Babyjames, you write busmile in square brackets. Full list of bunnies is below this thread under Smileys List [buwink] .
Thank you for the WH Open Day date! Drat! We're going on holiday that morning [busad] . Will have to arrange another visit to see the place. Urgh.
As to questions, I have to be honest and say that I rarely go with a prepared list. I tend to read as much as I can in advance - reports from Ofsted, ISI reports, prospectuses etc. The Good Schools Guide is another place to look. There are threads here on MN about it. See here. I purchased a month's online subscription which has now run out; yearly subscription is quite expensive but you can check out the GSG Book at local library or bookshops.
If questions occur to me obviously I'll ask them but my main reason for visiting is to try and get a feel for the place and the staff. And with each school being different, I guess the questions/issues will be different every time. For e.g., with AH and BS I'll be keen to know more about the boarding/day pupil ratio and how well the two integrate, etc.
I guess it also depends on your DC, what age/gender they are etc. We have yet to see where their interests and talents (if any!) lie but might be interested, for e.g., in what the music department can offer, and what sports are available for girls (in our case).
I'm only beginning to refine my research skills through practice. It's not an easy process. At least we know we're not alone. Spoiled by choice really! And I'm sure there's no such thing as "the right" decision, or at least whatever decision we make is bound to be "good enough under the circumstances and with the information we have available" (says Mumsfret crossing her fingers)[buconfused] .