Viewing a school tonight

[Gileswithachainsaw]

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

We have been doing the tours recently too. I didn't like two of the heads of the most popular local schools so that was a bit of a disappointment. One school that I wasn't expecting to like at all was absolutely brilliant and is now a front runner completely out of nowhere!

Our nearest school 'requires improvement' and I can't even face going round it Conversely, we went round one school that is a bit tricky to travel to and loved it - it's a real contender - sometimes you do just get a gut feeling about a school. It is pretty stressful trying to choose one though, we have tried to see as many as possible to get a good idea of what is out there.

We also have grammar schools, just to complicate matters

Ask if it is possible to be shown round by a sporty/musical/party child (delete as applicable). DD had no interest in seeing music rooms or drama facilities but was very interested in what sports were available and enjoyed being shown round by girls who could answer her questions.

I will be doing my best to push for sporty info at the next open session.

At the very least I desperately need something to put in the "other information" boxes on the application if I get the chance to appeal

In my DD school the student guides are voluntary, my DD have done it every year since she started (yr 9 now). Important for me was that you had a student showing me around: Christ know they are honest! Second thing, which didn't occur to me until after DD started but which have for the last 3 years started to annoy me more and more: ask about block homework. My DD can come home with 4 pieces on the Friday which has to be done by Tuesday or absolutely nothing at all. Drives me mad as if we are going away or she have a netball tournament etc the whole weekend she can only spend maximum a few hours at homework: not the 5 + hours that's needed. Thus is causing major stress in our house as she want to do it but just no time.

Both schools so far have made a point of saying bow the kids had volunteered.

First one seemed far too happy

Second one first set of kids were rude tbh. And the second barely said a word

Maybe the quiet one was very shy or had an SEN. Sounds like they can't win though if the other one was too happy!

Look the whole point of an open evening is to show parents round and answer questions and give parents a feel for the place.

If you have shy kids who volunteer then probably best not to group 3/4 of all the shy kids together in the same group.

It's very hard to feel welcomed when kids are either moaning people are following them, making you feel like somehow your somehow in the way of their conversations with other people or generally not really talking to you or answering questions.

And it's not exactly hard to work out when kids are being a little ott with how good things are. There will always be some negatives...

First one the head let them down more than anything.

Second one, well we could sit here and come up with multiple reasons why the evening went like it did. But it honestly just wasn't very welcoming. Not in my groups anyway.