Secondary school open evenings are the main opportunity for parents and children to visit prospective schools before the admissions deadline in October. A little preparation makes the difference between a useful visit and a confusing one — here is how to get the most from the evening and make a well-informed decision.
When do secondary school open evenings happen?
Most secondary schools hold their main open evening for prospective Year 7 families in September or early October — typically before the local authority's admissions deadline, which falls on 31 October in most areas. Some schools also run daytime open mornings where a smaller group of parents are shown around while lessons are in progress, which can give a truer picture of daily school life.
Check the school's website for dates in early September, as popular schools can fill visiting slots quickly. If you cannot attend the main open evening, contact the school to ask about alternative visit options — most will accommodate a separate appointment for genuinely interested families.
Why is attending more than one school important?
It is tempting to visit only your preferred school, but seeing two or three schools in the same week is genuinely illuminating. Details that seemed impressive at the first school may look unremarkable at the second, and vice versa. Side-by-side comparison also helps your child articulate what matters most to them — which school felt welcoming, which had subjects or clubs they were excited by.
Try to visit at least three schools, including your most likely option, one aspirational choice, and one safe fallback. This is not about ranking them mechanically — it is about ensuring you are making an informed decision rather than an assumption.
What to look at when you arrive — the atmosphere test
Before any presentation or guided tour begins, pay attention to:
- How pupils are behaving in the corridors and entrance. Are they moving purposefully? Are they polite to visitors? This is the school on its best behaviour — if it is chaotic or discourteous now, that is a data point.
- How staff speak to pupils and to each other. Tone, warmth and respect between adults and young people tell you a great deal about the culture.
- Displays and artwork on the walls. Are they dated or recent? Do they celebrate achievement across all subjects, or only sport and examination results?
- Cleanliness and the state of facilities. Not all schools have equal resources, but care and upkeep reflect the culture regardless of budget.
- Whether pupils are leading any part of the tour. Student ambassadors who speak confidently about their experience are a positive sign.
Questions to ask subject teachers at open evening
Open evenings usually include subject stands or classroom displays where parents can speak directly to teachers. Use this time. Useful questions:
| Question | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| "How do you support pupils who are struggling in this subject?" | Whether the school has systems for stretch and catch-up |
| "How do you teach pupils to revise effectively?" | Whether study skills are taught explicitly |
| "What does homework look like in Year 7?" | Volume, type and feedback quality |
| "Which exam board do you use and why?" | Shows the teacher knows and has considered the curriculum |
| "What extracurricular clubs does this department run?" | Depth of commitment beyond the timetable |
Avoid asking only about results — league table data is publicly available and a teacher at an open evening cannot meaningfully add to it.
Questions to ask senior leaders or the headteacher
If you get the chance to speak with the headteacher or a senior leader, these questions tend to reveal most about the school's character:
- "What is the school's biggest challenge right now, and what are you doing about it?"
- "What would a parent notice is different in this school compared with others locally?"
- "What does the school do to support pupils with anxiety or wellbeing concerns?"
- "How do you identify and support pupils who are falling behind in the first half-term of Year 7?"
A confident leader answers these honestly. Vague, promotional answers to direct questions are themselves informative.
How to involve your child in the visit
Your child will be the one attending this school for five years — their impression matters. Before the visit, ask them what they are most anxious about (size, friendships, subjects) and encourage them to look for evidence about those concerns specifically. After the visit, prompt them with questions like:
- "Could you picture yourself here in September?"
- "Was there anything that surprised you — good or bad?"
- "Did any of the pupil guides seem like the sort of people you'd want to know?"
Do not dismiss first impressions — gut reactions from a child who is paying attention are often accurate. But do help them separate feeling nervous about secondary school in general (which is natural) from a specific reaction to a particular school.
Frequently asked questions
Does it matter if my child cannot attend the open evening?
It matters somewhat. If your child has not visited a school before starting Year 7, the first day can feel more disorienting than it needs to be. Most schools run a dedicated transition day for new Year 7s in the summer term, which provides a second chance to see the school before September. If the open evening is genuinely impossible, ask whether a daytime tour can be arranged.
Can we visit a school that is not on our shortlist?
Yes. You can attend the open evening of any school regardless of whether it is on your application form. Visiting a school does not commit you to applying or preferring it. Some parents visit local schools purely out of curiosity and discover a school they had not previously considered.
How many preferences can we list on the secondary school application form?
In England, local authorities typically allow parents to list three to six school preferences in order. The exact number varies by council. You do not need to rank them honestly in terms of where you think you will get in — list them in genuine preference order, because the local authority's offer algorithm works on preferences, not likelihood.
What if we are not offered our preferred school?
You have the right to appeal an admissions decision. The appeal is heard by an independent panel. For oversubscribed schools (where the school had more applicants than places), you would need to show either that the school's own admissions criteria were not correctly applied, or that the case for your child attending outweighs the prejudice to the school of exceeding its published admission number.
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