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How to avoid the sales pitch

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 1:02 am
by didcot2002
Hi

We are viewing a few comprehensives on their open days (prior to getting 11+results). We are happy to have a look on the open days but would also like to see the school whilst it is working as per normal. I guess that schools don't want parents disrupting the school which is why they organise open days but we feel it doesn't give a clear view of the atmosphere of the school. Lurking at the school gates seems a bad idea. (But I am prepared to do it if nec :oops: )

Our feeling is that dd will be lucky to pass the Kent Test and we'd like to have some idea of how to judge comps other than by Ofsted results and rumour.

Many thanks.

Re: How to avoid the sales pitch

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 8:48 am
by scarlett
We're starting our viewings this week and I've just been laughing to myself , listening to DH tell DS to keep his hair tidy tonight , as now isn't the time to start expressing himself :lol: Does he really think we're going to be spotted and singled out from the masses ?! ( unfortunately, we aren't the ones with the picture of the Pope ).

I agree , it's hard to get a feel of things with all the pushing and shrieking ...plus you can count yourself lucky if you get within spitting distance ( don't worry , DH warned us against that one too :P ) of any teachers. Watch out for the countdown to the Heads speech too..you suddenly get swept along by a big tidal wave of prospective parents all wanting the elusive front seats.

Many schools do have open mornings, which are much calmer and you see the school going about it's daily routine which is really quite nice. I think you can ask to look round during the day by yourself ? What do people who get through on appeals and so miss the open days do ?

Do you know anyone already at these schools , who might be able to give you an insight ?

Re: How to avoid the sales pitch

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 9:08 am
by scary mum
I don't know what happens in Kent but in Bucks it is quite common to call the school, explain that you are terribly sorry but you can't come at any other time and could someone show you & your DC round on another day. I've never come across one which won't do this - it is my preferred method. Having said that the daytime tours are better than the evening bun fight but you tend not to get the head's sales pitch, err, speech I mean.

Good luck.

Re: How to avoid the sales pitch

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 9:58 am
by tigger2
Scarlett....which schools do you want feedback on? I can tell you a fair bit about a few of them in west kent....I could even borrow a picture of the Pope if you like.....and before you think that you may have escaped the pushy parents of the trombone player I would just like to forewarn parents in the tunbridge wells area that that dc concerned had a brother the same age as dd...so we may be in for an encore !!!! What a treat that would be ....cheered me up no end seeing ds and his cousin almost on their knees from trying to keep the laughter in.

On a more serious note..day tours are much better..you can see the school in action and there is less 'sell'.

Re: How to avoid the sales pitch

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 10:13 am
by scarlett
We're just going to see Bennett tonight....will also see the 2 Maidstone grammars ..not visiting any others ...am telling myself we don't need to :?

I can't bear the loud women shouting " Oh, Tallulah ! You're here tooo !!! " ( hope that's not you Tigger ) I usually hide if I spot anyone ...must make sure it's not behind the curtain in the hall ..might be exposed during the Heads speech !

Why would you bring your trombone anyway ? Do they think the school will hotfoot it to the phone to tell the KCC to put that child straight on the admissions list ? :?


P.S I 'm now thinking that I might make DS bring all his rugby trophies . Just need one of those trailer things to drag behind us ...should clear a bit of space for the front row viewing in the science lab. :)

Re: How to avoid the sales pitch

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 2:23 pm
by Villagedad
scarlett wrote:We're just going to see Bennett tonight....will also see the 2 Maidstone grammars ..not visiting any others ...am telling myself we don't need to :?
We're going to Bennett tonight too :)

Would be interested to know what you and others on the forum think about this school, as a plan A choice not just as a back-up plan B. I know it has recently received an outstanding in it's ofsted.., a prize not achieved by many schools including grammars so they must be doing something right :D

Re: How to avoid the sales pitch

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 3:18 pm
by scarlett
I'll be wearing the red carnation ! Last went 2 years ago ( although I was educated there myself ) so will be interesting to see if it's changed at all. If it was a bit nearer and a place guaranteed , I think I would choose it as plan A . The head seems to think many children take the 11 plus as plan B , preferring a place at Bennett .....

Re: How to avoid the sales pitch

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 3:50 pm
by doodles
Doing Skinners and Judd this year (did TWGSB last year and really liked it even if we are too far away) Not sure why we are doing Skinners again as DS1 is there are absolutely loves it so it will be our first choice if it's feasible - there that's really sticking my head above the parapet. Will also do Oakwood but I fear we are too far out for that one too.

Can anybody suggest some other options for us - beginning to think that we live in a massive black hole here!

Re: How to avoid the sales pitch

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 3:57 pm
by pheasantchick
Hadlow Free sschool
Sevenoaks Christian school
Sevenoaks grammar school

Re: How to avoid the sales pitch

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 4:05 pm
by doodles
Now come on Pheasant - this is serious :lol:

Sevenoaks Grammar is just not going to happen by next September and not sure about Sevenoaks Christian School. Nothing against faith schools, I'm a convent girl myself, but we don't have the faith element to our application and there is no guarantee that it will be open by next September - from what I understand if they don't have enough bottoms on seats they won't open - need Mystery to confirm that bit as I may be completely wrong. It being nearly October now I can't see how either of these schools are going to be operational in 11 months.

Think we may be too far out for the Hadlow option but I will google it and have a look.
***************************

Just googled both Oakwood (again) and Hadlow and I think we will fail on distance for both of them, they are both over 10 miles from here by my reckoning so I think we would struggle for either of them.

Does anybody know the likelihood of getting into Hayesbrook from here?