An open day is the single best chance you'll get to judge whether a school is right for your child — and it's surprisingly easy to come away dazzled by the buildings but none the wiser about what daily life there is actually like. A little preparation turns a pleasant morning out into a genuinely useful comparison.
This guide covers what to look for, the questions worth asking, the things prospectuses won't tell you, and a checklist you can take to every visit.
Before you go
A productive open day starts at home.
- Do your homework first. Read the school's inspection report, results and prospectus beforehand so the visit answers your remaining questions rather than the basics. You can pull together results and ratings on most schools through our explore tool.
- Write down your priorities. Decide as a family what matters most — academic strength, pastoral care, sport, music, journey time, cost — so you assess each school against the same yardstick.
- Bring your child if you can. Their reaction to the atmosphere is invaluable, and many schools expect to meet prospective pupils anyway. Watch how they respond, not just what they say.
- Prepare a short list of questions. A handful of specific, important questions beats a vague wander. Use the lists below to build your own.
What to look for on the day
Buildings and brochures are designed to impress. The real signal is in the people and the everyday detail.
The pupils
The current pupils tell you more than anyone. Look for:
- Are they engaged, polite and genuinely enthusiastic, or clearly on best behaviour and stiff?
- Do they speak warmly and specifically about teachers and the school, or in rehearsed slogans?
- Do they look happy, settled and comfortable with each other?
- Would your child fit in among them?
If pupils are leading tours, ask them honest questions — what they'd change, what a normal day is like, what they wish they'd known. Their candour is revealing.
The staff and teaching
- Do teachers seem to know and like their pupils?
- Are they enthusiastic about their subjects when you talk to them?
- If you can see teaching or work on display, does it suggest high expectations and genuine engagement?
- How does the head come across — and how do staff seem to regard them?
The atmosphere
- Does the school feel calm and purposeful, or chaotic, or oppressively rigid?
- Is there a sense of warmth and community, or coldness?
- How is behaviour around the corridors when no one's performing for visitors?
- Crucially: can you picture your child being happy here?
The practical realities
- Are facilities well used and well kept, or showcase pieces that pupils rarely touch?
- What are the everyday spaces — classrooms, dining hall, toilets, common rooms — actually like?
- How would the daily journey work, and what does the school day's shape mean for family life?
Questions worth asking
Tailor these to your priorities, but strong open-day questions include:
Academic
- What's your average class size, and how does it change higher up the school?
- How do you support children who are struggling, and how do you stretch the most able?
- What are your typical leaver destinations — and how do you support university and career choices?
- How do you track progress and keep parents informed?
Pastoral and wellbeing
- How is pastoral care structured, and who would my child turn to with a problem?
- How do you handle bullying, and can you describe how a recent issue was resolved?
- What's your approach to mental health and wellbeing?
- How do you help new pupils settle in?
The fit
- What kind of child thrives here — and what kind doesn't?
- What makes this school different from others nearby?
- What are you most proud of, and what are you working to improve?
Practical and financial
- What's included in the fees, and what costs extra? (For independent schools, check whether quoted fees already include VAT.)
- What bursaries or scholarships are available, and how do I apply?
- What does the admissions process and timeline involve?
- What are the transport and wraparound care options?
A good school will answer the harder questions — about weaknesses, behaviour and what doesn't work — openly. Evasiveness is itself an answer.
The things prospectuses won't tell you
Some of the most useful signals are subtle:
- How children behave when they think no one's watching. Hang back from the group occasionally and observe ordinary corridor life.
- Whether the head's vision matches reality. A compelling speech means little if the daily experience doesn't reflect it.
- How the school talks about pupils who leave or struggle. Compassion and honesty here tell you a lot about the culture.
- Your own gut feeling. After enough visits, you'll sense which schools feel right. Trust it, alongside the evidence.
Open-day checklist
Take this to every visit and score each school the same way:
First impressions
- Welcoming and well organised on arrival
- Calm, purposeful atmosphere
- Pupils engaged and genuinely happy
People
- Pupils articulate, warm and honest
- Staff knowledgeable and enthusiastic
- Head's vision credible and clearly shared by staff
Academic
- Class sizes acceptable to you
- Clear support for strugglers and stretch for the able
- Leaver destinations align with your hopes
- Sensible progress tracking and parent communication
Pastoral
- Clear, reassuring pastoral structure
- Convincing approach to bullying and wellbeing
- Thoughtful settling-in support
Practical
- Facilities genuinely used by pupils
- Manageable daily journey
- Costs (and what's included) clear
- Bursary/scholarship options understood
The fit
- Your child could be happy here
- The school suits your child's character and needs
- Your overall gut feeling is positive
After the visit
While it's fresh, write down your impressions — strengths, concerns, and how the school scored against your priorities. Compare your notes across schools rather than relying on memory, which blurs the longer you leave it.
If a school impresses you, follow up: book a one-to-one meeting, a taster day or a chance to see a normal school day rather than a staged open event. The everyday version is the one your child will actually live.
When you've visited a few, lining them up against each other on the same measures makes the decision far clearer.
Next steps: Compare your shortlisted schools side by side, or explore more schools in your area to round out the list before you visit.