A school's academic performance

Should I consider the school's academic performance?

Schools vary a great deal in the final-year results their students achieve. It is not surprising that selective schools often have more students with top results than schools that take in and retain everyone.

The ˜success equation' is not always so simple because different students thrive in different environments. Often a school's record is maintained through a culture of high achievement and a competitive atmosphere that does not suit everyone. While some parents and schools place a strong emphasis on good exam results, most parents want the school to get children to do their best without an overly intense environment. They regard it as the job of secondary schools to find out where their child's strengths and interests lie, and to encourage and develop them accordingly.