What questions to ask?

[Lucyccfc]

Over the next 6-8 weeks we will be attending all the open evenings/days for our 4 local state schools and 2 Indi Grammars.

I have read all the reports and have a few questions based on those, but what questions would you ask?

Thanks

[MillyMollyMama]

My questions would probably be different to yours because we do not have the same children.

In general though, try and ask questions which are pertinent to your children and your educational goals and aspirations for them. If after school clubs, school trips, sports competitions, musical/drama opportunities, pastoral care, special needs provision or school's ability to teach Mandarin are important to you, ask about them. I don't think you ever get under the skin of a school until your child actually goes to it. What you see on, probably, a crowded open day is quite possibly their best behaviour. Try and go back on a normal working day to see them warts and all! You might then get a best fit for your DC because you can target questions more accurately. Try and speak to a student at the school. Not the Head Girl/Boy, but a more random one who has not been prepped with the "right" answers! You have a busy time ahead of you.

[PastSellByDate]

Lucyccfc:

I heartily agree with what MillyMollyMama posted. Open Evenings/ Days are usually highly orchestrated and about putting your best face forward to prospective parents.

We also talked to students who were scattered about or guiding us to places - and we specifically asked about sport club/ team opportunities as DD1 (now Year 7) is sports mad.

The academic side (if that's your concern as a parent) can be resolved by statitistics - have a look at Parent View results for the school / but also look at the run of GCSE results over the last few years. Also - check out the school's website & newsletters: is there a lot of information for parents? Do you get the impression a lot is going on there?

The social side is important - try to get an impression from your child about what schools are considered good/ nice by other kids. I did a lot of asking parents/ DD1 - which school is x or y considering? Don't underestimate the 'where are your friends hoping to go' factor.

Also consider the commute to school: nearby? can you drive them there? do they need to use public transport? journey length? location: quiet streets/ busy roads? Are you comfortable with your child travelling on their own on public transport?

If you know parents who have children already going to a prospective school - talk to them: how is communication?/ is the school relatively organised?/ is it caring? encouraging? supportive? If it is a concern: ask about how they 'set' or 'stream' students in subjects and what they think of the work load: are subjects moving fast enough? are targets ambitious? is there regular homework? etc....

Finally - know that there is no 'perfect' solution to school choice. It's always a bit of a compromise - but remember it isn't just down to the school. We have good friends who sent their eldest to a school which is now in special measures and has a poor reputation locally. For them it was about the commute - because they have younger children at the nearby primary. I know at the time they were really concerned they'd made a horrible mistake by putting that school top of the list of comprehensives (the girl just missed getting a place of local state funded grammar schools).

As it turned out, this girl absolutely thrived at this very run of the mill secondary school - top set in all subjects. She was supported/ encouraged/ given extra work/ etc... - went on to get all A*s at GCSE and has transferred to a state funded grammar school for sixth form. On paper, academically this school didn't appear to be a great choice - but in reality it was an ideal environment for her. She was a real star at the school - the teachers bent over backwards to encourage/ support her - and probably were even more thrilled for her GCSE results than she was.

HTH

[MillyMollyMama]

On the Government's website I think the most valuable statistics for each school are the number of high, medium and low achievers, what progress they make, what results they get and what the value added scores. Basically a low value added means the child may not make as much progress as they could and ultimately get lower grades at GCSE. I always think a well respected, solid, averagely good school is better than a yo-yoing one that is good one minute and in special measures the next.

[mychildrenarebarmy]

Someone suggested to me that instead of asking "How do you deal with bullying?" ask "How was the last incidence of serious bullying dealt with?"

If you can check out the pupils toilets, how well maintained they are can say a lot because they aren't generally expected to be seen by anyone other than the pupils and cleaners.

If you are visiting during the day they should be happy for you to speak to any of the pupils, not just the ones who have been hand-picked.

If they do open evenings and day time tours try to get to both for the schools that you are keen on. We went to one where the open evening was dreadful and completely put us off it. In the evening they should come across as an amazing school.

During day time tours cast a glance through the doors/windows into classes that you aren't taken into as you pass them.

[Stickerrocks]

www.theguardian.com/education/2012/sep/17/schools-teachers-tips-for-parents

We found this useful a couple of years ago. Definitely agree with paying a visit to the toilets.

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

Ask about setting v streaming. How often are things reassessd and how easy is if for a child to move.

[Lucyccfc]

Thank you everyone - really useful.

[FlowersForAlgernon]

I think it's not about asking but about looking.

The speeches seem to be the same at every school but I found the classrooms, specifically what's on he walls, was actually different. One school had everyone's targets and current grades on the wall.

One had posters for astronomy club. One had vocab in every subject on the wall. Etc.

Another diff is how many hours a week they have for eng and maths. That may be worth asking. And what subjects they set for and if you can move sets during the year or not.

Another diff is some schools start GCSEs in Y9 and some don't.

Does every child get a locker?

[BackforGood]

If at all possible, get shown round by an older pupil (not Yr7 or 8, but not 6th form) - or if not, ask pupils who are in the classrooms - and ask them specific questions......

How many times do they actually put on a musical?
Do you play in any sports teams, why not / how many teams are there ?
Are you on the school council? How does that work then ?
Have you had the opportunity to do a residential ?

etc

As schools will say things like "Oh yes, we do DofE" but pupils will say "there is a DoE thing but I didn't get a place as they only have 30 places" - same applies to sports teams, orchestras, plays, ski trips or whatever else you are interested in.

Same with options - the pupils are more likely to tell you how it actually works, rather than what the school are aiming for.

If there are parents / PTA there in any capacity, they are likely to be the ones who get on well with the school of course, but ask them "What's the best thing about the school and tell me one thing that annoys / irritates you about the school" - it might be that gives you a good idea of the annoying thing you might not have thought to ask about.