Habs/ COL - open day vs group tours

[iamwhatuthinkiam]

Hello all

Some independent schools (e.g. Haberdasher boys and City of London boys) hold both an open day (on weekends) and group tours (on week days). I have already signed up for the open days but am not sure whether I should sign up to a group tour (always a bit difficult to get out of work). However I would make time if it provides an extra edge to my DS's candidature. Do any of the parents on the forum have a point of view? Does attending the group tour help?

Thanks,

[hermanmunster]

Hello all

Some independent schools (e.g. Haberdasher boys and City of London boys) hold both an open day (on weekends) and group tours (on week days). I have already signed up for the open days but am not sure whether I should sign up to a group tour (always a bit difficult to get out of work). However I would make time if it provides an extra edge to my DS's candidature. Do any of the parents on the forum have a point of view? Does attending the group tour help?

Thanks,

Don't think going on group tour gives your child more chance of getting a place but it is very well worth seeing a school on a normal working day - they are different places at the weekend

[Daogroupie]

I would always go on a weekday while the school is in operation to get a real feel for the school.

Does your ds have a preference for either school? DG

[Moon unit]

I am as sure as I can be the group tour won’t give the edge.
We had two chances to do group tours.
We did both and felt they were miles more useful than open days.
I would also highly recommend seeing if you can get to a concert/play/fete etc.
You get so much useful info from those things and no sales pitch.

[drinkmoretea]

We did a weekday tour of COL with a few hundred others - but we were shown round by boys and got a really good chance to chat too them. I'd recommend that (book ahead)

[iamwhatuthinkiam]

Thanks all. Daogroupie - no, my son does not have any preference for any of the 2 schools.

[Daogroupie]

Perhaps he will after the tours.

They have quite a different feel. DG