Open day season is upon us. Penelope Warde speaks to the experts about making the most of them, really getting to the bottom of what they are offering
Strategies vary when it comes to independent school open days, from great days out to formal schedules. Whatever the strategy, the very best face will be put forward, they are, after all, selling you their school.
Upon trawling the internet and available material the Good Schools Guide offers the most insightful guide. One over-arching thing to remember though is that this is all about finding the place where your child can be the best version of themselves and enjoy it. The school at the top of the rankings may not be for your child, even though they would be able to pass all the interviews and exams.
The point of an open day is to see the school as it functions on a daily basis. As such, talk to as many pupils as you can. Ask them which subjects are best, what they do during breaks and what they would change about the school if they could. And take a look at your fellow parents too, would you be happy for your children to mix with theirs?
Seek out notice boards. What is going on? Sports matches? Outdoor lessons? School trips? Are they up to date? And what about the pupil showing you around? Try not to judge the school on the basis of this one person. Ask questions about what your child is favouring and also what they are not, as things change so quickly.
Don’t forget to check out the pupils’ toilets, nothing is more revealing. The Good Schools’ Guide reports finding riding kit, a dog kennel, and a piano upon their visits. On this point, don’t be afraid to go off-piste – you are not a pupil and nobody is going to tell you off!
And finally treat the open day as an introduction to the school, a first date if you wish. If you would like to take it further arrange a personal visit or one-to-one to find out more.
All of this may seem like common sense but in the rush of the day, the nervous excitement, and your long ‘must-check’ list, possibly with a glass of wine, it’s worth the preparation. You can always go back though for your second date to see if this is for you and your child.
The Good Schools Guide is a great place to start with some ideas of questions to ask and a whole host of other useful resources.
