OPEN DAYS
Then, of course, there’s the importance of interacting with staff and pupils. Some schools have supplemented online tours with Zoom or Teams meetings that allow small groups of parents to hear a speech from the head teacher and then pose questions. This more personalised format can help families find out more about whether the school would work for their child – from the number of compulsory subjects at GCSE, to the time devoted to sports and the type of support offered if a child is struggling. The bottom line, though, is that visiting a school gives you more than an online tour ever can, from learning how far it is
between different points on the campus, to experiencing noise levels in the corridors and dining hall. Are lessons dynamic and fact paced, and is the teaching style better suited to confident children? Or are quieter pupils encouraged to make as much of a contribution to learning as their more ebullient peers? If you’re not sure, pupils – however loyal – will often tell you. It’s that first-hand experience that will help you decide if you can see your child in this school, so that if they come here, you are as certain as you can be that they will be prepared socially and academically for the next step in their lives – and, above all, be happy.
ULTIMATELY, IT’S THAT FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE THAT WILL HELP YOU DECIDE
66 AUTUMN /WINTER 2021
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