Should we take DC to visit a secondary school we will not choose?

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Can't believe how quickly this has come around, but we are already choosing secondary schools!

We, as parents, have researched the schools in our area and shortlisted 4 schools (out of a possible 8) which are reasonable distance and fit for our family (we have made sure to include our closest non-faith school, an undersubscribed school and the other 2 are oversubscribed). These are the schools we are going to take DC to visit.

DC has asked to visit school 'X' because apparently the whole of year 6 are going (I don't know how true that claim is). This is not on our shortlist and we will never apply for it so I personally don't see the point in visiting. We have mentioned we are not going to apply for school 'X' because DC doesn't really stand a chance of getting a place (no siblings, not of that religion), but DC seems upset about it and says that it's not fair that everyone gets to go and see it and they don't.

How to handle this? Should we be firm about it and say no? Should we go and see it? The only real downside I can see is that it is a waste of everyone's time.

You could visit it with the framing of ‘it’s not an option for you, but given there’s an open day we can go and look around so if you do end up with some friends there then you’ll be able to know what they’re talking about and how that compares to your school’.

So doing the visit the child wants, but being clear about the purpose and expectations

My son asked to go see a school I wasn't considering. It ended up being one of our favourites.

Although my son is going elsewhere visiting that school really helped us form our idea of what we want in a school. And if his current school works out we know where we'd try to transfer him too.

I wouldn’t go. Like you say, it’s a waste of everyone’s time. You also run the risk that your DC really likes the school, which is only going to cause a disappointment if they can’t go there.

@Elembeeee Where I live you would not be transferring anywhere. VAT has meant places in good schools are at a premium and they are full. Not getting a place at 11 indicates waiting lists so no guarantee of any move for op. It’s just best to be honest and say it’s hopeless looking and you don’t want disappointments.

I wouldn’t even think of going. As someone else said, it’s only likely to reinforce false hope. If there really is zero chance of getting in it’s a complete waste of time. Sometimes kids need to hear ‘sorry, no’