Open Day season is nearly upon us and now is the perfect time to start preparing and planning for your child’s next step in their education. Reading a school prospectus or looking at a website can only give you so much information. Visiting a school is vitally important and so Open Days are an excellent starting point if you are considering a boarding school for your child.
All independent schools across the UK will have their Open Days coming up between mid-September and mid-November and now is the time to register to secure your spot.
Attending an Open Day gives you the opportunity to look around, absorb the atmosphere, meet members of staff and pupils, and you’ll quickly be able to assess if it is the right environment for your child. It will give you the chance to look at several schools before you select your shortlist of 3-4 schools as no two schools are the same.
The format of an Open Day will vary from school to school, but generally there will be a tour of the school by a current pupil taking in the boarding houses, teaching and learning spaces, co-curricular facilities, and the grounds. Often there will be a presentation by the Head and academic staff with a Q&A session.
It is worth noting that Open Days are not a normal school day. They are a great way of comparing and contrasting schools but at Claire Calder we advise our clients that if you like what you saw on the Open Day, make an appointment to go back again and see the school on a normal day. A personal visit is invaluable and usually you will be given the opportunity to meet the Head and speak with other members of staff and students to help you appreciate the unique character of an individual school.
Child’s perspective
Where possible, do take your child with you. They are the ones who will be attending the school, so it is important they get a feeling for the school and are part of the decision-making process. By being included in the search for a school your child is more likely to feel enthusiastic about their future education.
Questions
Ask as many questions as possible. The pupils showing you around will know the school better than anyone so it is the best way to find out everything you can. Questions such as – What do you like about the school? Is the food good? How big are the class sizes? What are you studying for A’ level? What sports do you play? How much homework do you get? What clubs can you get involved with? What extra-curricular activities are there?
When speaking to the staff good questions to ask are – What is the pastoral care like? How many pupils board at the weekend? What are the weekend activities put on for those in school? Ask questions concerning the academic side of things such as – How does the school monitor academic progress? What if my child is struggling or falling behind? How does the school tutor system work? Don’t be afraid to ask specific questions especially those that are pertinent to your child.
View the displays
Every school will have art and schoolwork on display. Looking at the displays is a good way to find out how the school caters for children’s different strengths and interests. Do ask questions about the displays and do ask yourself if the work displays a broad range of skills.
You know your child best
You will know better than anyone which school is best suited for your child so do trust your instincts. We have a great diversity of choice in our UK independent schools, so there will be a school that will suit your child.
Independent school Open Days will be on every weekend during the autumn term until mid-November (except the October half-term). Schools will have Open Days throughout the year so don’t worry if you miss one now.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for any advice on UK boarding schools or more information on Open Days, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
