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Secondary education

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Original poster

Secondary Open Evenings, some questions about them....?

33 replies

MidnightVelvetthe3rd · 12/09/2015 11:30

So I have 3 open evenings at different schools this month for my year 6 DS1 & these are the first ones I've done & I have some ridiculous questions as I don't know what to expect.

They are all state schools, one is pretty much a no no but its our catchment school so there's a possibility DS will end up there. The other 2 are OK but I have a preference.

The one this Wednesday is from 5:45-8:00. Is this a drop in arrangement or do we have to be there for 5:45 & stay til 8? Is there some kind of talk from the Head or do we just wander around at will?

Before we go to each I'll read the prospectus & the Ofsted report, is there anything else I need to do?

Thanks very much :)

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 12/09/2015 11:37

At my school there is a talk by the head at the end of the evening. You aren't expected to go for the whole time, but it would be best to find out when the head's talk is and time your visit for that.

Again at my school you can wander around in whatever order you like. The different curriculum areas will have classrooms open with displays/activities.

You need to think about your child and what matters to them, then prepare questions. So ask about extra curricular sport - are the teams open for all, how many weekend fixtures are there etc. Music - choirs, orchestras, can you pay for instrument lessons? Academic - when do they take their options, how soon do they set in maths, do the top sets take extra GCSEs (e.g. further maths). Avoid any schools that have students routinely taking GCSEs early. Pastoral support. SEN support. Homework. Transport. Anything that's important to you.

TitusAndromedon · 12/09/2015 11:49

At my school, there are two talks from the Head, so parents and children who arrive early go straight into the theatre and then tour the school afterwards, whereas those who arrive a little later tour first and then attend the second talk. We've been known to do a third talk if there is demand.

As above, at least one class per department will be open with members of staff to answer questions and we usually have activities set up for the children as well. We also have current pupils dotted around to help give directions.

My top tip would be to arrive early if you can. Parking fills up very quickly!

Ta1kinPeace · 12/09/2015 13:09

arrive early
stay till you get bored

ragged · 12/09/2015 13:21

Turn up early, there will be a set programme, probably head speaks only once near the start & you wander around after that although sometimes people are channelled to different parts of the school to avoid congestion. You can get an impression of HT's philosophy & organisation from things they say. If they talk too long, that's a bad sign too!!

We never get round the whole school when we go, too, so another reason to go early.

Has anyone ever been to a geography/history classroom that wasn't tatty? They're almost always in bad state here.

Ta1kinPeace · 12/09/2015 13:23

if there is no food offered that has been cooked in the tech kitchens, ask yourself why Grin

TeenAndTween · 12/09/2015 13:40

Listen to what the Head doesn't say too.

I think what the head doesn't mention shows what they don't value so much.

I went to an open evening recently where the head failed to mention support for less able children. I thought that spoke volumes.

AChickenCalledKorma · 12/09/2015 17:16

At both our local secondaries, current students give guided tours. You can't wander around at will. But you can ask them to go to particular areas - so have a think about anything you particularly want to see (e.g. music studio if your child is musical, sports facilities if they are sporty etc). And think about questions only a student could answer. "Is it easy to make friends? What is the food like? Do you get a lot of homework?"

Definitely find out what time the Head's talk is. We found them quite revealing about the ethos and priorities of the school and changed our mind quite fundamentally about one exam factory school.

ISingSoprano · 12/09/2015 17:22

If you are shown around by a student quiz them (nicely!) about how they spend their time at school - what activities they do/have done, trips they have been on, favourite teachers (less than favourite teachers) etc. See what they get enthusiastic about - it can be quite revealing.

ragged · 12/09/2015 17:45

Should current students be in class learning things, not playing tourist guide??
I'd be Hmm if that was my current student.

ragged · 12/09/2015 17:46

Oh sorry, I'm an idiot, prev. posters probably mean DURING the open evening, I thought it was tours during the school day. ( I'll just get me coat ).

clary · 12/09/2015 18:11

Ragged at my school students (who are on the student council) do tours in the day too - eg for prospective staff or parents who can't get to the open evening.

I think it's fab - really gives them a chance to practise their social/presenting skills and much better than a tour by the HT. Many people comment about how clued up the students are.

TheSecondOfHerName · 12/09/2015 18:16

I have been to umpteen of these things (four children in secondary who all wanted to look around every local school when they were in Y6). The usual format is that you will be handed a prospectus on the way in, put in a small group and shown around by a couple of pupils. Don't be scared to ask them questions. At some point during the evening there is usually a talk by the head teacher (often repeated every hour or two).

TheSecondOfHerName · 12/09/2015 18:21

Most head teacher speeches are very similar, and I learned nothing about the schools from these that I didn't know already. I observed the students. Are they enthusiastic about the school? Do they enjoy learning? What is their attitude towards the teachers and vice versa?

