If you go to look around a school (when moving area) would you expect to be shown around by the head (or teacher) or not?

[Loueytb3]

We're moving. We've looked around 3 schools so far in the new location. At 2 of the schools we have been shown around by the head. Loved both. One has space for 1 child but not the other. The other has no space currently.

At the third school we were shown around by a member of the office staff. The head was in a classroom (but not teaching) but didn't come and talk to us. Nor did any of the teachers. We both came away feeling a bit deflated about the school but I don't know if we are being unreasonable. This school has places for both children.

Now have a dilemma on our hands because admissions are refusing to give out any information about waiting lists until after we apply. But the waiting lists might affect which schools we apply to.

If you moved schools (in-year admissions) - were you shown around by the head?

When choosing my school for my dd. We looked around a number of local primary schools.
It definitely went on the con list if we wasn't shown round by the head.
I do understand that head teachers are very busy. The school we looked around where the head wasn't present. I know he's also a form teacher so was probably teaching.
But I felt like I got a better feel for the school seeing how the head interacted with the other staff and students.
The school we chose was one where we was shown round by the head and called every student we seen by name.

Make an appointment with the head that way barring an emergency you will get to chat and ask questions.

I've just looked at the school diary and there were 17 potential parent visits in there for the next fortnight! That's on top of all the usual extra stuff at this time of year. Most of those parents are looking having been told there are no spaces and that they will come well down the waiting list due to where they live, yet they all expect at least 30 mins of the head's time. We have a large site in three separate buildings and just walking that takes a huge chunk of time.

At my school the head or a member of SLT will do the tours if free, but if not the office manager will. The head will try to chat at the end of the tour if they can but we have lots of parents looking so it isn't always possible.
Can you phone the school and ask to see the head ?

The office manager showed us round DC' primary school. This was great, and fine, because every single member of Staff had a shared vision for the school and was able to talk about ethos, policies, knew all the children etc. Caretaker, Head, Manager, teachers, all passionate, caring and knowledgable.

('Outstanding ' school)

Usually our school 'Business' manager will show people round our school, and the potential class teacher for the child will answer any questions. But any of us will talk to you if you ask questions!
The head occasionally does the showing round , if she s free, or the business manager can't , for some reason.

I've just looked at the school diary and there were 17 potential parent visits in there for the next fortnight!
Sounds like there could be an opportunity to tell parents who ring for a visit, that there will be a tour at 2pm Wednesday, or same time next week, and just do the lot of them in one go? Appreciate it might make the experience less personal, but if the schools already oversubscribed it may help them realise that (and I for one, would prefer a tour group with the head or member of teaching staff, to an individual tour with a nervous 10 yo who you don't feel you should ask hard questions!).

I assume the appointment was made at a time that was convenient to you? While it would be preferable to be shown round by the headteacher, as long as the member of staff is competent and knowledgeable, then there should be no problem.

The headteacher could be completing an observation on a member of staff, or observing a child to determine the level of support they needed. They could be supporting children's learning in a subject they had a particular specialism in, or providing CPD to a member of staff. There are a multitude of reasons why a headteacher might be in the classroom and this might be seen as a priority over a showround. To be honest, to see a headteacher engaged in teaching and learning, and standards is good to see.

When we moved, I was shown round 4 schools, 2 by the head and 2 by the lady in charge of admissions. To be honest I just wanted a feel for the school and I was able to do that each time. I would't expect the head to be free. I would be quite happy to know that they were busy with current school issues. We ended up choosing one of the schools where we were not shown round by the head as the atmosphere in the school seemed vibrant and happy. That was the most important thing to me

We got shown around by HT. He took an hour to do it and took us to every classroom and introduced us to every teacher. Showed us all facilities inc before/after school club (obvs empty at the time), sports fields, drama stuff, talking about the extra-curricular stuff they do, everything. Plenty of time for questions and he spent time talking directly with DS to establish best integration approach inc best class based on teacher fit.

HT knew we wanted to join already, but I was still pretty shocked at how great he was.

And it wasn't a one-off. Every morning he hangs out at the gates to welcome everyone, every afternoon he wanders around the playground to ensure he's accessible for all parent questions and concerns...we're very lucky to have him.

To those who are saying not possible for the school to make a teacher available for 10 minutes at all - I've never been in a school that doesn't have 1 teacher available at some point in the day. Most schools do have TAs who would take a class while the teacher popped out if it was pre-arranged, PE or music sessions delivered by someone other than the class teacher, say which is a non-teaching period - fair enough usually used for planning but 10 mins might be found then, or playtimes and lunchtimes where they might not be rota-ed on.

I'm NOT saying teachers should take time out of class every day/week to chat to prospective parents, or give up all their breaks, or the HT should drop important vital things to chat aimlessly with wandering parents.

