What to look for at school Open days

[ReadyToRoll321]

I will soon be starting to view open days for Reception next year. But what do I look for? Is it just a ‘feeling’ if whether it will be right for DC? Will the first school I visit suffer because I m clueless and have nothing to compare to?

What other must ask questions are there?
*How many kids/classes in each year
*Bullying procedures
*Teach/Parent feedback. How and how often

I’m sure this has been asked before (probably every September) but thanks in advance!

I asked this last year but it was The Feeling that swung it! As well as decent wraparound care and differentiation for high achieving kids.

We have to drive past five other schools daily but this is the right one for us. (I visited them all!)

Last year was a low birth year in our area so we unexpectedly did get our first choice and apparently this year is even lower, so don't totally discount schools that aren't a sure thing.

Our three nearest schools are all terrible and undersubscribed so we didn't "waste" a choice on a safe option as we knew it wasn't necessary. But everyone on here will advise you must put the closest school as first choice. Depends on your area.

No one on here who understands admissions would advise you to put your closest school as first choice unless it is genuinely your favourite option. The advice is to list the schools in your genuine order of preference, filling all the options and including somewhere in the list at least one school that you can be fairly sure you will gain a place at based on the admissions data from previous years, if such a school exists. The equal preference system is law across England and no LA/school can give priority to children because they listed the school as first preference.

Sorry I meant to put last choice not first choice!

Ah sorry, makes sense. I was all ready to go into my "equal preference is law" rant