EDUCATION EDITION
OPEN DAYS C hoosing the right school requires careful consideration, and while an open day can be a valuable immersive experience Beyond these fundamental expectations and any specific areas of personal interest, parents will be wanting to see a breadth of subject options across key stage 3, GCSE and A-level. It’s important to recognise that GCSE Following up an open day with a bespoke personal tour is the best way to get a feel for preferred schools and ask the right questions, says Richard Girvan, principal at the Stephen Perse Foundation Spotlight on...
for families, parents should consider subsequent visits to preferred schools to really get to know them, their culture and staff. Open days are designed to showcase all the exceptional aspects of a school, but it’s difficult to replicate the level of engagement that an environment provides for students’ learning on these open days. That’s why our senior leadership team welcomes parents and children to come in for personal tours of the campus, to see the school in action and evaluate the learning environment more closely. Most parents will be looking for a school that provides academic excellence as the standard, with a broad and rich co- curricular programme (including sports, activities, trips and visits, as well as visiting speakers) and outstanding pastoral care.
and A-level results, while useful, only tell you part of the story about a school. During private visits, parents whose children might need more support can come prepared to interrogate the academic support on offer. For academically gifted students, they might seek to understand the supra- curricular activities and competitions available to stretch and challenge them; these opportunities should also be open to all students, not just the most able. Ask the right questions A personal tour gives parents the opportunity to speak with department heads or senior leaders to really understand a school’s approach. Bring questions about priority areas for your child. These might include: what careers advice the school offers; how are students supported in their
university applications; are team sports obligatory; and what are the weekend commitments like? Examples of cultural aspects to ask about are: how does the school promote inclusion of children from different backgrounds; and how does the school support students who are struggling with mental health or friendship issues? There are also the more operational aspects of school life: what are the options for transport; how long is the school day and what are the homework expectations; what’s the policy on mobile phones; and are children taught about how to use technology responsibly? If you are looking for potential scholarship or bursary opportunities at an establishment, make sure to ask the school questions and discuss your plans; financial planning is a crucial part of this decision- making process for a family, and schools should welcome the chance to discuss the options on offer. Finally, understand the admissions process. Are there pre-tests? When do interviews take place and when are offers made? How can your child best prepare? How does the school’s waiting list work? I encourage everyone visiting schools over the coming weeks to come prepared with these kinds of questions and plan to return for a private tour as they seek the best school for their child. Prospective parents are welcome to book a bespoke visit with us over the coming months. The Stephen Perse Foundation is a family of independent schools and nurseries based in Cambridge, Madingley and Saffron Walden. Richard is an Academy Council Member for North Cambridge Academy. Book a visit to Stephen Perse Cambridge, Union Road, Cambridge CB2 1HF at the website: stephenperse.com/opendays
A PERSONAL TOUCH Bespoke tours give parents the chance to speak with specific staff members
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK NOVEMBER 2024 81
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