Questions for visit to allocated secondary school - what to look for?

[IdespairIreallydo]

My DH and I are visiting our DS' allocated school for Y7 this Sept. Without wishing to bore those of you that have seen/contributed to my previous related threads, it is a school deemed 'inadequate' by Ofsted although awaiting results of recent inspection, which hopefully will say things have improved. I'm embracing this school with as much gusto as I can summon but would like to know what questions to ask as we are shown around. What are we looking for ? Without wishing to boast, we have brightish kids (DS leaving primary at level 6 maths and english). Should we ask to meet any specific teachers ? Any particular questions? TIA.

Ask about setting - when they do it and for which subjects. Ask about G & T provision. Ask about pastoral care. Ask about the things that OFSTED pulled them up on. Ask about extra-curriculars. Ask how tutor groups are arranged. Ask about staff turnover and how many experienced staff they have.

Thanks titchy am making my list now.

I would ask how pastoral care is organised and how they deal with bullying and poor behaviour. If I school gets this right, bright pupils usually do ok.

I would also ask about how they set/stream and when and how reassessment takes place. You could also ask for how they stretch the top ability and how they support those that are struggling.

Do you know why they were deemed inadequate? If, for example, it was that bottom set kids were not progressing, then this could be a less of an issue for your DS than if no one was reaching their targets in Maths.

Thanks creamteas much appreciated. Main reasons for last rating was poor leadership and patchy teaching. The catchment is not great but there must be other able children like mine, I just know that I have to be on the ball. I don't want to annoy the teachers but I need to know how to constructively get the best I can out of a consistently underperforming school.

I do know from another parent of a Y9 child (also a governer) that they are not stretching the more able children. I feel that my children are capable of top grades for their GCSE's - can I tell the teachers this or would they rather I let them get on with their job?

I agree with the posters who are asking about setting/streaming, and also enrichment activities. It might be worth seeing if you can see someone from the maths department, to ask when the the ablest mathematicians take GCSE and if they can offer further maths.

Also find out about physics (double/triple science).

Also extra curricular clubs/activities - maybe with a DT theme to encourage engineering (STEM)? And drama (enrichment for English), pupil-produced newspaper-magazine etc.

And remember the practicalities - what are the lunchtime arrangements (do you need to prepay, or load a card, and how) and whether pupils have lockers, how big and do you need to provide a padlock.

If I've read it right though, you are not looking to decide if you are going to choose this school, you know that's where he's going, and this is more of an induction evening ?

In which case, I would ask about how you contact people if you are unsure of anything, or indeed, if it evolves that you have concerns - who do you contact and how (e-mail / phone?)

I would ask how you can become involved... do they have a Parents Forum of some kind?

I would ask about communication generally - how are parents informed of things / how can they find out / how can they feed back in to the school

I would ask about expectations of homework