Secondary school open day tours

[Ormally]

Are there any tips on what to look for or ask when visiting prospective secondary schools? Were there any things that you wish you had looked into more deeply on the initial visits?

In the day time you can get a sense of how ordered the school is (especially between lessons), and how the general classroom set up is.

If shown round by a student they can be surprisingly candid, and you can ask about best/worst things, bullying, homework, who they would go to with an issue etc. Then compare/contrast with the 'official' line.

Think what is important to you:

• SEN support? Stretching a high achiever?
• specific extra curricular
• pastoral care
• ethos (hard working & pushy, more relaxed etc)

Then ask questions on those areas.

What classes are set (or streamed) in which year group?
Who gets to be in drama shows, football teams etc (are there opportunities for keen but less talented kids anywhere)
Can they do 2 MFL if they want to (if you care)

Are the toilets mixed sex? If you have a daughter this may affect attendance, raise health issues. Funnily enough they never show you the loos so you have to look out as you are rushed past

What subjects are available at GCSE, and how much actually choice do the students get after filling slots with all the ones the school says they have to take.

If you get to chat to a student, what was learning provision like during lockdown.

Extra curricular clubs etc

Thank you for these - Had to drop everything to do something unforeseen earlier, but all going to be good to look out for.