When are grammar school open days and visits?

Understanding Grammar School Open Days

Grammar school open days are structured events designed to showcase academic excellence and facilities to prospective Year 6 families. These events play a key role in the admissions process for selective schools. They help parents gauge suitability for the 11-plus exam and year 7 entry.

Schools typically hold open days from September to October, aligning with the academic year start. Families use them to assess catchment area rules, sibling priority, and oversubscription criteria. Virtual tours and in-person sessions often mix post-COVID.

Attendees explore guided tours of sports halls, science labs, and classrooms. Headteacher talks cover curriculum overview, extracurricular activities, and uniform policy. Parents collect prospectuses and note application deadlines for September intake.

Booking is required via the school website or admissions office. Check event schedules for open evenings or visit days. Prepare questions on SEN provision, gifted programs, and performance data.

What Are Open Days?

Open days are 2-4 hour scheduled events where schools offer guided tours, headteacher presentations, and subject demos. They occur on Saturdays from 9am to 12pm or Wednesdays from 4pm to 7pm. These sessions attract prospective students and parents during year 6 transition.

Standard elements include a welcome talk by the headteacher lasting 20 minutes. Guided tours last 45 minutes and cover sports hall, science labs, library, and dining hall. Families meet teachers specialising in English and Maths.

• Q&A sessions address entrance exams and waiting lists
• Prospectus collection with brochure details
• Application guidance on registration and booking

For example, Wilson's School Open Day features discussions on 11-plus practice papers. Student ambassadors lead self-guided tours of classrooms and playground. Parents learn about homework policy and extracurricular activities.

Difference Between Open Days and Visits

Open days are mass events for hundreds of families with fixed schedules, while private visits are personalised 30-60 minute appointments for 1-6 people. Book visits via school portals or bursar email. Open days suit first impressions, visits fit detailed queries.

Use open days for broad overviews, like at Latymer Upper for campus tours and information sessions. Opt for visits to discuss SEN provision or faith school criteria. Check school calendar for open evening dates and visit times.

Private visits allow focus on specific needs, such as wheelchair access or autism-friendly sessions. Contact the admissions office for phone number or email. Review FAQ on parking, public transport, and COVID guidelines like hygiene measures.

Typical Timing of Open Days

Grammar schools concentrate most open days in September-October for Year 7 entry. This timing aligns with 11+ exam preparation starting in Year 5. Parents use these events to assess facilities and meet staff during the admissions process.

Primary transition peaks from September 14 to 28. Senior entries spread across November to February. Registration opens on May 1st each year, following DfE statutory timelines.

Many schools offer open evenings alongside daytime visits. These cater to working parents with slots after 5pm. Prospective students and guardians can book guided tours or attend information sessions.

Check the school website for the event schedule, prospectus, and booking details. Early RSVP helps avoid capacity limits on popular dates. Virtual tours provide an alternative for initial research.

Primary Entry (Year 7) Schedule

Year 7 open days cluster from September 7 to 28. This gives families about 12 weeks before November 11+ exams. Top dates often fall on Saturdays like September 14 and 21.

For 2024-2025, examples include Henrietta Barnett and Tiffin Girls on September 14. Colchester Royal Grammar School hosts on September 21. King Edward VI Camp Hill follows on September 28, with a secondary wave like Bournemouth School on October 5.

Booking windows typically open June 1 and close two weeks before the event. Many venues limit attendance to 200 per session. Parents should confirm visit times, parking, and public transport options via contact details.

Expect Q&A sessions, headteacher talks, and student ambassador-led tours. These cover curriculum overview, extracurricular activities, and catchment area priorities. Prepare questions on 11-plus exam prep and sibling priority.

Senior Entry Points Timing

Senior entry open days target Years 9 to 12. Year 9 events run January to February. Year 12 visits occur June to July, often with spring assessment days.

Examples include Chelmsford County High School for Year 9 on February 1. Reading School offers Sixth Form open days on June 22. Note oversubscription criteria like distance priority under 2 miles.

These events feature self-guided tours, meet the teachers, and facilities visits to sports halls and science labs. Families learn about scholarships, SEN provision, and homework policy. Book early through the admissions office to secure spots.

Regional Variations in the UK

UK grammar schools show stark regional patterns: 163 in England with the South East heaviest, none in Wales, and areas like Trafford with high selectivity compared to Devon at zero. London has 38 grammars such as Queen Elizabeth's, the Midlands 45 including King Edward VI, and the North 33 like Lancaster Royal. These differences shape open days and visits around local needs.

GL Assessment data highlights how 11+ tests vary by consortium, such as Kent versus Birmingham. Parents should check school websites for event schedules tied to these exams. Regional calendars influence when prospective students can attend tours or information sessions.

In selective areas, open evenings fill quickly due to demand, so book early via online forms or phone. Faith schools and single-sex options add variety across regions. Always confirm visit dates as they align with the academic year and term dates.

Guardians planning year 7 entry benefit from comparing catchment areas and oversubscription criteria. Northern schools often offer more parking, while southern ones rely on public transport. This setup helps families navigate the admissions process effectively.

London and South East

London and South East hosts 68 grammars including 12 single-sex schools, with open days starting earliest such as August 31 for Sutton schools. Prospective students and parents can explore facilities like science labs and sports halls during these events. School tours often include Q&A sessions with headteachers.

Key schools schedule visits as follows:

For Wilson's, take the Tube to Wimbledon, as parking remains limited. Selective entry sees high competition, so attend to learn about entrance exams and application deadlines. Many offer virtual tours if in-person slots fill.

