School Open Evenings
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The ripping down of tattered displays, cleaning of classrooms and smartening of kids usually means either an inspector calling or the annual trek round classrooms by hordes of parents hungry to secure a place in the ‘best’ schools.
How can the inexperienced hunter ferret out the best state schools?
Few dates have greater significance for state schools than The September and October Open Evenings. A chance for even the poorest performers to put on a show, parade a plethora of polished pupils and persuade parents that, whatever the press says, St Sinks really is a charming college of culture and cognisance.
Dates of open evenings for individual schools
On this website we invite all schools to tell us when their open days/ evenings will be held. The information is found on the individual school pages* (overview tab); simply use Find A School to locate the school of interest.
*If the school has not yet updated this information on our pages we do link to their websites too.
Are open evenings really worth the trek?
Absolutely!
It's not only the mediocre and meagre who are eager to market; grandiose grammar schools are keen to glow - if only to brag how massively oversubscribed they are.
They may not truly reflect day to day life at a school (this will be school at its best) but they'll give you a flavour of what's happening and allow you to soak-up or repel the atmosphere. They are your chance to have the upper-hand, get a feel for the school and chat with pupils and staff. Do visit more than one school, it’s useful to compare and contrast. Remember it's not just schools that select and choose pupils, parents select and choose schools too; so seize the night!
On the night
Find out how children are selected for open evening – volunteers, all or the chosen few?
- Who has helped to set things up? When?
- Is the work displayed selective, best efforts from the whole class or not the work of pupils at all?
- Quiz youngsters about how much help they get from teachers, whether lessons are fun, noisy, long... Are they allowed to talk in class?
- What happens if someone is being a nuisance?
- Is outstanding work rewarded? Is homework set (and marked)?
- What happens if they don’t understand the work or find it too easy?
- Ask children what they do during breaks, lunch and after school; ask staff too.
- Are school meals considered gourmet or ghastly? Do teachers dine with pupils?
If children are undertaking activities particularly in the core subjects such as maths, enquire if this is usual fodder. The way a child responds (or teacher flaps) may be more telling than the responses they give.
Under the magnifying glass
Is The Head an inspiring speaker? If The Head isn't speaking why not?
- Is it access all areas or are you closely ushered, monitored and supervised.
- Does the school feel cared for?
- Is there a band, choir, orchestra, sport for all? You may not have a musical or sporty child but music and sport often set the tone of a school.
- Is the atmosphere calm relaxed and friendly?
Take a look at the loos. Are there enough of them? Are they clean, with locks on the doors and in good order or covered in graffiti and revolting? Loos can tell you a lot!
Homework
Savvy parents appreciate open evenings are one small cog in the choosing a school cycle. Reading inspection reports, reviews, checking out discussion forums, chatting to friends and teachers are important too. We strongly recommend The Good Schools Guide (GSG) as your ‘set text’.
How The Good Schools Guide can help
Online we have general information on all schools in Britain including contact details, performance information and links to school websites where applicable (and in some cases details of when open days/ evenings are being held) plus in-depth reviews of 1000 good schools - look for 
. Subscribers can use the additional data facilities to compile a store of questions, see the school entry profile, how well bright/SEN kids do, which subjects are strong and which let the side down etc. We carry a host of helpful advice including information on the admissions processes to state and independent schools and have useful information on selection, interviews etc.
Unsure where to begin your school search?
We have a whole series of articles and advice to help you every step of the way; whether tentatively embarking on choosing a school, or part way through the school choice process.
For those new to the process:
From Embryo To Eighteen - How To Survive The Education Highway
Coming Into The British School System From Abroad
For those contemplating the admissions process:
SEN Admission To Independent School
Secondary And Senior Schools In The UK
Choosing A State Grammar School
State School Admissions - How To Secure A Place
London Schools In The Good Schools Guide
The Good Schools Guide Advice Service
Shop Online from our Bookstore
Galore Park, an independent publisher have a excellent range of books - including study guides, individual subjects plus verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
You can order past papers for exams plus all the Galore Park textbooks from our online bookshop.
Find a School...
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