Sign in
My account
As we embark on Autumn, – the season of change, it’s when leaves turn from green to russet red and brown and animals prepare their larders ready for the onset of winter. It is also the time of year when children dip their toe in the water of potential new schools as some look to graduate from primary education into secondary school.
The transition from Primary School to Year 7 in Secondary School can be a daunting prospect for any child.
The Secondary School Open Day aims to create a positive impact and instil confidence in the next group of possible students who are to make a choice about where they continue their education next. During an Open Day, prospective parents and pupils can visit the school during a working day, or during early evening. Classrooms are visited, pupils and staff are on hand to show the school in its best light. There is usually a talk by the Headteacher or a senior member of the teaching staff and a range of activities are made available so pupils get a feel for what is taught.
In preparation for their arrival, classrooms have been scrubbed, wall displays have been refreshed, the science experiment has been on repeat for the past few weeks so there are no mishaps in the lab as children experiment with the Bunsen burners and copper wire.
Open days allow schools to promote their product to a new audience. Whilst parents look at league tables, discuss travel implications, read over the schools various welfare policies and examine the syllabus, they also want to know that their child will be happy. The set-up of the modern world is such that, whether we agree or not, academic success matters. So as a parent, if you feel your child will be happy, then by extension they should do well. Open Days provide an opportunity for a new audience to get a feel for, and be reassured by what the school has to offer.
Open Days allow the school and its existing pupils and staff an opportunity to showcase, and be proud of their school and of their achievements. They take massive pride in their shop window and hope to attract a new generation of passers-by to step inside.
Whilst schools are managing their shop window, suppliers to the education sector are also busy preparing for the start of a new year. It is a time when they decide which products to cancel and which new products to introduce. They too are changing their shop windows, talking to the distributors and suppliers who will, like the parents and children deciding their next school, be making decisions on which products to take and which products to leave.
As well as being a busy time, it is also exciting, making decisions about which products to feature on websites and catalogues for the coming year. The products that are chosen, eventually make their way into the very schools and classrooms visited by the children on the Open Day. There is a bond shared between supplier and school that ultimately serves to enhance and enrich the learning experience of all children, irrespective of the school they eventually decide on.
Originally written 14 October 2015