Would it be OK to go to secondary school open evenings when ds is still in Y5?

[JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar]

That's it really. I'm talking about state comprehensives, btw.

I like the idea of seeing them this year, and again next year (when we'll have to apply).

Would the teachers think I was mad?

Go! Lots of people with kids in year 5 do. You can also phone up later and ask to do a proper tour (wait until November and the year 6 applications are in).

I hadn't thought of arranging a proper tour before next year, mummytime. Good thinking!

I hate being a PITA, tis all. And if everyone asked, they'd never get any teaching done, surely? They're still free to tell me to bugger off though, I suppose.

Go! That's what everyone does - if you leave it till year 6 that's a very short time to see everwhere, make up your mind and apply.

definitely go this year. Just imagine if you were eg ill/ had to work late/ etc on the 1 day your favourite school was open next year!

Go, we also used it as an incentive for our DS to apply himself at his work if he wanted to get into particual schools.
The schools we visited didn't mind in the slightest.

Boo - that hadn't occured to me. Good thinking!

I wasn't planning on taking ds - but TennisFan I like your incentive plan. Not that any of the schools are selective, and I can see ds being swayed by something utterly irrelevant

Good to hear that the schools don't mind.

I'm quite excited now! One of the schools though is my old school, which I hated with an absolute passion. I have a horrible feeling that I might have some kind of minor anxiety attack if I cross the threshold...

Oh and yes, GrungeBlob, it is a short time to decide otherwise.

I went to one last year when my dd1 was in Y5. Tbh we did get some strange looks from some of the other parents when they found out that dd was in Y5, but who cares. We will actually go back and revisit the same school in a week, but will also go to others and have a look. I have 7 schools on my short list, but I am not sure that I have the patience to look at all of them!

Great idea, wish I'd done it.

Trying to fit in 6 or 7 open evenings is quite a knackering way to start off Year 6. And if any have aptidude tests it really doesn't give you much time to decide if it's appropriate to enter for them.

I think I may have tried to do the year 5 ones on my own without DD though, as a kind of screening process.

If you do the tour, you usually go around with a senior member of staff and/or sixth formers, whilst normal lessons are happening. So you see te school warts and all (I feel slightly relieved to see at least one less than perfect class, but not too many). You can also ask about special facilities that you maybe interested in, eg. music technology studio.

(My other top tip, if you are at all inclined to look at private schools, try to look at one first, so you aren't too overly impressed by shiney facilities.)

Yes, it's a really good idea - I am so glad I did it.

My friend did it for her y4 daughter.

I considered it and dd is in year 1! - Don't worry - I had a little talk with myself!

We went to one school in Y%, just so we could rule it out, but decided it was where would be great for DS. WE then had another couple of chances to visit in Y6 to make sure we were making the right decision.

Yes. Much more sensible to do it in year 5. If you want to look at several schools you will find some of them clash, so try to get round them this year if you can.

Yes. I live in an 11+ area and we have about a week between receiving 11+ results and having to submit our CAF. So lots of parents do the secondary schools in Year 5.

We got info about sec. sch. in Year 4. (State faith school)

Good - thanks everyone :)