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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Bit 'meh' after visiting our first open day

73 replies

LoisLittsLover · 13/11/2018 11:24

Dh, dd (4) and I visted our local village primary today and i'm just a bit disheartened.

The morning was advertised on the wdbsite as 9:30 - 11:30, turned up at 9:40 to see that we had missed the main meeting. Tours were underway, led by year 6 pupils who were very confident and articulate but not able to answer some questions about reception homework etc. Reception classroom was in full flow of a usual day so no chance to speak with those teachers, and head had a huge queue of perspective parents so didn't like to bother her. The school is small (1 form entry) but hugley popular so over 150 families trying to look round, so spent ages queueing.

The classroom was lovely etc and sure dd would do okay but if (and i know it is an if) will future poor organisation at events drive me mad? I work closley with schools and understand the pressures etc but both dh and i could see really easy ways that the morning could run smoother

OP posts:

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Gileswithachainsaw · 13/11/2018 11:28

It sounds like it was younwho was more poorly organised.

You were late . So you missed the meeting which may well have answered the questions and provided hand outs. And you didn't wait to ask your questions.

What more did you expect ?

Original poster

LoisLittsLover · 13/11/2018 11:30

Had the website said '9:30 to 11:30 with a presentation by head at 9:30' i would ha e been there. But that wasn't mentioned anywhere.

I didn't feel.my queations were necessarily of the right level for the head if that makes sense, more things for the teaching staff in the class. But maybe that is my hang up from my school days

OP posts:

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 13/11/2018 11:31

You were late? You were the poorly organised one not them!

1sttimeDD · 13/11/2018 11:31

Poor organisation? You turned up after the event started so should accept that you have missed part of it.
What would you like the teachers to do? They cannot leave their classes unattended to speak to prospective parents - using Year 6 pupils is pretty standard practice.
Questions regarding homework are often answered on school's websites, in prospectuses or welcome packs (I wouldn't expect my Year 6 pupils to know about Reception homework!)
I think you might have impossibly high standards - what more do you want the school to do? Clearly they are doing a lot of things right - it is hugely popular for a reason!

Thiswayorthatway · 13/11/2018 11:33

You were late, not the school's fault at all.

RCohle · 13/11/2018 11:33

I think the school had tours by year 6 pupils so you could see the sort of confident and articulate children the school produces. Which is probably more important that knowing the minutia of homework in reception.

I agree that it sounds like you who was disorganised and/or has unreasonably high expectations of the amount of time teaching staff should dedicate to open mornings away from their class.

Gileswithachainsaw · 13/11/2018 11:33

9.30 means it starts at 9.30.

I'm fact I would have been there and most would have been there by 9.15/9.20 to ensure a seat or not be too far back in a queue.

You were late and missed it. Only yourself to blame

Original poster

LoisLittsLover · 13/11/2018 11:33

Fair enough - i had assumed it was mosre 'drop in' that start to finish. I will definitley take that into considerations and double check these things as it was me misunderstanding their announcement

OP posts:

Icyvisi · 13/11/2018 11:40

I went to a school open evening recently and I am also wondering how much the open evening reflects what the school is like on a daily basis. Can you make an appointment to view the school on a normal school day? I am thinking of doing that.

The open evening I went to left me feeling very impressed. I was expecting to hate the school because it has a bad reputation but I was very impressed.

grasspigeons · 13/11/2018 11:43

Why don't you phone and see if there is another your and have a better look, or just explain to the office that it was a bit busy to ask your questions the office may know the answers as they do know quite a bit or they might get someone to call you back.

Original poster

LoisLittsLover · 13/11/2018 11:46

Thanks for the suggestions. Just feeling very unsure about this desicion for dd as it feels huge so think i am leaning to over analysing everything

OP posts:

jerkkneed · 13/11/2018 11:52

I've been to 4 different school open days and not been late for one as they need to start on time. Head teacher can't be waiting around as they have a school to run.

You should ask questions, that's what the day is for. It doesn't sound badly organised to me OP it sounds like a typical open day. Starts on time, most schools allow year 6 pupils to show you around and then questions at the end.

Are you looking at any others?

jerkkneed · 13/11/2018 11:54

@Icyvisi

Yes you can arrange to visit on a normal day and pretty much most schools will accommodate this. That way you can see them on a typical day rather than one specifically planned for "show".

HellenaHandbasket · 13/11/2018 12:05

Our local school are more than happy for people to ring in and go in whenever. If you are feeling uncertain I would recommend it as having a bit more time and space can only be beneficial.

