Choosing a secondary school can feel like one of the biggest decisions a family makes — so how do you cut through the noise and work out which school is genuinely right for your child?

In Episode 3 of School Ties, Freddie Mills and Henry Stoot break down the secondary school search, from when families should start looking and how many schools to shortlist, to the factors that really matter when making a decision.

They explore some of the choices parents often wrestle with: big school or small? Single-sex or co-educational? Specialist strengths or a broad range of opportunities? And, crucially, how much should reputation and academic results influence the decision?

At the heart of the conversation is a simple idea: start with the child, not the school. Freddie and Henry discuss the importance of understanding a child’s personality, strengths, interests and support needs, and finding an environment in which they can genuinely flourish.

They also tackle some of the most common mistakes families make — including applying to too many schools, relying on websites rather than visiting, comparing children with siblings or friends, and chasing a prestigious name at the expense of the right fit.

Freddie shares a real example of a family whose original school choice turned out not to offer the boarding experience they expected, and how careful guidance helped them find an alternative when time was running short.

A practical guide to making the secondary school search feel less overwhelming — and keeping the individual child at the centre of the decision.

Email in your questions: schooltiespodcast@outlook.com