As a parent, one of the most important decisions you will ever be required to make is which school will best suit your child.

It is not a choice to be made lightly and while recommendation from other parents is obviously important, every child is different and requires his or her own specific style of education nurturing.

Good schools are vibrant, exciting and stimulating places. While some parents are essentially concerned about academic standards, many are as concerned about other factors that can make all the difference to their child’s happiness and wellbeing at school.

It could be the pastoral care, the chance to develop a particular enthusiasm, such as singing, dancing, or even horse riding; or the availability of extra tuition if needed for a child who, while brilliant at rugby, may struggle with maths.

Increasingly, parents are looking for breadth of opportunity in a school for their child. Drama, music and art can encourage creativity and individuality. Vigorous debate can build confidence and self-expression.

A wide range of extra-curricular and sporting opportunities can contribute strongly to a child's educational experience and personal development.

Chandlings School offers parents excellent academic results, in a place where all children are happy and are inspired to learn from teachers who are experts in their subjects. Chandlings is a school where good manners, dress code and good behaviour are positively and actively encouraged and rewarded, but in an atmosphere where children feel relaxed, confident and cherished.

An open morning offers parents and children the ideal opportunity to visit the school and form their own opinion. Crucially, it is also an opportunity to meet the headteacher and Chandlings is delighted to welcome Mrs Sophia Ashworth Jones who joined the school this term as headmistress.

Having worked as a class teacher and director of studies in a variety of schools in Shropshire, a move to Yorkshire led her to taking up the role of head of the Pre-Prep department of Leeds Grammar School for Boys, before being promoted to Head of the Junior School two years ago.

Before arriving at Chandlings, Mrs Ashworth Jones was heavily involved with the recent amalgamation of Leeds Grammar School and Leeds Girls’ High School, which resulted in a very large co-educational school with children across two sites.

She comes to Chandlings with a wealth of experience and enormous enthusiasm and she very much looks forward to meeting prospective families at the open morning.

The open morning is on Friday, September 26, from 9.30am – 12.30pm. Contact registrar Anna Poole on 01865 730771, or email annapoole@chandlings.org.uk