It is all well and good reading inspection reports, flicking through prospectuses and surfing school websites, but it is only through visiting a school that you will really get a feel for what it is like.

Open days are great at giving a ‘flavour’ of the school in order to help you decide if it is right for your child.

Many schools ask current pupils to give tours round the facilities and you can use this opportunity to see the sort of young person your little four-year-old will grow up to be. Current pupils are a great advertisement for any school and they’ll give honest and frank answers to any questions which you may have.

It is a good idea to visit a school well prepared and to have a list of questions to ask when viewing. The one-size-fits-all approach to education is long gone in the independent sector and it is now up to parents to do the research and pick the one that will best suit their child.

Some examples of the type of questions which you should be asking when visiting a school are: Typically, how many children are in a class?

How much direct contact will we as parents, have with teachers?

How many lessons of sport are there each week?

Are drama and music included as part of the curriculum?

What happens if my child is struggling in maths or English?

Good schools are vibrant, exciting and stimulating places.

While some parents are essentially concerned about academic standards, many are as concerned about other factors that can make all the difference to their child’s happiness and wellbeing at school. It could be the pastoral care, the chance to develop a particular enthusiasm such as singing, dancing or even horse riding, or the availability of extra tuition if needed for a child who, while brilliant at rugby, may struggle with maths.

Increasingly, parents are looking for breadth of opportunity in a school for their child.

Drama, music and art can encourage creativity and individuality.

Vigorous debate can build confidence and self-expression. A wide range of extra-curricular and sporting opportunities can contribute strongly to a child’s educational experience and personal development.

Chandlings offers parents excellent academic results, in a place where all children are happy and are inspired to learn from teachers who are experts in their subjects.

Chandlings is a school where good manners, dress code and good behaviour are positively and actively encouraged and rewarded, but in an atmosphere where children feel relaxed, confident and cherished.

An open morning offers parents and children the ideal opportunity to visit the school and form their own opinion. Crucially, it is also an opportunity to meet the headteacher and Chandlings’ headmistress, Mrs Sophia Ashworth Jones, is looking forward to meeting prospective parents and their children next month.

Open morning at Chandlings this term is on Friday, October 15, from 9.30am–12.30pm. No appointment is necessary.

For further information call the registrar Anna Poole, on 01865 730771 or e-mail annapoole@chandlings.org.uk