Prepare Key Questions for West Sussex Prep School Staff
Planning to visit a prep school Open Morning in West Sussex? Our guide offers essential tips on preparing questions, taking notes, and involving your child. Learn how to make the most of your school visit!
The beautiful landscape of West Sussex is home to many excellent schools: Westbourne House School, Great Ballard School, The Prebendal School, Windlesham House School and Oakwood School (to name but a few) all offer children a wonderful education in a historically and geographically diverse area of South England.
As we are fast approaching the season of Open Mornings, here is some guidance to parents on how you can best navigate this daunting time and get as much as possible from each and every visit you make.
Contents:
- Prepare key questions
- Take notes
- Discuss with your child, but trust your own judgement
- Explore the local area
- Make the most of other resources
- Prepare some questions ahead of your visit
A pre-organised event like this is an excellent opportunity to prepare your questions in advance and make sure they are answered. You will have a variety of pupils and staff at your disposal to speak to and engage with.
Attendees of our Open Morning include our pupil tour-guides, our Headmaster Martin Barker, the Head of our Pre-Prep Caroline Oglethorpe, our Deputy Head - Academic Barbara Langford and a variety of subject specialist teachers - if you have a specific question that you want answered, this is the time!
If you do think of a burning question after having left the school, don’t panic! We will always be happy to welcome you back for another visit or a private tour, and there are other ways to contact the school – we will always be pleased to hear from you.
- Note down some key details following your trip
Decide on your key contributing factors – is your child musical? Academic? Sporty? Do they have individual needs which will require further support? Make notes on the school’s strengths and services in these specific areas at the end of the day, especially if you are visiting multiple schools.
In addition, be sure to write down your initial impressions of the staff, facilities and ethos of the school. When visits are so close together and competition is fierce, it can be easy to mix up details. These notes for each school you visit will be useful for comparison down the line, so keep hold of them.
Don’t necessarily rank schools from ‘best’ to ‘worst,’ but rather ‘most appropriate’ and ‘least appropriate’ for your child and their unique strengths and requirements.
- Talk to your child, but remember that you know best
Children will thrive in an environment where they feel happy and safe. Ask them for their gut reaction to a school and the opportunities which it offers. These conversations will help you keep your child’s best interests at heart.
However, don’t forget that you are capable of making nuanced judgements about certain aspects of the school (teaching quality, safeguarding, further opportunities down the line) that your child is not. Trust yourself and your informed opinions, and remember that you know your child better than anyone, and therefore you are most qualified to make this decision.
- If you have travelled from afar, make the most of your day!
Whether you have taken the train down from London or driven across from Shropshire, we urge you to explore the local area where your children will be living. Visit Chichester City Centre and take a look at the breath-taking Cathedral. If the sun is shining, go to West Wittering beach and see where the children take their art trip in Year 7. Find a cosy pub in the South Downs to eat some lunch and go for a walk. Share in this excitement with your child and enjoy what our local area has to offer.
Get an overview of what the school does on its social media
Social media is a great way to explore a school's day-to-day activities. From lessons, to boarding, to pupil success stories, you can learn a tremendous amount about a school through its social media. Head to YouTube, Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn and browse their content.
Why not settle down with a cup of tea or coffee and have a quick scroll to see what our school has been up to lately? Here are some links to get you started.
Ready to come and experience Westbourne House School for yourself? Book your place at our next Open Morning on Saturday 17 May and get a glimpse of what Westbourne House has to offer.