Can I ask a silly question? How to get the most out of a school tour – insights from staff at Ipswich Prep Looking around the schools you are considering plays perhaps one of the most important parts in the decision making process. Schools, trying their best to make a good impression, will focus on the positives, downplay any potentially weaker areas and be prepared for your visit. So how can you make the most of a tour, what should you be looking out for and what are some of the best questions to ask? Here, a number of Ipswich Prep staff give an insiders’ viewpoint. Pastoral care James McCaughran, Deputy Head and Pastoral Lead, says that wellbeing has deservedly become even more of a focus for parents during the pandemic as we have come to appreciate more than ever the value of human connection. It’s essential to really understand how a school supports pupils and families during difficult times and how it promotes positive mental health more generally. Good Prep schools will have established pastoral programmes and you should expect confident and detailed answers.
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Talk directly with pupils and staff when you get a chance. Enthusiastic pupils and staff are a good indicator of a strong pastoral care system. A strong pupil voice promotes confidence in children when sharing their experiences at school with someone they have just met. Likewise, caring staff will be welcoming to families looking at their school and proud to showcase their lessons. Watching the interactions between staff and pupils will give you the best feel for how your child will settle into this school environment as well as show how these relationships are valued by both pupil and teacher. Learning environments should highlight the achievements of the children and be a strong record of the abilities and hard work that they have put into their outcomes. Classes should be colourful, creative and vibrant places where there is a strong sense of purpose aligned with a tingling feel of excitement and fun. Good schools are child-centred and should feel like a place where children can have fun, be creative and express themselves whilst feeling supported and confident whatever the task.
