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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

Visiting primary schools

55 replies

Pandaghost · 08/09/2025 11:41

Hi
My child is due to start reception next year. I have called 2 schools this week to ask to arrange a visit. One told me the dates arent ready and to leave my details (applications open soon so this seems v unorganised but new head started this term so may explain) and the other told me of an open community day taking place on a weekend.
AIBU to want to be shown round during the school day? Neither school has entertained this but I feel I would get a better feel for it than on a weekend with no kids.
I have previously worked in a secondary school which always had parents looking round during the school day so I know it is a done thing in high school but the primaries seem reluctant to do so.
Thanks!

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Blueberry911 · 08/09/2025 21:23

Why wouldn't you just wait for an Open Day?

Original poster

Pandaghost · 08/09/2025 21:24

BoleynMemories13 · 08/09/2025 20:18

Having read the replies now, I'm quite surprised at how many people think a daytime visit would be unusual (in their experience) or that a request for an individual tour, if the dates/times don't suit, would be an unreasonable request.

In my own personal experience, it's really not a problem (well, it hasn't been in any of the schools I've worked in). Obviously some schools are more welcoming that others, but any who refuse to accommodate a daytime tour because it's "not convenient" would be a red flag for me. Where I am, we pride ourself on building positive relationships with parents before their child even starts with us. A request for a daytime tour would absolutely not be a problem where I work.

It's a huge exaggeration to imply schools would need to do 60+ individual tours. We run both daytime and evening tours, which are always popular. We perhaps have about 6 families maximum each year who request an individual tour because the dates and times don't suit. It's really not that onerous.

I completely agree with everything you've said. In my experience, very few parents would request this - it would be lovely if more did and I know the schools in the area I work in would jump at the chance for more parental involvement. The idea of 200+ families requesting this isn't something that would be likely in most schools. I don't like the idea that a school is reluctant to open their doors in school hours (for a fully supervised tour) and the idea that it would cause chaos or be detrimental to the pupils baffles me.
I have worked in RI and outstanding schools and the RI schools were more nurturing and caring. I know which one I would rather have sent my children to which is why I would never go off reports or data alone.

OP posts:

Soontobe60 · 08/09/2025 21:30

Pandaghost · 08/09/2025 12:33

With all due respect, can I ask what your experience in this field is as we seem to have vastly different ideas of school visits?
In my experience, small group or 1:1 visits are led by a (usually senior) member of staff and generally focus on the school grounds where they discuss curriculum, policies etc and might bob into classrooms for parents to have a quick look and get a feel for a school (how groups are divided and staffed, activities, behaviour management etc). At no point would there be 30-40 people observing a lesson!!

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This is very difficult in a primary school - children are very easily unsettled being gawped at by unknown parents whilst they are trying to get on with their learning. The only person who would likely be able to take you round would be the office staff and imagine if 30+ sets of parents all wanted a similar visit - they’d be at it for weeks!
Everything you’ve listed as to why you want a visit can be done in an out of hours visit, apart from looking at the pupils already there and frankly that’s not a great idea from their pov.

Original poster

Pandaghost · 08/09/2025 22:06

Blueberry911 · 08/09/2025 21:23

Why wouldn't you just wait for an Open Day?

I'm happy to do this. I didn't ask specifically for a 1:1 tour. I asked for a date to look around. One school told me the dates weren't organised yet (fine, happy to wait) and the other offered me a weekend which I dont think would be useful.

OP posts:

Parker231 · 09/09/2025 12:16

Pandaghost · 08/09/2025 22:06

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Hopefully the schools you are interested in will soon publish their visit details but don’t expect it to be during the school day. Unlikely to be staff available for this and less disruptive to the school when visits are out of school hours.

The two schools I was a governor at and the school DT’s went to had evening visits.

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