Open day for private schools...please share your honest thoughts and opinions.

[Undertheumbrella19]

I felt anxious and overwhelmed with the audience. Some genuinely nice people and some so pretentious tbh.
I don't know if aibu and exaggerated but I wonder if a dreamed school could be turning into a nightmare once you are there everyday?

I don't understand this post?

Are you concerned about the fellow parents and children, and that you (you didn't mention your DC) won't fit in with them?

Exactly.

Stop being so judgemental. You have no idea what any of them are like. Did your dc like it?

I don't really understand the question - you didn't like some of the people at the open day?

It's not supposed to be your personal social club!

What??? No idea what you are talking about. Please don’t say your a teacher there because if you speak in riddles like this the children won’t understand you. Are you a parent?

I don't know if aibu and exaggerated but I wonder if a dreamed school could be turning into a nightmare once you are there everyday?

I’m not entirely sure what this means, but surely any school - or anything else in life - can turn out to be different in reality than your ‘ideal’ version?

There are ‘nice’ parents and ‘pretentious’ parents at all schools, state and private. Maybe the ‘pretentious’ parents were nervous and didn’t come across well.

Maybe you’re judging them more harshly than they would judge you?

If you’re looking for a school where everyone fits your preferred vision, you’ll be looking for a long time.

This isn’t any different to a state school. You’ll meet some “genuinely nice people”, and some “so pretentious”. Why is the dreamed school turning into a nightmare though? This is way beyond just meeting a few pretentious people, unless you’ve idealised the private school as full of perfect people?

A half decent school won’t have ‘open days’. Make an appointment with the head of admissions to discuss admission and be shown around. Go to some of the public events to get a feel for the culture.

Most private school parents are normal working parents. Some are nice: some are meh.

Don’t build the school up to be something it isn’t. It’s not going to be perfect nor without problems - just like any other school. The key thing is, is it the right school for your child.

What a silly statement cherry

Every school needs open days -how else will they encourage people to join? Can't just rely on word of mouth alone A half decent school will give you an appointment to be shown around the school privately and a discussion with the head at the end of said tour.

OP, this really isnt about you. This isnt about your social circles. This about your children and them getting the best education they can.
I went to private school but my mum was so busy working she never really had much time to socialise. She spoke to others at parents night, she mingled at my concert evenings. Nothing major.

Pick the school if it's good and if your kids like it

Cherry
Most private schools do have open days or mornings including Harrow, St Paul’s and Westminster.

Are they not “half decent”?

Oh dear...

One of the things that a good school (private or state) will give is confidence, particularly in new social settings. The children get this I should add.

What happened on this open day for you to be able to form such decisive judgements on the other parents and families? What constitutes pretentious in your eyes?

You won't be there everyday, your child/children will be. Choose a school for them not for you.

Select a school because it will be an environment that meets the needs of your child, not to live out your dream.

A half decent school won’t have ‘open days’. Make an appointment with the head of admissions to discuss admission and be shown around. Go to some of the public events to get a feel for the culture.

Aye, missing the point by a country mile there, but any excuse to perpetuate the sneering fantasy, eh?

A half decent school won’t have ‘open days’

Dds school is one of the neat in the country and it has open days.

Neat! best

Most private schools do have open days or mornings including Harrow, St Paul’s and Westminster.

Are they not “half decent”?

Ignore her. Some people make up any old rubbish in order to shore up their crumbling facade

If it's secondary school you don't have to have anything much to do with them once your child has started.

The school I work in has open days OP and its very relaxed.You would be shown around the grounds and the inside of school by an older child and believe me they are very proud to show off their school.They really enjoy it.Then it would be tea and cakes maybe with staff available to meet with and to answer any questions you have.There is nothing off putting about it and no pressure applied at all.If you can;t face the social side of things then you are welcome to ring admissions and book a private visit.There will always be a few parents who are nervous or feel out of place but its a new thing and to be expected.Go with an open mind.Its a nice day to be part of generally.The pretentious parents you mention probably seem more confident because they have had previous family at the school so they know the ropes thats all.

of course, no decent schools have open days

www.westminster.org.uk/admissions/open-days/

I would suggest the parents you might encounter at an open day are not current parents but others, like you, trying to make an impression! They really have very little to do with the actual culture of the school. Best thing to do is follow up the open day with a personal visit when the school is open. If you are at all interested in a school they will suggest you came in on your own anyway.