BabyGanoush · 12/09/2015 18:26

I think it is good to ask about:

-value ad ( much more important than Ofsted or %5a-C , IMO)

  • how rigid setting is (I think movement in sets is important and a good thing)
  • pastoral care
  • have a chat with the HT
  • have a chat with teachers too

And see how your DS responds to the place. My DS felt much more at home in the school that was actually my number 2 choice. I think it was the right thing to go with his choice.

Twowrongsdontmakearight · 12/09/2015 18:27

Here one local school lets you go from room to room and there are some children in eg science labs showing experiments; the head gives a 15 min talk every hour I thnk. At DD's school a pupil shows you round wherever you want to go and delivers you to the HT's talk for a pre allocated time depending on when you arrive.

Sometimes it's the small things that indicate the feel of the school. Eg one school had DC offering home made biscuits etc in tech; another (the one DD now goes to) charged for everything and even tried to sell stuff made by older pupils to try to fund some sporting trip to South Africa. I should have realised!!

Stickerrocks · 12/09/2015 19:15

We didn't go to the head's talk, but spent time talking to the teachers and current pupils. We also checked out the state of the toilets - neat & tidy was preferable to covered in graffiti.

errorofjudgement · 12/09/2015 19:29

What I most remember from the open evenings we went to was that the teachers focused on talking to DS or DD about their subject.
I think all the classes had activities for the prospective pupils, and as well as current year 7s showing us round, there were sixth formers in the classrooms too and they were running experiments and happy to answer questions (& start a conversation too if you were a little shy)

PUGaLUGS · 12/09/2015 19:50

At my school there is a talk by the head first (6.30pm till 8.30pm) and then you wander around.

If you don't make the talk but get there to have a wander, the head and slt are always on hand to answer any questions.

GlowWine · 12/09/2015 20:12

Most schools around us also offer daytime visits by appointment, I took DD on some of those as well , they give you a different perspective on top of the open evening. (Kids in class, corridor behaviour, interaction between kids and teachers, not just the ones hand-picked for the open evening) Primary schools should be happy to release Y6 students to attend these visits.

quangotango · 12/09/2015 20:23

why avoid schools that routinely encourage students to take GCSEs early outbif interest? one of our local grammar schools (super pushy, wouldn't send my kids there) made a big song and dance about this in their talk. all kids do maths a year early because they are super geniuses yadda yadda. is this OK for a super selective?

ShellingPeasAgain · 12/09/2015 20:47

quango - I'd avoid schools that make all children sit GCSEs early, even if a SS. DS goes to one and only the top set did maths early and it's the only GCSE sat before year 11.

Both DS's and DD's school (one SS grammar, one comp in neighbouring county) do head teacher's talk at 2 points over the evening, then everyone is free to walk around and talk to children at the school, and the teachers. Of course the kids on display at the evenings are usually the high achievers or good communicators so not necessarily a good example of the whole cohort.

As well as open evenings both schools also offer school day tours, where parents are shown around by students during a normal school day. Can be worthwhile doing these.

PlayingSolitaire · 12/09/2015 20:51

PUGaLUGS- a two hour talk by the HT?!

Kitella · 12/09/2015 23:44

We did the walks last year when we looked at local secondaries. I agree that we gained very little from the head teacher's talk, but gained most from the students who showed us round. I was able to ask lots of questions about how the children settled in, bullying, friendships, lessons etc... Far more useful than anything I got from the teachers!

In the end DD chose to go out of catchment, and to a school that doesn't always get as high grades as our catchment school, but my daughter felt that it was the happier school. Certainly, the students were more confident there and the opportunities on offer was greater.

A year on, we're very happy with the choice. The emphasis the school puts on settling the children in has meant that DD has had a really smooth transition, and for the first time in her life has found that she is loving school. We just felt that the school was a good fit for DD, but I guess that's hard to pin down.

googlypoogly · 13/09/2015 00:42

The Ofsted report will give you a very limited view of the school
The Ofsted report for the school one of my dc went to was pretty good which didnt reflect the quality of the teaching of some of the subjects
I would ask parents of kids who go to those schools if you can to get a frank real view
Ofsted wont tell you the turnaround of teachers
the male/female mix of teachers (don't know if I am allowed to say this)
drugs issues etc....

PUGaLUGS · 13/09/2015 08:43

Playing sorry if I didn't make myself clear - the school is open for two hours, talk by the head first which probably lasts 30 minutes then you are free to wander around the school. If you don't make the talk but get to the school after it, the Head and SLT are on hand to answer any questions.

Some parents cannot make it at all and we offer tours in groups the following week usually on a morning.

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