What to Look for When Choosing a Secondary School

Ask how the school prepares students for their exams, including WAEC and NECO, and from what age that preparation begins in earnest. A school that starts building exam readiness early, rather than only in the final year, generally gives students a steadier path.

Ask what subject tracks or specialisations are offered once students reach the senior years, such as Science, Arts or Commercial, and how and when students choose between them.

Find out whether any international curriculum or additional qualification is included alongside the national one, and what that adds for a student planning to study further afield.

Ask about pastoral care, how the school supports a student's wellbeing and conduct, not only their academic results, and who a parent can speak to if a concern comes up.

Ask what happens outside the classroom: sports, clubs, debate, cultural activities and similar. These matter for a well rounded secondary experience, not just the exam results at the end of it.

Ask how the school communicates with parents at this stage. Teenagers often share less at home, so a school with clear, regular reporting helps a parent stay informed without relying only on what their child chooses to tell them.

As with any school decision, a visit and a direct conversation with the admissions team will tell you more than any single list of questions.