Hit the right note in your search
Open days and taster visits will help you judge whether a school is the right one, writes Sarah Devine
When considering which school to send your child to, reading a school’s prospectus and looking at its website can only provide so much information and the best way to truly capture a school’s culture is to visit it.
Many of Scotland’s independent schools hold information mornings or open days in spring and September, but prospective parents are always welcome to arrange a school visit during normal working days.
A visit is the chance for parents to scrutinise all aspects of the school, while taster visits allow prospective pupils to “try out” the school and see how it fits them.
“I find that parents get a flavour of the school as soon as they walk into it,” says William Goldsmith, headmaster of St Leonards Junior School in St Andrews.
“It’s all about looking at that atmosphere instead of all the glossy displays and looking at the facilities rather than at results or books.
“What is key however, is looking at the strength of the relationships between the children and between the staff and the children because that will give an indication whether it truly is a happy school with strong community values.”
Open days and information mornings are a chance for parents to ask all the questions that they might have, particularly if it’s their first time looking at the sector.
“They can clear up any misconceptions they might have about either the sector or the schools,” says John Edward, director of Scottish Council of Independent Schools.
“Open days can seem a bit daunting at first, but it’s your chance to understand how the school works, what the expectations are in pastoral and academic terms and to reassure yourself about the diversity in the school.”
Each school feels different in terms of its buildings, surroundings and atmosphere, and open days help parents and pupils see how the school works.
At Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, information mornings are held.
Parents can expect to hear a few words from the headmaster, Andrew Hunter, as well as the school captain before being taken on a tour of the school by senior students.
“Because we have classes on
Parents should consider if the ethos lives up to our expectations as a family
a Saturday, it’s a normal day at Merchiston,” says Hunter.
“It’s quite low key and parents are seeing a normal school with lessons going on.
“I always say to parents to look at the answers to two questions: ‘what is the ethos of the school?’ and ‘does it have a sense of community?’”
To help parents ensure that they are getting the right service for their child, Maureen Crandles, director of Early Days Nurseries in Edinburgh aims to get as much detail from parents about their child and his or her needs.
“You get a feel for the ethos very quickly when you come into the nursery and parents need to feel both welcomed and that the staff are professional,” says Crandles.
“Most importantly, parents need to see that the children are engaged, having fun and that they are loved.
“There’s a check list that I have for parents and I go over that with them. It includes dietary and cultural requirements, outdoor opportunities and learning opportunities.”
It is essential that parents spend an appropriate amount of time at a school to see several classes take place and to consider what is best for their child in terms of what the route is that they imagine for their child.
“We have some extraordinarily clever pupils here at Merchiston but for some their Oxbridge, as I put it, may not be the top universities in the world,” says Hunter.
“Because of this total curriculum, there is categorical proof that activities such as leisure and sport mean that they will do better academically.”
An individual’s ultimate direction may not be very clear during primary school and so parents should find out what opportunities are available in the primary years and how varied the selections are.
“A broad curriculum is what I’d recommend for any child, particularly at primary years, says Mark Becher, headmaster at the Compass School in Haddington.
“You want to ensure that the children are going to have an absolute wealth of opportunities to try things out.”
At St George’s School for Girls in Edinburgh open mornings include viewing the outdoor learning play areas at the nursery, while an action-packed activities morning is held for the older junior pupils with science and art, as well as outdoor learning.
Parents can undertake tours by pupil guides and can hear about the school’s broad curriculum.
However, the final decision is about a parent’s feeling of whether or not it is a good school.
“Parents should consider if the ethos lives up to your expectations as a family,” says headmistress Alex Hems.
“But it is also up to the girls to see if they feel that the school is right for them, particularly when they get older.
“Parents should therefore ask students about their experiences and look at the small interactions that they see between students and staff.”
According to Rod Grant, headmaster at Clifton Hall School in Midlothian, choosing a school is “all about feeling”.
“It’s a bit like buying a house – you should walk through the door and know instantly if it is for you,” he says.
“Parents should ask what it is they want for their child and how best they can achieve that.
“Everybody wants their children to be happy and to enjoy school and so they have to decide which school fits their child best.
“Don’t look at one school, look at four and by the time the end of that process arrives, you will know.”