PTNotts_BackToSchool18

School open days:
What should you look out for?
If you have aprimary-aged child, you will probably be looking at
your options for secondary school. And whether you’re at the very
beginning ofthis journey, orlooking for aplace for September 2019,
here issome useful advice from Worksop College &Ranby House to
help you navigate those all-important Open Days.
And then ask searching questions
If you have an opportunity to speak
with teachers (you should), ask
them questions about their subject
area and about progress. How
is progress measured and what
strategies have they got to ensure
that children learn and achieve well?
How does the school ensure that
children’s mental health is looked
after and how are any incidences of
bullying dealt with?
Take agood look at the welcome
How were you welcomed when
you arrived? Was there someone
there togreet you and were they
warm and inviting? The strength
of welcome often tells you alot
about the culture ofthe school
and whether parents are actively
encouraged to be involved, or not.
Ask lots of questions
It might sound obvious, but make
sure you quiz the pupil or pupils
showing you around. Ask them
how they are assessed –aswell as
the subjects they enjoy and why.
Ask them what it’s really like at the
school and whether they feel happy,
secure and part of acommunity.
Bring your child with you
By doing so, you can gauge whether
the environment is one within which
your child will thrive. Fundamentally,
it’s about finding the right match for
your child and whether they get agood
‘feel’ for the place is really important.
Listen carefully to the Head’s
welcome speech
Is the school taking awhole-child
approach or is it just about academic
achievement? What does the
emphasis seem to be on? What
one family is looking for can be very
different to what another is –the
Head’s speech can tell you alot about
the culture and values of the school.
Take agood look at the staff
Good leadership is key, but it's
teachers who'll have the most dayto-day
impact on your child. Are
they warm and welcoming? Ask
questions and gauge the reaction.
Do they appear interested and
attentive? Do they engage with
your child or is all the conversation
directed towards you. Your child
should feel excited and inspired!
What else is offered?
What time does the school day start
and finish and what kind of activities
are included in the school day?
For many parents who have never
considered independent education,
they are pleasantly surprised
when they find out what is actually
included within the fees –especially
when before and after school clubs
and activities are factored in.
Visit again
Book aprivate visit. Be prepared
with any questions you didn’t have
the opportunity to ask at the open
event and spend some time looking
at as many areas of the school
as you can. If you haven’t seen it
before, ask to see the dining areas
and ask questions about the food!
Make anote of the deadlines
Independent schools do not have
specific deadlines in the same way
that they do in the state sector, but
there will almost certainly be key
dates you should make anote of.
Upcoming Open Days
Ranby House (3-11)
• Sat. 13 October 2018: 10-12pm
(Family Open Morning)
Worksop College (11-18)
• Sat. 6October 2018: 10-12pm
• Sat. 17 November 2018: 10-12pm
(Scholarships Open Morning)
Worksop College and Ranby House
is aco-educational day and boarding
school for 3-18 year olds based in
over 400 acres of beautiful North
Nottinghamshire woodland. The
school offers agenerous scholarships
and bursaries programme and you
can find out more about the school by
visiting wsnl.co.uk