Questions to ask when looking around secondary school?

[Bach45691]

Any ideas? Being shown around by a pupil so I’d like some questions ready to fill any awkward silences. I hate stuff like this!

Anyone?

Being shown around by a pupil? I'd ask what the meals are like? How strict are they about uniform? What are the best facilities (ie the science lab, the tennis courts, the gym)?

Don't worry. I'm sure there won't be awkward silences

Thankyou! I’m a bag of nerves (hide it well though).

Take an interest in staff turnover. A pupil who’s been there a few years will have noticed if there’s a revolving door to the staff room, even given the self-absorbedness level of your average teenager. They also won’t euphemise about it.

The most self-deluding schools I’ve worked in had a constant stream in an out because staff were so miserable. This doesn’t bode well for the quality of the student experience IMO.

Amount of homework, opportunities to join co-curriculars.

What’s the behaviour like in lessons?
What’s their favourite subject?
Have they been on any trips?
Do they like the school?

How much homework always gets a truthful answer IME. Ask about clubs, are they in lunchtime or after school? How do they get to school and how long does it take them? Is it a 2 week timetable?

I asked what they would change about the school, and four students had a really interesting discussion on the mobile phone policy (three wanted to keep the no phone use on school grounds rule, one didn't) and quality of uniform and cost-benefit analysis.
How they interacted with staff was also key.