Crikey - secondary Open Evenings - what a stress. How many have you done?

[roisin]

I feel very guilty now.
Dh went to two schools in 2005 and two schools in 2006, and we all went to an Open Day of small independent school (I).

Then based on all info we arranged to visit I and one other (S) during the school day. Both times were shown round by senior member of staff who answered all our questions, which was very interesting, 'real' and pleasant.

So today we took ds1 to the Open Evening of S ... It was heaving. Crowds and crowds of people (they admit 210 and are over-subscribed), every open classroom was busy and I generally found the whole experience rather unpleasant.

Dh says all the Open Evenings are like that

I'm so glad I delegated the job to him. I've no desire to go to another one ... ever!

It's a nightmare isn't it? I've visited 4 or 5 schools over the last couple of terms, and now we are visiting again, very last minute before the forms need to be in.

An hour or so looking around with a gormless child doesn't seem much to base the decision on.

been to two this year. dh has also been to two. they are all heaving with people. no chance to ask intelligent questions, but also probly the only chance to see classrooms etc.
celia, what is the pastoral care like? do the children who use the bus, are thye known for hteir good manners? how clean do the kids look? teenage pregnancies?

Celia - that's a tough decision - in an ideal world you'd choose good facilities, good results and proximity to home, but you can't always have everything.

I think it's a good idea for them not to stream in the first year until they've seen what the kids can do. Other than that, not sure I can help.

lucky me, only looking at one!, the other possible, not our catchment area anyway,is a defo no no, which is why we moved
so this one has to be good!
seems good by reputation and rsults. >

Well there isn't a state school within 40 mins drive of here that gets 78%, so I'm envious from the start!

Personally I like the sound of A. I think the modern facilities are important and change the feel of the place.

What sort of area are you in? Lots of teenage girls don't get a lot of exercise once they start secondary, but a 30 min walk each way would keep her fit and active: if it's safe and reasonable for her to walk?

Do you have a reasonable chance of getting in to either of them? I was surprised tonight how many parents were talking about 'choosing' this school, when actually getting a place is in the lap of the Gods. From our primary/area or town they turned away just about everybody last year.

PS Yes ds1 is in yr6. He's been at a primary, so this will be his first school move.

can she chose?

how about her friends, or the ones you would prefer she didnt see anymore? d you know where they want to go?

oh dear.
the streaming is unfortunate. unles of course she is doign well,
hmm
i hope you can make a decision

Celia from the facts you've given us I would go for B.

roisin we've done the nightmare that is secondary transfer four times. For DD1 we visited the Girls Grammar, the Comprehensive, 2 High schools and a pretend "comprehensive", and she ended up at an independent in a different town, so it was a total waste of time!

DS1 we visited just 2 High schools.

DS2 we went to a Technology school and a High school in the same town as DD1s school; DD1s school; the Boys Grammar, and a different local High school.

DS3 we went to the Boys Grammar and DS1's school.

We also had a repeat performance for DD's 6th form and went to 5 different schools for that.

And don't start me off on the Uni visits... 3rd child doing the visits now aaaaarrrrrgggghhhh!!!!!!!!

(Do I win? )

LOL at pregnancy rates mentioned in prospectus. The one you'd REALLY want to read ['glue sniffing prevalent in unpleasant group currently in year 5' 'careers advisor currently under investigation by police' 'in legal dispute with cleaners so constantly filthy']

Open Evenings are SUCH a depressing scrum, aren't they?

Have been to three already, three to go (sigh).

So far they have fallen into one of two categories:

1. We are a brilliant school. Your child has to be Einstein to get in. With Grade 8 in Trombone and a Junior Wimbledon title. Here's how to apply - but we'd really rather you didn't

2. We are a brilliant school. You have to live within 3cm to get in. Here's how to apply - but it's really not worth it.

Am rather nonplussed

DD is in year 5. Last year dw visited several; this year we are taking DD to our favourite 3. We let her decide when she has had enough (after about 20 minutes), then go home. Next year, when it counts, she will already have seen the schools once, so it might be easier, and we can concentrate on features we want to know more about, rather than doing the whole tour.

We aim to get to the schools about 20 minutes before the open day starts, so we are at the front of the queue and well ahead of the rush (smug emoticon).

They are a killer from the teaching viewpoint as well!

Ours runs from 6 to 9.

At the end of the teaching day at 3, we start to get all the stuff out and help the tecnicians to set up the demos and experiments. At about 5ish some kind soul does the macdonalds run for tea....on open evening the Healthy schools initiative cuts no ice

At 5.30 out volenteer kids arrive, and we give them a briefing. At 6 the parents and prospective students arrive.

At 8.30 you start to pack away some of the stuff, and if you are luckly you get to leave at about 9.30

By the end your feel are two balls of fire!

It is then almost impossible to sleep as yo are so hyped up!

Horrible.

We went to one last night. It was worse getting through the long speeches but good to seee around. They put in loads of effort for the kids and ds was taken with the place. Only been to that one because its our local one but you hear such bad things.It was nice to hear some good things for a change. I admit loads of people but glad we done it!

To be fair, what the kids see in out department is taken from the science curriculum for each specific year. So, in the year 8 room, they will see people burning cheesy whatsits and measuring the temperature of the water that the burning whatsit heats! [grin, you should see the fat running of it when alight, vile)

In the year 7 room, we split it between stuff they do in year 7, and things that the kids can try at home....and we make it clear which bit is which.

The preparation time is long, because we try to show them a good cross section of what wil happen in any given year.

We do put on a good show, but the show is 'real' IYSWIM

We also get parent in to do a tour of the school, on a normal working day. I had one drop in on me when year 7 were looking at skulls, and linking the teeth to 'lifestyle'. Mild chaos, but fun.

I'd use the open evenings as a first scan, and then make appointments to see a normal day in the schools that interest you most.

Argh, I'm doing these as well and I think I've turned into the parent-from-hell. You know the one - you've all seen them - the one who verbally pins the teacher to the wall asking 17 million dumb questions plus asking all the poor children on show about what they are doing. Dh and the children get left behind somewhere.......

Somebody save me from myself or at least save the local schools from me!!!!

celia the 2 younger boys both ended up at the Grammar (DS2 was furious when DS3 arrived at his school- they'd been at separate Junior schools), and DS1 went there as well for 6th form, because his High school only went up to Y11. DD1 went to a different Grammar for 6th form, so we experienced 4 different secondary schools altogether.