Visiting schools
If the open day is held in the evening or weekend, make time for another visit on a normal school day so you get to see what it’s like without the formal presentations and displays. What’s the mix of children like? How do students and teachers interact in class? How do the teachers and older students interact with your child? What’s behaviour like at the end of a lesson and the end of the school day? Is there a welcoming and happy atmosphere? Which facilities does it look like they’re investing in?
Listen to the Headteacher’s or Principal’s talk
Go along to the Headteacher’s or Principal’s talk to get a feel for the school and its leadership.
- What do they value?
- What is their vision for the school?
- Is the school taking a whole-child approach or is it more focused on academic achievement?
- How is the school progressing and how do children of different abilities get on?
Take the opportunity to ask the head a few questions about what matters most to you.
- What strategies do they have in place for students that aren’t achieving their potential?
- How do they look after the emotional needs of teenagers?
- Where do their students go on to when they leave?
- How does the school engage parents?
Chat with the students
Students often act as tour guides at open evenings. They may have been handpicked for the job but teenagers are usually pretty upfront and honest with their opinions. Get them chatting as they show you around and find out what they like most about the school, which subjects they are taking, how they find the workload and who their favourite teachers are. Cover non-academic matters too such as the support available for students who are struggling, the after-school clubs they enjoy and who they can go to if they need help with a personal matter. If they’re happy and confident the conversation will flow.
Talk to the teachers
Get a feel for how the teachers interact with parents as well as students. Do they reflect the same values as the head? Are they enthusiastic about the school, students and their subject? How do they bring their subject to life especially for students whose interests may lie in other subject areas?
When you get home
Don’t dive straight in and ask your child how they felt about the school, give it time to sink in and then have a conversation about what you saw and whether they felt comfortable there. Then ask yourself: is this the right school for my child?
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In both England and Wales, applications open in September. Your starting point should be your local authority website which will give you access to all the relevant information. -
If your child is progressing to post-primary you’ll receive a leaflet from the Department of Education with advice about choosing a post-primary school and completing the Transfer Form. -
You’ll find out which school your child has been allocated a place at a few months after applying.
