State vs independent school open days

[user55875537986543]

Please tell me if I’m BU…

Looking at secondary schools. Have been to 3 independent school open mornings, 3 more to look at. Each school has sent an itinerary of the morning and a clear email so we know what to expect (really helpful when deciding if the children should come or not - not all tours have activities for younger siblings but some do).

Also trying to look at two state options but they have one fixed open evening and that’s it. No flexibility. No option for a smaller tour mid week, no option to speak to a member of staff outside that one evening.

The state schools are over subscribed and so I understand that they don’t massively need to “sell” themselves. But the independent schools are massively oversubscribed too and yet are happy to make time for children and parents to work out which school is the best fit.

Also, all the independent schools have their open days on Saturdays. Which means that most parents can actually make it with some notice.

Just a bit pissed off and needed a rant. I absolutely cannot choose a school based on a rushed evening visit without the chance to ask questions properly.

Oh, and the schools with Saturday open mornings are not boarding schools and don’t have Saturday school. So the staff (and some students) come in just for the day to allow parents to see the school properly.

What are you pissed off about?

Those are the options available

Sounds like the independent schools are more your bag. Go with one of them.

Seems pretty simple to me - state schools are massively underresourced, whereas the independent schools are looking at you as a paying customer!

Have you seen anything about the funding pressure state schools are currently under?

Teachers in state schools don't get paid extra for open days

Yes you are being unreasonable.

Bet they don't in indies either to be fair. It's probably just part of their contract

Hmm. Ok. But that’s the thing. The independent schools probably are in my comfort zone but I want to keep the two state options in the ring too! When I looked at state primary schools they were so much more flexible and friendly.

@snowballer you’re right. My independent school teacher friends do not get paid extra for Saturday open mornings.

If you do go for the independent option some of the fees you pay fund the PR and admin staff that make those events happen. Aswell as funding longer holidays for teaching staff.

But the independent schools are massively oversubscribed too and yet are happy to make time for children and parents to work out which school is the best fit.

Yes, but they still have to sell themselves to ensure they have customers. Especially as increased cost of living may make more parents think twice. State schools will get pupils whether they have open days or not. Open days in the state system are a fairly new concept.

But tell me. How can I choose a school based on one open evening with hundreds of other parents so I can’t have more than a hurried chat with anyone? That’s crackers.

I absolutely cannot choose a school based on a rushed evening visit without the chance to ask questions properly.

Well, of course you can - it may be for you that a large part of your decision is going to be that you want to be able to be treated as a paying customer rather than as a user of a free service.

It is a shame that state schools can't properly 'sell' themselves, of course. When dd was at this stage she was very unimpressed by the GS, the open day was busy and very overcrowded. Fortunately after she'd got a place she was able to do a tour during school hours and loved it.

@snowballer

Is the pay in general better?

They have longer (if that's even possible! 😜) holidays too I think?

Anyway expecting state schools to be flexible is unreasonable imo

But then, we don't get any choice so the whole idea of expecting schools to offer choice and flexibility is foreign to me.

@Bobblesock totally get that
@CecilyP also true

Massively more expensive option offers a more attractive pre-purchase package, hardly a surprise to anyone with real life experience.

Independent schools have more resources and are businesses so need to sell themselves. It’s fairly obvious.

It’s depressing but it is what it is. If you want more choice and control and better organisation you probably have to pay for it.

It sounds as if the state schools you are considering are academically good and oversubscribed. Frankly catering to the needs of parents who want to be treated like paying customers is not their model and not their problem.

If you are really really keen to see them you find a way.

@borntobequiet 😂 you’re right. I have no real life experience 😂😂

@Thepeopleversuswork it is depressing isn’t it.

an independent school is selling a business. They want to woo the best students to increase their reputation.

state schools simply don't have the budget for a fancy open morning.

all 3 of mine went to independent day schools and were expected to turn up for open morning and open evening in order to act as tour guides or as "demonstrations" in the classrooms.

Look at their results carefully. Read their website in detail - you can get some idea about the vibe, the ethos. Ask around if you can (we ruled out one high performing girls independent because of various reports of bullying and cliquiness.).

The same way that thousands of parents managed without Open Evenings theast two years. You look at the website, talk to other parents, look at the statistics. Most state schools are pretty similar really.

We have a Free School locally, with lottery entry, and the hard sell they put on is very different to the normal schools, as they are selling a "unique" product.

The independent school has a marketing manager and an admissions team.

The independent school teachers may not be paid for saturday mornings but may have other 'perks' such as smaller classes and free lunch not available in the state sector.

I don’t want/need a brochure, a cappuccino or a bag with the school logo. I would like some time to hear a talk from the head and a chance to speak to a few key members of staff. I would like to speak to learning support about how they cope with children with dyslexia, I would like to speak to someone about GCSE options and I would like to speak to someone about pastoral care (assuming none of this is covered in detail by the main talk). I would like 15 minutes to ask questions without being rushed.

This. Absolutely this.

Private schools have a registrar, a PR and Comms office, well paid staff who are used to coming in "out of hours" and an incentive to maximise the number of applicants so they can choose the best kids.

State schools have no slack in the system and will get enough applicants for their places whether they sell themselves or not.