not to dismiss anywhere too quickly. Think about whether your child would be happier in a comprehensive or non-selective school, or whether a more selective environment would suit them better.
Independent schools are also worth exploring if you have not considered them before. Par exemple, Alleyn’s Hampstead, is opening three campuses across NW3 this September, covering ages 2 to 18. This way, siblings can genuinely grow up through the same school community.
Beyond Ofsted Reports
Ofsted reports are a useful starting point but they do not tell you everything. I would especially look at the behaviour, the leadership and the teaching qualité. But I would not stop there.
For independent schools, look at ISI inspection reports instead (it’s the equivalent body). But honestly, what you really want to know is whether the school has a clear sense of what it is for. What does it believe about education? What does it want for its students?
A school that can answer that question with conviction – and back it up with the way it actually teaches – is worth your time. Alleyn’s Hampstead’s answer, All We Can Be, holds up under scrutiny. They are not just asking children to pass exams; they are asking them to find their thing and pursue it seriously.
Visit The Schools
Open evenings are highly curated, but they are designed to impress. So I would encourage you to schedule a tour during a standard school day to see the real classroom atmosphere and how students interact. It’s also worth attending more than one event per school if you can.
Something I found really useful at Alleyn’s Hampstead was that they offer a series of online events after the initial open evenings. These are smaller, more informal sessions where parents and children can ask the questions they forgot to ask on the day. Quelle bonne idée! In a world where so much of our lives happen online anyway, this kind of access feels genuinely thoughtful rather than just a box-ticking exercise.
When you visit the school, observe how students behave in unstructured environments (like the library, lunch hall, and toilets) or even how they act when they travel from one classroom to the other. That is where you see the real culture of a school. I remember visiting one primary school that looked parfaite on paper, but the atmosphere the moment I walked in told me everything I needed to know.
Ask the Right Questions About the Future
This is the one I wish more parents thought to ask: what does this school do to prepare children for the world beyond school? Not just university applications, but the actual world of work, of technology, of finding a career that means something to them.
Alleyn’s Hampstead’s approach to technology particularly stood out to me. They have built something called AiQ into their teaching. It felt like a genuine, structured engagement with artificial intelligence and digital literacy. In a world where AI is reshaping every profession, this is not a nice extra. C’est essentiel.
Even more impressive is what they are doing at sixth form level. Their students have l’opportunité to join webinars led by people at the very top of their professions. That is not something you find everywhere. And to me, it is a sign that this school is genuinely serious about its promise: not just All We Can Be as a phrase, but as a lived commitment to helping each student find where they belong.
Involve Your Child
When Stanley and I visited Alleyn’s Hampstead together, I deliberately let him lead some of the conversation. After all, I know him better than anyone, but he is the one who will walk through those doors every morning.
Have an open conversation with your child about what matters to them. Par exemple, it is not just about following friends or choosing the most famous name. It is about finding the right environment for them to flourish over the next five years and beyond.
Think About the Whole Picture
A few final things to consider before making your décision finale… If your child needs additional support, ask to meet the SENCO (the Special Educational Needs Coordinator) and find out exactly what is in place for them from day one.
Look carefully at the extra-curricular offer. The arts, sport, languages, music. These matter enormously for children who need more than just academic challenges to feel truly at home in a school.
And do not underestimate logistics. The most wonderful school can be a stretch if your child is exhausted before they even arrive.
Pour Finir
Choosing a secondary school is an emotional process, but c’est normal. Focus on what motivates your child and what would work for your family. And if your first choice does not work out, pas de panique. There is always a path that turns out better than expected.
We came away from Alleyn’s Hampstead genuinely excited. If you are in North London and beginning this journey, I would absolutely put it on your list.
See more tips and educational content on my Instagram. As always, I am only a message away. With nearly a decade in education as a French teacher, I am happy to help you find the right place for your family.
Please visit Alleyn’s Hampstead for more information on all campuses.
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