Viewing a school tonight

[Gileswithachainsaw]

What do i look out for so I don't fall for any nonsense.

I wouldn't bother with clever clever questions supposedly designed to catch a school out.

Ask if they do triple science and double science as separate choices. How many MFLs on offer. What subjects are set and streamed.

Factual stuff that will affect what and how your child learns.

Ha ha Camper. It's funny the things that can make you warm to a school. I remember when we were looking at schools for dd1 and i looked at the school newsletter for the one she now attends. There was a photo of some boys on a school trip/event doing funny poses/silly expressions for the camera and it appealed to me because it reminded me of the sort of sense of humour me and my friends had at school!

Just been to one tonight and have another tomorrow, wish I'd read this before. We didn't take the tour but went round to the areas we were particularly interested in (maths, science, languages, DT, learning support). Some teachers really made an effort to talk to DS, others were too busy talking to each other or too quick to show us the games rather than engage (I felt).

If you have a middle achiever it is always worth asking how they cater to them. Lots of schools focus on the top achievers (boost results) and the lower bands (bolster progress 8) and those in the middle can be left to coast.

Well I've been and now im.at work so will update if I have time tonight or maybe in the morning.

Giles great thread am on my second ever tour this pm,. Great tips here. Just been to two grammar one on bucks and one over the border couldn't have been more different. One was so impressive, jazz hands, fun enthusiastic teachers, great pupils, jaw dropping arts, Sewing etc. Tons of food. Piles of food being pushed by friendly teachers all engaging with dd.

T. Other Tonight, wow... Plate of biscuits out on show , dd eyes them up and snarling French teacher glares at her and asks her if she's very very hungry and then with great point, reluctantly gives her one now I'm not going to base educational choices on this but... Yesterday French department Had a table stacked high with croissant, cheese, pain au chocolate, loads of interaction... Please takes... Rating food and matching names in French..

Such a shame.

I am also asking the tour guides about bullying, do they feel safe, do they feel school takes bullying seriously, do they feel comfortable going to canteen alone, how did they find 11+ did they do much tutoring, do they find work hard, is atmosphere relaxed or pressured, are they glad to be there! Do they like teachers, does head know them by name or ever spoken to them. Do they enjoy the arts , drama etc.. Art..

"Ask a probing question. Ask how many teachers educate or are willing to educate their kids in the school.

If the answer is zero... you have your answer. If it's not good enough for ghe it kids, why should it be good enough for yours?"

There could be a million reasons why teacher's own children are not educated in that school.

Personally my DS did not attend any school I worked at due to
a) not living any where near the schools I worked at
b) if I leave for a new job does that mean my DS changes schools?
c) I would be a nightmare - my DS deserves some time away from his nosey mother!

That does not mean that my current school isn't any good

Right update...

Tech facilities Great!!! Teacher reminded me of alfie wickers I liked him. Was probably the most genuine person I met all night.

The building itself was huge seemed to be a good range of facilities library pretty good and parts looked a bit tired but will get that anywhere.

The children seemed well mannered and well turned out. I did my best to prove for info and from what I can gather the experiments and activities going on weren't every day things but there was a fair bit of practice work.

I didn't get a chance to ask about triple science as there were lots of parents trying to ask questions and our group moved on befire I could get to the teachers...

On the flip side the heads talk was bukk shit. Far to try to hard. Everything from Coldplay to Mohammed Ali and I honestjy can't tell you half of what he said given Itbwas really hard to focus on wtf he was going on about when it was so hot and he took 15 mins explaining a sodding acronym

He just have read this thread as he made a point of saying how the kids had chosen to be here tonight and hadn't been hand picked..

Still, the girls giving our tour reminded me of the duggars where they have to smile all the time....

Felt very forced not one negative thing to say at all...

Was disappointed with the sports side
I had attempted to try and find out about teams and external competitions and it was fruitless no one seemed to know. And dd was instantly disappointed there was no cricket.

Over all mixed feelings. It wouldn't be the end of the work of she went there but I didn't feel particularly inspired either.

Well there was cricket but only for boys

How many/what type of school will you see?

I have 2 more to see.

The local failingacademy and the one I really want her to go too but im.not taking dd to that one as getting in is unlikely and I don't want to carrot wave. I will arrange to see with her depending on our waiting list positions

Don't get sidetracked by the double/triple science thing. Lots of schools have been forced down the double science line and it's fine. Not ideal, probably, but fine. Ditto MFL. A choice is brilliant, but not essential.

if they have cricket for the boys surely they can extend this to the girls if there are enough girls wanting it? Girls cricket has ballooned in the past few years. Don't write off the cricket... they obviously have a teacher and facilities.

Thats what I'm hoping. She hates dance and netball she already has multiple badges and medals for gymnastics...they do hockey but there's no hockey team so nowhere to go with it but she loves cricket and had played for her current school in county competitions so really wants cricket

You could find her an outside school cricket club- if she's county level she'll find beginners school cricket incredibly tedious.

She already does a cricket club in the summer

When it became obvious that ds would be going to a school neither he nor I wanted him to go to, we worked at finding ways to fill the gaps- in his case music and drama, there wasn't a problem with sport . It made a big difference.

Yes it's 99.9 percent certain she will get the local academy I don't want and is inadequate on pretty much everything.

I have prepared myself for being on top of absolutely everything and jumping in at the first sign of any problems

"I have prepared myself for being on top of absolutely everything and jumping in at the first sign of any problems"

Any good points?

About the school?

Find out when I visit next week

From what I've heard and the lousy results the only selling point so far is it's local

I presume you've checked the reality of the results by doing a deepish dive into the league tables?

I've looked at the progress 8 and in fact posted a screen shit on another thread to get opinions from those who were more knowledgeable than me..

It's ok I've just about come to terms with it now I have back up plans to go on lists and until the 11 plus results come out in 2 weeks I still have a teeny bit of hope...

I've looked at the progress 8 and in fact posted a screen shit

Was it really that bad

Worse

"Don't get sidetracked by the double/triple science thing. Lots of schools have been forced down the double science line and it's fine. Not ideal, probably, but fine. Ditto MFL. A choice is brilliant, but not essential."

Depends on your child. Science and maths were the lifeblood of Dc's GCSE years and doing the extra units across the 3 sciences kept him engaged. Other kids (none of mine!) really want to do more than one language: it is their passion, aptitude and a plan for the future!

All depends.