Students can be an important source of covert information IMAGES: THE ROYAL HIGH SCHOOL BATH (UK)
1. Pastoral care is boarding speak for home life, health, happiness and safety. In a boarding school this is paramount. What is the point of outstanding teaching if the children are being bullied or are not safe? 2. As far as teaching, the inspectors are all current or former heads or deputy heads of private schools. The report will reveal their assessment of the standard of teaching. 3. My favourite section is where the report summarizes any issues flagged up in the previous inspection and whether the school has attended to them. Note if problems arose on the watch of the current head or were resolved by her. Perhaps the board of trustees decided to change leadership for that very reason. Either way, armed with this background information you are prepared to take on the Open Day.
The Open Day
Open Days at private boarding schools can be very elegant affairs. Delicious food and beautiful or even spectacular buildings and grounds. When you find yourself admiring the surroundings, remember that trees and edifices do not educate children - teachers do. And that bullies can also wear smart uniforms. There are many things to assess on Open Day, but the most important is leadership provided
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by the head. In a boarding school, an excellent head is even more important than in a day school. Boarding schools are intense and difficult places to run. It’s 24/7 for the staff and children. Energetic, capable leadership is crucial. When you meet an impressive head you will know it. Their talk will leave you excited and informed rather than feeling that you have heard an excellent sales pitch. Even the busiest heads are accessible, giving you the opportunity to assess them further - and ask questions about the ISI report. I met one head in his office on the Open Day while another made room when we came for a follow up meeting with a housemaster. What must you ask about in addition to the academics? The anti-bullying policy, pastoral and child protection, and how/when they communicate with parents. Find a housemaster/housemistress you like, but remember they move on like people in other professions. Also if the house is full you may be assigned one. However, excellent heads likely choose excellent housemasters so it is not disastrous. Also meet the house matrons who are a mine of information and may have slightly different roles depending on the school. Ask how the money is spent, if that information is not in the prospectus, and notice the state of buildings, especially bedrooms and showers. Are they bright and freshly painted? How often are they refurbished? Take a look at the medical facility and meet the nurse in charge. Would you mind feeling ill there? Usually Open Days
include student guides and they are your most important source of covert information! Students are wonderfully honest about their school with strangers. After asking questions about our son’s interests, one student told us bluntly that he was probably too bright to go there. We remain grateful to that child. At another school our guides gave us a list of the best houses (which did not include their own). Observing and listening to student guides is a reminder of the importance of seeing each school through the lens of a child’s interests and personality. If your child loves libraries, do not assume each school has a good one - have a look and speak to the librarian. In the same way, a school with a lot of teams may be able to offer a child who loves sports, but is not a top jock, a chance to play for the school. Whether you have never visited a boarding school or attended one in the distant past you will be impressed with what the best have to offer – first class educators with modern equipment and well organized and vigilant pastoral care. If you focus on that when you think about a school, rather than the grounds and historic architecture, you have done your homework. H Carol Madison Graham has worked for the US Diplomatic Service, and after moving to Britain was appointed executive director of the US-UK Fulbright Commission. She is mother to two sons, both of whom attended boarding schools. Currently, she works with the Marshall Scholarships and writes a blog with ideas for enriching study and living abroad at www.engageabroad.com and her book Coping with Anti-Americanism is out now.