But parent visit appointments are booked into the diary, so can be offered at a time convenient to the school, and I personally would find it unusual and unwelcoming not to speak to a member of teaching staff, preferably SLT. I think it's an important part of the HT job, really. If parents aren't important enough for their time who is? That's the message I'd get.

We were shown round by the office manager but then had a ten minute meeting with the HT in her office (state primary).

I would visit the Summer Fair or Fete that most schools have - can show you a lot about the school.

"I've never been in a school that doesn't have 1 teacher available at some point in the day. " most primary school staff have full time teaching commitment so I don't know where all these non classroom based teachers are certainly not in any schools I know

The important thing is that you have a chance to speak to teaching staff and/or the HT at some point. This may not be during the tour, but the chance should be available.....and if a school is not prepared to give this and ideally to offer it, I would be a bit concerned.

Yes, of course teachers and HT have plenty of important work to do. This is why an office member or children might be used for tours, especially if the school gets a lot of requests for them. However, it should be made clear that people can ask questions which require a teacher or HT to answer (office staff simply can't be expected to answer all curriculum or pastoral related questions) and that a conversation is possible at another time to suit the teacher/HT or by phone.

Schools which would have huge numbers wanting tours to the point it would take over manage this by only offering tours on specific dates and making a staff member or several available for questions at the end.

I think that if a school has vacancies and you are someone moving to the area, they should be prepared to answer questions. They will want you and the funding your child brings.

I am surprised by how many schools fail to deliver a positive outward message to prospective parents and come across as not being interested in parents at all. It is daft behaviour and someone needs to point out to them how it comes across.
The very good schools I have known, even when very over subscribed have been prepared to answer prospective parents questions and to make them feel valued. It's one of the reasons why they are popular.

OP! If you have remaining questions, ring the school and thank them for their tour and say you still have questions that need a teacher/HT and ask to make an appointment to come in and ask them. If the office say you can't have such an appointment, ask for the email address of the HT and email to explain you have queries and were concerned to be told you couldn't see a member of teaching staff to have them answered. Make a direct request for a meeting. However, if you have to do this, I would be put off the school TBH.

Our school has an average of 7 tours a day, a prefect will tour around the school and then if a boarding place is needed, a house master shows them around the boarding house (or me if house master is unavailable) they also meet with a member of smt or admissions.
The head only shows VIPs around ( proper VIPs!! - with lots of money/ famous rock stars 😁😁😁😁)

mrz as I say, in every school my DC have been in, there has been a teacher available at some point in the day. Full time teaching commitment doesn't mean there is never 10 minutes when a class is occupied in something when a TA could supervise. Teaching HTs often don't teach full-time, so sometimes they'll be delivering e.g RE freeing up that class teacher - and I strongly think talking to parents should be part of the HT remit and time allowed for it.

As I said - not expecting teachers to duck out of class ceaselessly to escort parents around, but a few minutes at a designated time they can plan for, yes I think that's not too much to ask.

I agree with poster who says if the school can't find you a member of teaching staff to talk to for even a few minutes then that's an issue.

You should definitely meet the Head for a proper talk at some point during the day, but the showing around is usually done by the marketing manager if it's private, 6th formers or office staff if state. You judge a school by its Head, so if he can't be bothered to meet you it isn't a good sign.

Or she!

No, not necessarily. Though if I asked for a meeting with the head I would expect to be able to arrange one at some point in the near future.

If around and not engaged with another important task, she would generally come and say hello, and speak to you and your child. She would be happy to arrange a time to speak to you longer if you wished it.

As for a tour, - it could be the head (if free), or any other member of staff - deputy head, teacher, or TA. It would depend on who was available that day and in the best position to show people around. We all know enough of the school to answer most initial questions, and give information about the day to day running of the school, and information about other factors such as SEND provision, etc.

"Full time teaching commitment doesn't mean there is never 10 minutes when a class is occupied in something when a TA could supervise."
Full time teaching commitment means you teach full time ... not pop out for ten minutes and leave someone else to do your job.

Oh, and all our teaching staff would have greeted you and your child when shown into the classroom.

But we couldn't even guarantee our head or deputy would even be in school on a tour arranged by a parent, unless they specially asked to have an appointment to chat with them. They aren't always in school as have things to do which take them out of school at times too.

If there is a new pupil coming to look at the school the admissions staff should inform the Head and make sure they are available prior to the visit. The Head will often go in in the holidays to meet parents of prospective pupils in my experience.

mrz I stand corrected. I shall inform my DC's school that I'm appalled at the way they structure the time of their full time teaching staff as they should be with my children every minute of every school day. Bet they'll love me.