BluthsFrozenBananas · 13/11/2018 12:13

My DD has shown prospective parents around her primary. They’re not briefed to answer every possible question, they’re just told to be polite, helpful and friendly. Year 6s can’t be expected know about yr homework, just like I wouldn’t have expected the y8 who showed me around a secondary school a few weeks ago to know much about the sixth form. It’s not indicative of an issue with the school.

RedSkyLastNight · 13/11/2018 12:28

Ignore the open day logistics for now.
You sound underwhelmed about the school.
You know it will be oversubscribed (what's your realistic chance of getting in??)
Being shown round by Year 6 pupils is a good thing - they will tell you how it is and not hedge around the questions!
Have you seen any other schools (for comparison)?
Of the questions you couldn't ask - are any of them deal breakers? If so, send them in by email, or arrange a meeting at another time.

ifIonlyknew · 13/11/2018 13:23

I agree with others, I can see why you perhaps thought it might be a drop in session as you hadn't been to one before but usually they will include general information session at the start and that would probably have been the time to ask any questions you might have had. They have to use children to show people round because the teachers are all teaching and it does give you a chance to ask for a child's point of view on the school, they are often very honest.

ReverseTheFerret · 13/11/2018 13:56

To whoever asked - I'm in the middle of doing DD1's KS2 transfer applications at the moment (my kids are at an infant school) and we had an open evening which was a bit of death by powerpoint and not a good chance to get a feel for the school - so I took them up on their offer to ring and ask to look around during the school working day and they were utterly utterly fine with that... the head got called off to deal with something else so one of the assistants showed us round (which was better in terms of the actual information I wanted to know really). Other school I've got on our form I know very much in a warts and all way since I was their regular supply cover for a good few years - I've looked around there but it was more of a "who's had a baby, married, left and look at our new extension" catchup (and depressingly "which kids you've taught who are now at university" session to make me feel positively ancient) than a proper "tour".

BlueChampagne · 13/11/2018 15:02

I would contact the office and request a private visit, and get your questions answered. You could even tactfully mention that you missed the introductory talk because of the way the morning was advertised on the website. You may not have been the only one, and they could be more specific next time.

Maldives2006 · 13/11/2018 20:26

Trust me primary is easy, save the stress for secondary

Coconut0il · 13/11/2018 21:25

We had an open day last week, advertised as 9.30-11.30. Parents came in whenever they wanted during that time. Unless a meeting to start was stated I think it's unclear that yours started at 9.30.
Our Y6 children showed families round but there were only about 10 through the morning.
Reception teachers were teaching as normal.
Did all the families stay till the end if it was a 2 hour thing? What did you all do?
I would just ring the school and ask to visit. Our head shows people round in that situation but the Reception teachers are still teaching.
And as for events driving you mad, I think yes they will! Wherever you go. I work in a school and DS1 has been right through and is now in Year 11 and they drive me mad. Dress up in yellow. Wear spots. Come in pyjamas. Funny hair. Book day. Sports day. Two tickets costing £££ for Christmas plays. Schools do their best but ypu can never please everyone.

Kokeshi123 · 14/11/2018 00:25

I agree that the OP should have been on time, but the school's event also sounds quite poor. Why was there no chance to talk to the teachers? I hate it when stuff like leading tours gets given to children to do--I know it's cute and it gives them an opportunity to feel like they are in charge, but they are not going to be able to answer any serious questions from the parents, so it always comes across as the school having something to hide or not taking parents' concerns seriously.

BackforGood · 14/11/2018 00:28

Can you make an appointment to view the school on a normal school day? I am thinking of doing that.

I would contact the office and request a private visit, and get your questions answered.

Some people on MN are so entitled.
Do you not think that HTs might have other things to do (especially in a small village Primary when they are likely to have a teaching timetable too), than show 150 families around the school separately ? As for the thousands that might be looking round a secondary school .....

Nuffaluff · 14/11/2018 06:27

Sorry OP, your post made me laugh. Thanks though.
Yes, you were late - not the school’s fault.
Year 6 children not knowing about reception homework- why would they, they’re not teachers, they’re children. They sound like a great advert for the school as they were so articulate.
Reception teachers not dropping everything to speak to you - they are teaching the children, that’s their job. If you want to take the children’s valuable teacher time by having her/him chat to the parents, that means they’ll have to do it for your child next year. Would you want your child’s teacher having time taken away from your child?
You may be able to go and visit on your own, but as the school is oversubscribed, I suspect the Head may say no. She/ he doesn’t need to use her valuable time in this way.

crimsonlake · 14/11/2018 06:33

The school is over subscribed that should speak for itself. The teachers cannot show you around or speak to you during the open morning as they were teaching.

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