CHOOSING a secondary school for your child is one of the biggest and most important decisions you will ever have to make in their lives.

A child’s experiences at high school can shape the rest of their lives, whether it’s in their career choice, or even the people they meet.

So getting it right is crucial.

But how do you decide where to send them? Parents now have more choice than ever before about which school to choose. You no longer have to select the school that’s on your doorstep.

I caught up with parents attending an open day at Christopher Whitehead Language College in St John’s, Worcester, to see what factors parents are taking into consideration when making their decision.

Clive and Lynne Matthews were attending with their 10-year-old son Rowan, currently a pupil at St Clement’s CE Primary School.

Mrs Matthews said: “Deciding which school to send Rowan to is a huge thing. This is the first time we have ever gone through this and it’s really nerve-wracking.

“We want to make sure we make the right decision for him and that he is going to be happy and do well.”

The couple, who live in St John’s, Worcester, said the reputation of Christopher Whitehead had drawn them to the school and having the chance to look around the school had helped to seal their decision.

“Rowan has been here quite a lot on trips from his primary school and he likes it,” Mrs Matthews said.

“I’m really excited walking around and seeing all the facilities they have and I think it’s the right place to send him.”

To get your child in to a high school, all parents must complete a Worcestershire LA Common Application Form (SA1), by the closing date on Friday, November 7, this year.

Parents are invited to state three preferences on the form. Last year, 92 per cent of 6,143 11-year-olds in Worcestershire were offered their first choice of secondary school.

Jacqui and Gary Lockyer, who live in St John’s, said they were still undecided about where to send their 10-year-old daughter Kristina next year.

“Kristina goes to Rushwick Primary School at the moment, which feeds in to the Malvern high schools, so we are also looking at The Chase and Dyson Perrins as well as Christopher Whitehead,”

said Mrs Lockyer.

“It’s really difficult deciding where she should go, and ultimately I think we will make our decision on the academic results of each school.”

Academic results are something Christopher Whitehead Language College has excelled in in recent years, having improved its GCSE pass rates year on year.

But the school’s headteacher Neil Morris told parents that they had to make their decision based on a number of factors.

“You need to look at the staff, the facilities and how happy the pupils are here,” he said.

“This is a really big decision to be making. Here at Christopher Whitehead’s we are proud of our academic results, but we also want to ensure that we are producing well-rounded citizens.”

Sally Coleshill was attending the open day with her 10-year-old daughter Lucy-Jo, a pupil at St Barnabas CE Primary School.

“I already have one daughter at Christopher Whitehead and she has done very well here ,” she said.

“It’s not the closest school to us, as we live in the Rainbow Hill area, but I think it has been the best school for her, and hopefully for Lucy-Jo too.”

Nine members of staff at Christopher Whitehead Language College send their children to the school – something Maxine Browning is now considering doing herself.

Mrs Browning works in the finance department at the school, but lives in Malvern. Her nine-year-old daughter Grace is a pupil at Somers Park Primary School, Malvern.

“Grace won’t be starting secondary school until September 2010 but I was advised to start looking at schools early,” she said.

“I’m looking at Christopher Whitehead as I work here and I know it well. But I am also looking at Dyson Perrins in Malvern.

“It’s so difficult knowing where to send her. I think it will be a decision we will have to make together.”

Dave Adams and Clare Smallman are also torn between Christopher Whitehead, The Chantry at Martley and Dyson Perrins.

“We want to select the school where we know Katie will be happiest,” they said.

“It’s really important to come and have a look at the schools and get a feel for them, and hopefully we will make the right decision.”

Following the November deadline, parents have an anxious four-month wait until the end of March, when they will find out which school their child will be attending.

Most will get their first choice, but for some there will be disappointment, and many will find themselves going through the appeals process.

Mr Morris said: “We do have a waiting list at the school, but most parents who select us as their first choice are successful."