Can not view school while children are in it!

[Totallyfloaty35]

Finally had an 'invite' to view a local school(they have kept all parents waiting much longer than any other school) but we are only allowed to view it on 1 of 2 afternoons at 3pm when all the children who attend have left
Is this normal? they seem very unwilling to allow anyone to visit during a school day.
How can i tell what its like without seeing interaction?
School says they dont have the time to show parents around during school,although every other school in town has managed just fine.
Can i insist they show me during school hours, or are they allowed to refuse legally?

I can't imagine how they would be allowed to do that! Phone the LEA and tell them...you need to see kids in situe to make a choice!

Red flag. Wipe them off your list.
If they are this unreasonable to prospective customers parents, just think what they would be like once you got there.

That's just weird. It is definitely not normal, and would make me think twice about the school tbh

It may be that they prefer to do a big 'show and tell' to prospective parents all in one go (or two) so that they can answer the bulk of the questions just the once rather than saying the same things over and over to a series of small groups or individuals. Maybe they can then cope with individual visits to see the school in session.
I must admit that if they really will not allow prospective parents and children to see the school in action it is a very sad state of affairs and really does beg the question of 'why not?'

I would strike them off my list. The one local school which seemed similar was boycotted by me, and I refused to buy a house close to it.

How weird. DD2's upcoming school (hopefully) encourages the parents to come in during school hours, and we got taken into every classroom to see the different lesson techniques.

Sounds abnormal to me.

DDs school did an open day when the yr 6s showed prospective famiies around. It didn't take much staff time and was good experience for the yr 6 kids.

They would also show individual families around any time.

You need to see the school in action, not empty buildings.

Odd - both our local schools did small visits (only a few parents at a time) on a certain day a week, you just had to phone up and book. How are you supposed to see how the school works without children in it

definately a red flag, this.

Gives the impression that they are trying to hide something....

Definately don't bother with it. I have the same theory for schools that I have been for an interview for as a teacher. If they try to keep you out of school hours, they've got something to hide or are very bizzarely secretive which is still not a good sign.

They're either control freaks (bad sign) or the kids are running riot (worse sign). Phone up and ask, specifically, why they don't let parents look round while children are actually at school, given that most schools not only allow this but provide you with a couple of hand-picked Y6s to answer all the really awkward questions with innocent 10-yo honesty.

(I recommend asking: 'What do teachers do if pupils don't do what they're told?' Twas most enlightening. Also 'What would you do if another child was picking on you in the playground?' and 'What happens if children don't do their homework?')

Very odd, I'd check with the LEA as formash suggests it definitely sounds like they have something to hide.

I second everyone else - I did have to book the visit with the primary school both my DDs ended up going to but it was during school hours, we saw lessons in progress, DD was allowed to talk to reeption children (she was 3.5 at the time) and we were made to feel very welcome. TBH it was what swung it for us - the feel of the school, the way the children begaved, the welcoming atmosphere. I'd alert the LEA as a matter of principle, but I wouldn't send my DC there.

This is a school run for the staff and not for the pupils or parents, I would simply cross it off my list of potential schools. The one thing you need to see is what the school is like on a normal day with pupils working, not what will be a staged aren't we wonderful show for prospective parents.

Unbelievable!

Thankyou all, i am about to phone and insist on seeing it during a school day.Its a catchment school and if i leave it off my list i could end up in a school miles away, but at the same point i dont want my child going to a school that is completely unsuitable.
I think they are being very unhelpful, lots of my friends only have this school as a proper choice(other schools nearby are faith schools) and are also upset at not seeing how it operates.
Will let you know if i manage to back them down

If the children/staff there cannot cope with the disruption of a few prospective parents visiting then life is going to be very challenging for them IMO.

I visited DS's secondary when building works were taking place- half the lessons were in portkabins. They were also in the middle of an Ofsted inspection.

Will be interesting to see if they back down. Something tells me they won't.