Midlands and Northern Schools

Midlands grammars like Birmingham's KEGS on September 28 run later than North sites such as Trafford on September 7, reflecting local authority calendars. Families enjoy guided tours of classrooms, libraries, and dining halls. Open evenings feature student ambassadors and meet-the-teachers sessions.

Regional details include:

Note faith school variations, like St Olave's Catholic on October 12. Northern sites provide free parking, easing access for guardians. Check for self-guided options or webinars on school websites.

These events cover curriculum overviews, extracurricular activities, and uniform policies. Book via RSVP for capacity limits and hygiene measures. This helps with year 6 transition and understanding sibling priority or distance criteria.

Finding Exact Dates

School websites serve as the primary sources for grammar school open days and visits, followed by local authority calendars and aggregator sites. Tools like Adzuna Education listings and School Guide calendars help track dates across regions. Parents of Year 6 students preparing for Year 7 entry should subscribe to school newsletters from June to August for timely updates on open evenings and tours.

Navigate to official school websites first for the most accurate open day schedules. Local authority portals provide consolidated views, especially for selective schools in areas like Kent or Trafford. Aggregator sites compile events but always cross-check with the school directly.

A pro tip is to set calendar reminders for September intake periods, when most in-person visits and virtual tours occur. Check for booking requirements, as many events fill up quickly due to oversubscription criteria. Contact the admissions office via email or phone for any unlisted visit days.

Experts recommend monitoring social media updates and FAQ sections for last-minute changes to event schedules. This approach covers guided tours, Q&A sessions, and meet-the-teachers events comprehensively. Parents can note details like parking, public transport options, and accessibility features during planning.

Official School Websites

Navigate to /admissions or /open-days pages, for example, tauctionsschool.co.uk/admissions lists Sep 21 slots with Eventbrite booking. These pages often detail open evenings, school tours, and information sessions for prospective students. Look for RSVP links to secure spots early in the admissions process.

1. 1Search Google for '[school] open day 2025'.
2. 2Click the official .sch.uk domain.
3. 3Find the 'Events' or 'Admissions' tab.
4. 4Check /calendar pages or PDF prospectuses.
5. 5Note any online booking tools like Eventbrite or Calendly.

Examples include newsteadwood.co.uk using Eventbrite for campus tours, and westminster-school.org with Calendly for appointments. Screenshots help track changes to visit times or capacity limits. Parents should review details on extracurricular activities, facilities like science labs, and uniform policy during these visits.

Subscribe to newsletters on these sites for alerts on headteacher talks and student ambassador-led tours. Virtual tours and webinars often supplement in-person options, especially for distant catchment areas. Always confirm entrance exam dates and application deadlines alongside open day info.

Local Authority Calendars

Authorities like Trafford Council publish consolidated calendars by May 31, trafford.gov.uk lists 7 grammars' Sep 7-14 dates. These portals centralise open day and open evening schedules for multiple schools. They help guardians compare visit days across selective state grammars in one place.

• kent.gov.uk/grammar for 12 schools' events.
• trafford.gov.uk/admissions with detailed timelines.
• slough.gov.uk for local grammar visits.
• reading.gov.uk covering key dates.
• buckinghamshire.gov.uk for area-wide calendars.
• medway.gov.uk listing tour schedules.

Search using '[county] grammar school open days' to find these resources quickly. Aggregators like thegrammarshools.com offer a shared calendar view. Check for self-guided tours, Q&A sessions, and details on sibling priority or distance criteria.

These calendars often include term dates, 11-plus exam info, and September intake guidance. Contact details for school offices or bursars are listed for queries on waiting lists or SEN provision. Parents appreciate the overview of co-educational and single-sex options in faith schools or day schools.

Preparation Timeline

Start 16 weeks before open days: May 1 (dates published), June 1 (bookings open), Sep 1 (visit week), Oct 31 (11+ registration). This brief roadmap syncs with the admissions code for grammar schools. Parents and guardians can track everything via Google Calendar plus school newsletters.

Book your first-choice school first due to sibling and distance priorities. Aim for a 4-month timeline to cover open days, open evenings, and school visits. This ensures you secure spots for in-person visits or virtual tours before they fill up.

Focus on year 6 transition to year 7 entry. Check school websites for open day dates, visit times, and event schedules. Prioritise guided tours, Q&A sessions, and meet the teachers events during September intake planning.

Critical steps include reviewing catchment area rules and oversubscription criteria. Note application deadlines for the 11-plus exam. Use this timeline to prepare for information sessions and headteacher talks.

Key Dates to Mark

Create this 2025 calendar: May 1 - Dates published; June 15 - Peak booking (fills capacity quickly); Sep 14/21 - Highest attendance days. Mark these in your calendar for grammar school open days and visits. This helps prospective students and parents stay ahead in the admissions process.

Follow this numbered timeline with clear actions. Start early to avoid waiting lists. Tailor it to your top selective schools.

1. 1May 1: Check 20 target schools' sites (2hrs). Review prospectuses, brochures, and FAQs for open day dates and visit times.
2. 2June 1-15: Book top 5 via Eventbrite or school calendar (30min/school). Secure RSVPs for guided tours, self-guided tours, or campus tours.
3. 3Aug 1: Confirm RSVPs and check for COVID guidelines, mask policy, or hygiene measures. Note location, address, directions, parking, and public transport options.
4. 4Sep 1: Prep questions list on curriculum overview, extracurricular activities, facilities tour, sports hall, science labs, library, and uniform policy.
5. 5Oct 31: Submit 11+ registration. Align with enrollment deadlines and entrance exams.

Use this reminders template: Set alerts for school newsletters, social media updates, and webinar sign-ups. Contact the admissions office, bursar, or school office via phone number or email for appointment details. Track sibling priority, distance priority, and faith schools criteria.