Decide what you are testing before you go
Read the school’s Year 7 admission policy, curriculum and SEND information first. Check whether the event needs booking, who can attend and whether talks require a separate place. Confirm details on the school’s own website even if you found the event in a listing.
Choose a few questions that matter to your child. A keen musician, a child anxious about changing classrooms and a child who needs support with organisation will need different conversations.
Keep admission questions precise: ask which clause applies to your circumstances rather than asking staff to predict an offer. An open-day conversation does not replace the published policy.
Questions worth asking on the day
Teaching and curriculum
- What does a normal Year 7 homework week look like, and how is it coordinated across subjects?
- How do teachers respond when a pupil understands a subject quickly—or finds it unexpectedly difficult?
- How are languages and later GCSE options organised? Are any choices restricted by sets, timetables or entry requirements?
- What happens when a pupil misses work through illness?
Pastoral care and transition
- Who is a Year 7 pupil’s first point of contact when something is wrong?
- How do you help pupils arriving without friends from the same primary school?
- How are bullying concerns reported, followed up and communicated to parents?
- How do staff notice a pupil who is quietly struggling rather than asking for help?
SEND and individual support
- How is information from primary school used before the pupil arrives?
- How are agreed adjustments shared with subject teachers and reviewed?
- What support is available for organisation, sensory needs or anxiety during the school day?
- How can parents arrange a separate conversation with the SENCO about individual needs?
Activities and practical life
- Which activities are open to beginners, and which need selection or extra payment?
- When do clubs finish, and how do pupils who use school transport get home?
- What are the usual uniform, equipment, lunch and trip costs, and what assistance is available?
Ask for a recent example when an answer is vague. You do not need to ask every question; select the ones that could change your view of the school.
What to notice without asking
- How pupils and staff interact
Notice whether pupils seem comfortable asking questions and whether staff explain things clearly. An open evening is a prepared event, so treat it as one piece of evidence.
- The spaces your child will use
Consider corridors, stairs, dining areas, toilets, quiet spaces and accessibility—not just the main hall or newest facility.
- The practical journey
Where possible, visit around school travel times too. Evening traffic and parking do not reveal the normal morning trip.
- Your child’s specific reactions
Ask what interested them and what felt difficult. Record the reason, rather than only “liked it” or “didn’t like it”.
How to compare schools after the visit
Write down three useful findings, any concerns and the questions still unanswered. Keep admissions facts separate from impressions and confirm any claimed policy change in the official arrangements.
Ask your child to describe an ordinary day at each school: arriving, lessons, lunch, asking for help and getting home. That discussion can reveal more than asking them to name a favourite immediately.
Follow up individual support questions directly with the appropriate staff member. Use the comparison guide to keep the same headings across visits, and the open-day directory to find official booking information for other schools.
A few more answers
Common questions
Should my child come to an open day?
Where the school’s arrangements allow it, attending can help your child understand the environment and raise their own questions. Check the booking and age-group guidance first.
Can an open day tell me whether we will get a place?
No. Staff can explain arrangements, but the published policy and allocation process determine offers. Ask about specific rules rather than seeking a prediction.
Should we discuss SEND at the event?
General questions can be useful, but a separate conversation with the SENCO may be better for your child’s individual needs and privacy.
Do I need to ask all these questions?
No. Choose the ones that matter most to your child and are not already answered clearly in the school’s published information.
Official sources
Reviewed 28 Sept 2026. Check the published arrangements for your child’s entry year.