What should I ask/look out for at a primary school visit?

[MumbleBag]

We've got some primary school visits booked in to look at schools for DS who will start next September.

Any tips on what to look out for or ask? I think I'll just go on general feel but if anyone has any advice on what you look for that would be great.

I'm interested in this too. I know nothing.

Well, we were interested in
Seeing around the school during lesson time - look at numbers in class, behaviour, general atmosphere etc
Looking at work of diff ages
How to they manage strugglers / those who are ahead
Find out about clubs/ sports etc
Find out sbout music opportunities ( or area of your interest)
Speaking to a few teachers or other staff
Speaking to the head briefly to judge their attitude and priorities (5-10mins)
After and before school options ( if you work, which we do)
Ask about any special needs ( learning, health) - hopefully none!

According to replies on another thread of mine, speaking to a headteacher is an unreasonable request. I still don't think so.

This is all quite general i'm afraid!!

Looking back when I looked at schools. I was very focused on Reception , I am very happy with my son's school but really never thought past reception and think I would of made a more rounded decision if I had.

I am though a true believer in gut feelings too

We went heavily on gut feeling but we both work in education so didn't need to ask lots about the curriculum etc.

Did the school have a friendly atmosphere and did the children seem happy?
Were people open to questions or were they cagey with answers - 1 HT was very cagey about some of the classes being out in demountable a when I asked.
What is the school like higher up? Do you prefer a primary school or separate infant or junior schools?

We loved a small primary school where the yr 6s showed us round because it had a lovely atmosphere, great surroundings and obviously the children were trusted to say positive things about the school. Other parents didn't like it because they preferred bigger schools with a separate infant section and the HT showing parents round.

Staff turnover would be a big one for me. How many people left last year, and how many of those were for promotion.

Are all the new teachers NQTs? How are NQTs supported? How many of the teachers are overseas trained? Are any of the teachers on long supply contracts? How do the school manage teacher workload? How does the school deal with/ support weaker teachers?

Happy, well trained, well supported teachers are good teachers- and not much else matters.

Check if there are lots if nice wall displays if children's work, rather than just learning resources.

Check if there are lots if nice wall displays if children's work, rather than just learning resources.

Obviously you don't work for Ofsted as this is a very unfashionable idea- it is all about the working wall now you know! Having the walls covered in notes you've made about the children's collaborative learning is the order of the day, and my does it look tatty!

Aw but the kids love to see their work up there.

That does explain all the scraps of paper in dds classroom.with learning objectives, and who's done what or not so far etc. and yes, it is a mess.

We went on gut feeling, plus the fact that the head teacher wasn't available to talk to in one school and that two teachers ignored us and carried on a personal conversation when we were clearly waiting to talk to them.

Happy, polite children. If the kids give you the tour you can ask them questions about bullying etc and get a good idea from their responses whether it is a nice friendly supportive school for the children.

Whether the head-teacher themselves makes time for.prospective parents - whether in a talk at open days, or 1:1 meetings. If they delegate this they don't have the right attitude.

Look out for spelling and grammar mistakes on notice boards.

Find out how achievement is celebrated and how good and bad behaviour are rewarded/sanctioned. And check these are two different and independent systems so that rewards for good performance are not muddled with rewards for good behaviour.

Think about how the school will serve the 9/10/11year old your child will become there, not just the 4/5year old.

Find out what prominence music, drama and the arts are given.

Ask how they deal with bullies. If a school says they have none they are in denial.

It is essential that you see and talk to the Head, if they can't see you it is a danger sign. Make sure they answer questions, don't talk down to you and are open and friendly. They should know the name if every child and interact with any they come across.
If children show you around it is a good sign.
Ask about staff turnover- our local school is oversubscribed and has a great OFSTED but it is a miserable place to work the Head being the problem and she can't keep staff.
Other than that look at the children - are they getting on in a purposeful manner and cooperating? Can you imagine your child in the room?

And what FishWithABicycle says.

I did some supply teaching in private schools in Mexico City when my dd was small. That experience taught me that the head teacher sets the whole tone of the school as far as kindness, decency and honesty are concerned. And that is how I choose my dd's school. I feel in love with the head, he was so sweet. It wasn't a very academic school but she was treated kindly and learnt to treat others with kindness.

The Head teacher does set it all in any school that is why you avoid the school if the Head won't see you or delegates.

You don't have to be shown around by the Head, children are better but you need a personal interview with her/him.

We rejected the school we first looked at because we asked to see the head and were told 'he is somewhere round the school, you'll have to find him if you want to talk to him

We'd already looked round and hadn't seen him and weren't impressed anyway so we left without meeting him. I later realised that perhaps we had seen him as a few other people said they nearly missed him because he looked like a grandfather who was there with his grandchildren rather than a head teacher, they commented that he had no presence at all!