Open Day Questions
10 Crucial Things to Ask on an MK School Open Day
School open days in Milton Keynes are great at showing off the best bits—the shiny new sports hall, the enthusiastic drama students, and the immaculately clean science labs.
But as a parent, you need to look past the glossy brochures. An open day is your best opportunity to gauge the true culture of a school. Here are 10 hard-hitting, revealing questions to ask the headteacher, staff, and (most importantly) the student guides.
Questions for the Headteacher or Senior Staff
1. “What is your staff turnover rate like?”
Why it matters: Milton Keynes has a highly competitive job market, and great teachers are in high demand. A school with high staff turnover often suffers from instability and inconsistent teaching. You want to see a solid core of long-serving teachers.
2. “How do you handle the transition from Primary to Secondary?”
Why it matters: Moving up to Year 7 in a massive MK secondary school can be terrifying. Ask what specific pastoral care they offer in the first term. Do Year 7s have their own dedicated area or lunch break?
3. “Can you walk me through your exact process for dealing with bullying?”
Why it matters: Every school will say “we have a zero-tolerance policy.” That’s a scripted answer. Push them: “If my child is bullied online over the weekend and it spills into school on Monday, what exact steps do you take?”
4. “How do you support students who fall in the middle?”
Why it matters: Schools are great at supporting high-achievers (to boost their league tables) and students with strict SEND needs. But what about the quiet, average student who just plods along? How do they ensure that child reaches their full potential?
5. “What has been the biggest criticism from your latest Ofsted report, and what have you done to fix it?”
Why it matters: This tests their transparency and self-awareness. A good leadership team will openly admit their flaws and passionately explain their improvement plan.
Questions for the Teachers
6. “How much homework do you set for Year 7s, and how is it marked?”
Why it matters: You want to know the volume of work expected at home. Furthermore, if homework isn’t being marked consistently, it loses its value.
7. “How do you communicate with parents if a child starts struggling?”
Why it matters: You don’t want to find out your child is failing math at a parents’ evening in June. Ask if they use apps (like ClassCharts or Arbor) and how quickly teachers respond to parent emails.
Questions for the Student Guides
(Note: Students are always the most honest people in the building!)
8. “What happens if you forget your homework or get a detention?”
Why it matters: This tells you how discipline is actually enforced on the ground. Is it fair? Is it overly draconian?
9. “What’s the food actually like, and how long does it take to queue?”
Why it matters: A massive issue in large MK secondary schools. If it takes 30 minutes to get a panini in a 40-minute lunch break, that’s a recipe for stressed kids.
10. “If you could change one thing about this school, what would it be?”
Why it matters: This forces the student off the rehearsed script. Their answer will give you a genuine glimpse into the daily life and minor frustrations of the school!