I'm off to visit a primary school for DD for 2010 intake this morning (I'm feeling v grown up!!). What questions would you recommend I ask the head teacher?

[MyCatsAScarierBastardThanYours]

So far I have:

Intake ? how many on the list, catchment area, siblings etc
Settling in process
Class size
Breaks
Fresh Air time (in lessons, what do they do outside)
Sports
Discipline
Bullying
Languages and other subjects covered?

Anything vital I have missed?

I shall also be looking around to see if the kids look happy and the teachers nice and the school is well kept and clean.

[TheGreenManIsFlashing]

I would personally want to be shown round by a Y6 pupil. Do they look at you when you speak to them? Do they answer your questions? Do they hold the doors open for you? Do they speak politely to the other pupils and teachers when they encounter them? Do they say 'like' every other word? Do they have a fringe half way down their nose? Do they look presentable generally?

While we're at it: what are the wall decorations like? Has the teacher gone to a huge effort to display work/posters? Is the atmosphere happy and purposeful?

You can tell a vast amount about a school by its Y6 pupils. They tell you more than the Head or any report, at any rate.

I've done the school admissions thing a number of times, and - assuming you have no specific concerns - I'd advise looking and listening rather than asking.

[TheGreenManIsFlashing]

PS I'd also watch the children walking home from school. Do they make way on the pavement? See, I am a bit obsessed about manners. My school choices are largely based on them.

[TheGreenManIsFlashing]

'with', I mean.

[FishInMyHair]

You should find most questions answered through welcome packs, policies and web site. Open days are all about showing off so expect it to be all singing and dancing and you may not get a really true indication of what it is like. I like it if they have appointments on a variety of days, I think you get a more relaxed feel.
The only thing that I wanted to find out that the brochures etc didn't tell me was if the loos were whiffy or not nice to go into and what the outside space was like.
Most classrooms and schools will look pretty much the same.

[fridayschild]

This is too late for you today, but I would be interested in school lunches. Are they prepared at the school, or prepared offsite and heated up at the school? The latter don't taste great, according to DS1, and he is a good eater.

[MyCatsAScarierBastardThanYours]

I'm so proud - my thread has made Discussions of the Day. .

It was a good visit today. The Headteacher showed us around himself, just us. He answered most of my questions without me actually having to ask them (IYSWIM). Wasn't shown round by a Y6 pupil but one of them happily told us what he was up to in the class. fridayschild - I did ask about the school lunches and was shown the kitchens where the food is cooked (not just heated up and the menu (much better than anything I cook!).

Off to the next one in a weeks time.

[Concordia]

I asked questions like -
What approach they used to teach reading
If they set children and if so for which subject, from what age, and how many sets
What provision is made for children born at the start or end of academic year on entry (i have one of each)
How they promote children's social and emotional development
How they promote children's self-confidence
How long the Head has been in post
What changes he / she has made to the school since he / she arrived
What school children go onto
After school clubs / extra curricular
If there were weaknesses reported in the Ofsted i asked directly what they had done to address these
Is the lunch cooked on site
What are the outdoor play areas like
What access to computers / laptops within classroom / school
Can i look at the toilets
What is the strength of their school compared to others in the local area (in the Heads opinion)

Of course, i have opinions on what answers i may want to hear on these things, others may have different priorities

[TheGreenManIsFlashing]

Ah, Concordia. Private school is the answer to such a long list!

[BuckRogers]

Dadatlarge, I know what G&T is suppose to include. However, you'd be hard pushed to find many state primaries with a hard copy list of children 'talented' in areas other than academia.

Personally, I wouldn't just be interested in what they did for the one child with an out of the ordinary talent in art but also in what extra curricular avenues were open to the 10 or so children in the school who are 'just' very good at the subject.

Oh and as for not asking the Head about G&T or SEN unless it applies to my child; I strongly disagree. I think a school's attitude to SEN says a lot about its ethos and I would want to gauge that.

[carocaro]

Also just the general feel of the place is very important and if your DC will suit the place, seems simple but it's very important.

I chose DS1's school as they had lots of sports and science clubs for when they were 7 plus and he loves them!

[alana39]

My list would be short and much the same as Snice's - I was more impressed by the happy children getting on with their work but looking like they were enjoying it, the Head who knew every kid, the long standing staff who still obviously enjoy their work, the school council and general feel of the place than anything else. Try to stop and chat to the school secretary - they are the gateway to finding stuff out and IME the friendly helpful ones tend to be good indicators of the rest of the place.

And be careful about making judgements based on cleanliness at this time of year - 30 children who have just tramped in from a wet leafy playground make a classroom look hideous in about 5 seconds, which doesn't mean the school isn't cleaned

[alana39]

Oh never ask to look at boys' toilets, my MIL taught in a very posh public school and said even there although the toilets were regularly done up they were revolting.

[blackrock]

Read the prospectus and OFSTED report... and talk to other parents with children at the school....Still feeling anxious? Then...

Get a feel for the atmosphere....do you like the head,as they are going to be your childs leading role model in whole school activities.

Ask about breadth of curriculum....ensure it broad and encompasses a wide range of subjects.

Ask about pupil progress from Foundation to end of KS1, and from KS1 to end of KS2. Ask about how less able and SEN children progress, or how able children progress.

Ask about how assemblies are organised....does this suit your belief system?

Ask about behaviour policy and parental involvement.

Ask for a walkabout during school time...this will give you a feel for the atmosphere.

Ask about trips and extra curricular activities.

Ask about

[MyCatsAScarierBastardThanYours]

What do people think about how the children are? The school I went to yesterday had some lively older children. When we went into the class, with the head, they didn't all go quiet and carried on chatting (teacher was out of the room). Not sure if I think that is good or not (bearing in mind I went to primary school in the 70's when you were expected to shut up the moment the head walked in).

I guess it is down to personal preference.

[pipWereRabbit]

Take a look at the displays in the corridors and foyer.
Do they focus on the achievments of the pupils (merit awards, school trips etc.), or do they focus on the achievments of the school management (awards for Investors in People, School Dinners etc.)?

I know which I prefer.

[newgirl]

now youve been to the school id suggest asking a few of the parents what they think - neighbours etc

make sure you talk to some cheerful positive ones as well as the neighbourhood grump

i didnt like the local school but my neighbours did and they were so right - i judged it on its appearance - 70s building etc but my dd loves it and so do we

[messalina]

What recreational chemicals are available at break time?

[MyCatsAScarierBastardThanYours]

messaline - good question. if only I had thought to ask. x

[mixedmamameansbusiness]

Just read this with interest as we are in exactly the same position.

FWIW when I looked at nurseries I was convinced that I was going to LOVE two of the private nurseries I looked at that were in lovely Victorian buildings etc and HATE the council Childrens Centre which is almost part of an estate... but on the day I just hated the first two and loved the nursery we picked. I think it has everything to do with gut feeling.

There are two primary schools very close to us that seem to be "dirty words" but i am going to see them and will make my own judgement, I think a whole lot depends on what you do at home as well as at school.

Definitely agreeing with checking out the students though to see if they are the kind of kids you want your child making friends with.

[Concordia]

i didn't have to ask all the questions directly, as some of them just come up if you are walking around really, or in conversation.
i do think gut feeling is a lot to do with it. a school local to us can answer all my questions but poor gut feeling. so i would probably say no on that one.
i did get asked if i work in education though