Prospectuses are essential reading; some have the prospectus also on the school website, which may give you a feel for the buildings and environment, as well as the staff and pupils.

Prospectuses vary enormously, from totally inadequate 4-page leaflets to 60-page brochures, with elegant text and beautiful photographs; and on the website may include a virtual tour of the school. Read thoroughly but also with caution. Schools do not update their prospectuses more than every five years or so (though the website may be more up-to-date). Their aim is to present the best features of the school. They will not dwell on the smoking behind the bike sheds or last year's A-level physics failures - or any of the shortcomings which surface occasionally even in the best-run establishments. To get a real feel of a school, do not rely solely on the prospectus, visit it.