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Original poster

Secondary school visits - what should I REALLY be asking about?

36 replies

Tinker · 03/10/2007 14:48

Eldest will be going into Y7 next year.

I'm 99.9% sure which school she'll be going to but feel I should be asking some probing questions. My mind always goes blank or I sound inane.

Any suggestion gratefully received.

Thanks

OP posts:
claricebeansmum · 03/10/2007 15:09

How many staff left at the end of last year?

What exactly has the PTA paid for last year?

How many children were expelled last year?

Tamum · 03/10/2007 15:08

Can't add much to mb's sterling advice, except that it might be worth asking if they stream/set according to ability, and in which subjects. I took that as a given for things like maths, but I'm not sure it is always, from posts on here. I guess how much choice they get in terms of GSCE/A levels and what restrictions there are?

Original poster
Tinker · 03/10/2007 15:08

I have been advised to corner one of the kids for the real info...

OP posts:
UnquietDad · 03/10/2007 15:08

Depends what you are looking for.

I sometimes think they should have, instead of academic league tables, a table showing the proportion of kids to dress in hoodies, carry knives, holiday in Benidorm etc.

(Just ignore me, I'm being flippant.)

swag · 03/10/2007 15:07

PMSL at feeling the form tutor

We've got the 1st visit, out of 2 possible schools, tomorrow night so I'll be making notes

Original poster
Tinker · 03/10/2007 15:06

What is annoying is that the other potential (and only for nosiness really) school has its open day on the same night!

OP posts:
Original poster
Tinker · 03/10/2007 15:05

mb

Thanks for those. A lot of those are on teh school website so that's a good sign. Like the KS3 questions

OP posts:
Marina · 03/10/2007 14:57

LOL at that fab typo you have so kindly drawn our attention to

Marina · 03/10/2007 14:57

Good luck tinks - hope it's a school where dd will do well and be happy
MB I will tuck that advice away for future use, I cannot believe how ds' primary years are belting by

Blandmum · 03/10/2007 14:56

OMG! Not feel a form tutor! Keep! Keep!

That has to be my worst bloody silly typo

Blandmum · 03/10/2007 14:55

How is the pastoral care organised, do children usually feel a form tutor, head of year (whatever) for the 5 years of school prior to A level

How much feed back is given to parents in the first term of the child going into year 7, do they contact you to let you know how things are going, for example.

How many parent teacher meetings per year?

Do they have a review evening?

How much progress do they expect a child to make over the KS3 period.....go catch them out question this, it used to be 1 (ie so go in at level 4, get a 5 at KS3) now the government has just said it should be 2.

Does the school have a virual learning environment....ie does the school website allow the children to access lesson plans, homework etc on the computer from home....a boon for children who miss lesson, and forget home work

How many children choose to stay on into the sixth form?

that any good?