How to Make Informed Choices about Your Child’s Future Education
Assessing the Atmosphere
Selecting the best school for your child is a crucial decision that requires careful consideration. Open Days provide a unique opportunity to experience the school environment firsthand, engage with staff and pupils, and get a sense of the school’s culture. The guide outlines key factors to observe during a school open day and essential questions to ask to help you make an informed choice.
Exploring the Facilities
Assess the learning environment and try to envisage your child in that space. Look beyond the surface and evaluate the school’s facilities in terms of your child. Consider classroom environments, displays of pupils’ work, and educational resources such as books, charts, and learning aids. Visit key areas such as science labs, art studios, music rooms, sports fields, and libraries. Ask how frequently pupils use these spaces and how they contribute to their learning experience.
Understanding the Curriculum and Educational Approach
A school’s curriculum plays a vital role in shaping your child’s education. Find out whether the school offers a well-balanced programme that includes academics, arts, sports, and extracurricular activities. Understanding how the school approaches teaching and learning can help determine if it aligns with your child’s needs and interests.
Engaging with Staff, Pupils, and Parents
Use the Open Day as an opportunity to talk to a variety of people, including the Head Teacher, teachers, support staff, pupils, and current parents. Hearing multiple perspectives can help you build a well-rounded understanding of the school. Do the staff speak with passion and enthusiasm? Are the pupils polite and confident? Do their experiences align with the school’s virtues?
Suggested Questions to Ask
- How do the school’s virtues influence the pupil’s daily lives?
- How do the teachers engage and excite pupils about their learning?
- How do the teachers make the learning relevant to their pupils?
- What extracurricular activities are available?
- How is technology used to support teaching and learning?
- How does the school track and assess pupil progress?
- How do the pupils’ academic results compare with other independent and state schools?
- How does the school communicate with parents regarding events?
- How does the school promote inclusivity and promote diversity?
- What initiatives does the school use to build a strong sense of community for families?
We look forward to seeing you at Norfolk House’s Open Day.