School Open Days: What to Look For and the Questions to Ask
School open days are your best chance to judge a school from the inside, but it is easy to come away dazzled by a slick tour and none the wiser. Going in with a short list of questions, and knowing what to look past the display boards for, turns an open day or open evening into a genuine comparison. Here is what to look for and exactly what to ask.
Look past the showcase
Open days are marketing events, so expect the best work on the walls and the most confident pupils leading tours. That is fine, but look at the everyday things: are corridors calm between sessions, are ordinary classrooms tidy and purposeful, do pupils hold doors and speak to visitors easily? The atmosphere when nobody is performing tells you more than the head's speech.
Questions about results and teaching
- How have results and progress measures changed over the last three years, not just the headline figures?
- How do you support children who are ahead, and those who fall behind?
- What is staff turnover like, and how many classes are covered by non-specialist or supply teachers?
- How much homework should we expect, and what does a typical week look like?
Questions about behaviour and pastoral care
- What is the behaviour policy, and how is low-level disruption handled day to day?
- How do you deal with bullying, and can you give a recent example of how it was resolved?
- Who is my child's first point of contact, and how do you keep parents informed?
- What pastoral and mental-health support is in place?
Questions about SEND and inclusion
If your child has additional needs, ask to speak to the SENCO. Ask how the school identifies needs, what support looks like in practice, how it works with families and outside services, and how many pupils have EHC plans or SEN support. A confident, specific answer matters more than a glossy inclusion statement.
Questions about the wider offer
- What clubs, trips, music, sport and enrichment run, and how many pupils take part?
- How are pupils grouped or setted, and when?
- For secondary, what are typical destinations at 16 and 18?
- Class sizes now, and any planned changes to intake?
Practical things to check before you leave
Confirm the catchment and admissions position for your address, the key application dates, and whether the school is oversubscribed. Pick up the admissions policy and, for faith schools, any supplementary form. Then trust your instinct: could you picture your child happy and settled here? For how the whole system fits together, read our complete guide to school admissions in England, and browse more guides on the Schools Insight homepage.
Frequently asked questions
What questions should I ask at a school open day?
Focus on results trends over three years, how the school supports children who are ahead or behind, the behaviour and anti-bullying approach, pastoral care, staff turnover, homework, and destinations. Ask for specific examples rather than policy statements.
What should I look for at a school open evening?
Look past the showcased work at the everyday feel: calm corridors, purposeful ordinary lessons, and how pupils speak to visitors. Note the condition of standard classrooms and toilets, and whether staff and pupils seem at ease with each other.
Should I visit a school on a normal day as well as the open day?
If you can, yes. Many schools allow a visit or a tour on a working day, which shows the school as it usually runs rather than in showcase mode. It is one of the most useful things you can do before ranking your choices.
How many school open days should we attend?
Visit every school you might realistically list, ideally more than one so you have a comparison. Seeing three or four schools makes it far easier to judge atmosphere, and to rank your preferences honestly on the application.
What questions should I ask about SEND at an open day?
Ask to meet the SENCO and ask how needs are identified, what support looks like day to day, how the school works with families and outside services, and how many pupils are on SEN support or have EHC plans.