Questions to ask at the schoo open nigh

IT’S that time of year when secondary schools around the county are holding the annual open days / enrolment nights for the 2018- 2019 school year.

If you have a shild due to start secondary school next year these open days provide an excellent opportunity to check out the school in your area and see which one ‘fits’ best with your child - among several other issues to be considered. At the open day you will get a great opportunity to see all the school has to offer, check out the ethos of the school, and get a sense of the atmosphere.

You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions and, in this regard, it’s best to arrive at the open day with a shopping list of queries.

What subjects does this school offer? Ask what’s available. If your daughter wants to do technical graphics, for example, make sure it’s on the timetable.

When does my child have to choose her subjects? Flexibility around subjects indicates an academically effective school. More effective schools tend to allow students to sample subjects before choosing.

When does my child have to choose which level to study? Many schools try to delay the decision on higher or ordinary level for as long as possible; this maximises the numbers doing higher level.

How are subjects timetabled is an important consideration? For example, if your child is very artistic and musical, will they be able to do both art and music, or will there be a clash, now or later on?

What is discipline like in the school? The key is not what is in the discipline code but how it is enforced. Effective schools will be consistent, transparent and fair in applying rules. While many parents dread a phonecall from the school principal, it has been shown that early involvement of parents in disciplinary matters is another characteristic of the effective school.

Am I confident in the teachers? Research shows Irish parents value teaching and assume it is of a high standard.

What do the teachers expect of my child? Teacher attitude and expectation is important. When teachers expect and encourage high standards from students, good things happen.

Is the school well run? This is a difficult one to pin down but school organisation and leadership are important. If a school is not well-run you will probably hear about it from other parents. If everything is running smoothly you may not even notice.