School Visit Checklist
A tour tells you things a profile page can't. Here's what's worth preparing, watching for, and asking.
Before your visit
- Read the school's curriculum and philosophy first - their website, and their profile here - so your questions go beyond what's already published.
- Write down the specific things you actually want to know. A short list beats winging it on the day.
- Confirm the appointment ahead of time so the school is expecting you, not improvising a tour.
During your visit
- Watch a class in session, not just the tour route - are children engaged, or watching the clock?
- Talk to teachers and, if possible, the principal. The admissions team's pitch isn't the same as day-to-day reality.
- Look past the facilities showcase: are bathrooms and the cafeteria clean, does the campus feel safe and supervised?
- Ask about catering - who provides food, and how allergies and dietary needs are handled.
Questions worth asking directly
- Class sizes and teacher-to-student ratio, and how they change through the grades.
- Turnover among teaching staff, and what support is offered during a new student's settling-in period.
- What happens if your child needs extra academic or language support.
- How the school communicates progress - report frequency, parent-teacher conferences, and how reachable teachers are day to day.
After your visit
- Compare notes against what's on the school's profile here, and use the compare tool if you're deciding between a shortlist.
- Follow up on any application-fee, deadline or document questions in writing so you have a record.
Ready to shortlist schools to visit? Try the matcher or browse the full directory.