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School open day checklist: the key questions parents should ask

Open days offer more than a look at facilities – asking the right questions can reveal how a school teaches, supports students and builds community

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A school open day gives parents the chance to explore the learning environment and ask questions about their child’s potential experience. Photo: Canadian International School Hong Kong
Jacqueline Kot

The school website and other marketing materials provide comprehensive information, but it is during the school tour when parents get a true understanding and experience of the institution and whether it is a good fit for their child. Below is a checklist of questions and key points to keep in mind when attending a school open day.

1. The learning environment

In addition to knowing what type of curriculum the school follows and fully understanding it, you can use the opportunity to find out more about how students are assessed and whether it is the most suitable form of assessment for your child.

For example, you might ask: beyond traditional pen‑and‑paper tests and exams, do teachers assess learning through projects, oral presentations, practical tasks or group work? Do you use formative assessments such as class observations, quizzes or portfolios to track progress, and how is this feedback shared with parents? These questions will help you gauge whether the school’s assessment approach is aligned with your child’s learning style.
A design technology classroom at Kellett School. Photo: Handout
A design technology classroom at Kellett School. Photo: Handout

If it is an international school that uses English as the primary language for teaching, parents wanting their children to learn Chinese as well can ask if Mandarin will be taught as an additional language and whether simplified or traditional Chinese characters will be used.

You can also probe how seriously the school treats Chinese within an English‑medium environment by hearing how many hours of Chinese is scheduled each week, and whether this is the same across all year groups. You might want to ask if Chinese is taught as a stand-alone subject, or is there any dual‑language or bilingual immersion where subjects such as maths, science or social studies are taught partly in Chinese? Or if the school has a one‑teacher‑per‑language model.
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