But will we fit in?

PARENTS choosing schools are more concerned that other families are ‘people like us’ than about discipline, research suggests.

Their perception of other pupils and their parents is a bigger influence than whether the school is single-sex or has a religious ethos, according to the UK’s Good Schools Guide.

The study asked 500 parents the main reasons for selecting their preferred school and found they avoided some schools because of the sort of families they attracted.

The most important factor was academic standards, followed by its proximity to home, the quality of buildings and equipment, and the pastoral care.

Other factors in the top 10 included competitive sports, music and drama facilities and the school being co-educational.

Good Schools Guide editor Janette Wallis said: “We expected discipline to storm in high on the list but it is much less important than eyeing up the other pupils and parents at the school.”