Tool

School visit checklist

Walk a school visit with a calm, structured checklist. Capture observations, questions and concerns to compare with official information later.

These prompts help you reflect on a single visit. This is not a school ranking and not a judgement of the school. It does not replace the official inspection report.

Concerns

0

Positive

0

Not observed

43

Follow up questions

0

School visit checklist

Before the visit

What to prepare before you arrive.

Admissions criteria and catchment

Check the school's admissions priority and catchment area before you visit.

Travel route to school

Walking, cycling, bus or drop-off route from your prospective home.

Questions you want to ask

Bring a written list so nothing is forgotten.

Look up official information

Inspection report and performance data are separate sources of evidence.

Arrival and first impressions

Welcome, signage and how the school greets visitors.

Welcome at reception

How visitors are greeted on arrival.

Signage and wayfinding

Easy to find your way around the site.

Pupils arriving on time

Calm and organised start of day.

Site security on arrival

Gates, fencing and visitor sign in process.

Behaviour and atmosphere

How calm and confident pupils and staff seem.

Calmness in corridors

Movement between lessons feels orderly.

Behaviour during the tour

How pupils behave when adults are present and not present.

Pupil confidence

Whether pupils seem confident speaking to visitors.

Staff presence

Adults visible in shared spaces.

Teaching and learning prompts

What you can see in classrooms and corridors.

Classroom feel

Whether classrooms feel purposeful and welcoming.

Pupil engagement in lessons

Whether pupils seem involved in what they are doing.

Support during lessons

Adults helping pupils who need it.

Expectations on display

Work and routines visible in classrooms.

Safeguarding feel

Visitor process, site security and staff visibility.

Visitor sign in process

How visitors are checked in and badged.

Site security throughout

Gates and entrances feel secure during the day.

Staff visibility at break

Adults present in playgrounds and shared spaces.

SEN and additional support

Inclusion, support staff and quiet spaces.

Inclusive feel

Pupils with different needs included in everyday activity.

Support staff visible

Teaching assistants or learning mentors present.

Communication for SEN families

How the school explains support and progress.

Quiet spaces available

Somewhere calm for pupils who need a break.

Facilities

Toilets, outdoor space, library, lunch and sports.

Toilets condition

Clean, safe and pupil friendly.

Outdoor space

Playground, field and shaded areas.

Lunch hall and queues

How lunch is served and supervised.

Library or reading area

Books and reading culture visible.

Sports and PE facilities

Indoor and outdoor sports provision.

Travel and routine

Walking route, parking, bus and wraparound care.

Walking route safety

Crossings, pavements and lighting.

Drop off and parking

How parents arrive at the start and end of day.

Bus or public transport

Routes available for older pupils.

Breakfast club

Whether breakfast care is offered.

After school club

Whether after school care is offered.

Communication with parents

Apps, reports, meetings and response times.

Parent apps and portals

How daily updates and messages are shared.

Reports to parents

Frequency and clarity of reports.

Parent meetings

How parents meet teachers during the year.

Response times for queries

How quickly the school replies to parents.

Clubs and wraparound care

Breakfast club, after school clubs and trips.

Range of clubs

Sports, music, drama and academic clubs.

Wraparound care availability

Care before and after school.

Trips and visits

How often pupils go on educational visits.

Follow up actions

What to do after the visit.

Compare with official information

Read the official report and data again with your notes.

Arrange a second visit

Visit again at a different time of day if you can.

Follow up on unanswered questions

Email or call about anything you did not get an answer to.

Questions and answers

Capture what you asked and what was answered. Note anything you still need to follow up.

Question 1
Question 2
Question 3
Question 4
Question 5
Question 6

Review your visit notes

Check your answers before you print this checklist.

Before the visit

  • Admissions criteria and catchment: Not observed
  • Travel route to school: Not observed
  • Questions you want to ask: Not observed
  • Look up official information: Not observed

Arrival and first impressions

  • Welcome at reception: Not observed
  • Signage and wayfinding: Not observed
  • Pupils arriving on time: Not observed
  • Site security on arrival: Not observed

Behaviour and atmosphere

  • Calmness in corridors: Not observed
  • Behaviour during the tour: Not observed
  • Pupil confidence: Not observed
  • Staff presence: Not observed

Teaching and learning prompts

  • Classroom feel: Not observed
  • Pupil engagement in lessons: Not observed
  • Support during lessons: Not observed
  • Expectations on display: Not observed

Safeguarding feel

  • Visitor sign in process: Not observed
  • Site security throughout: Not observed
  • Staff visibility at break: Not observed

SEN and additional support

  • Inclusive feel: Not observed
  • Support staff visible: Not observed
  • Communication for SEN families: Not observed
  • Quiet spaces available: Not observed

Facilities

  • Toilets condition: Not observed
  • Outdoor space: Not observed
  • Lunch hall and queues: Not observed
  • Library or reading area: Not observed
  • Sports and PE facilities: Not observed

Travel and routine

  • Walking route safety: Not observed
  • Drop off and parking: Not observed
  • Bus or public transport: Not observed
  • Breakfast club: Not observed
  • After school club: Not observed

Communication with parents

  • Parent apps and portals: Not observed
  • Reports to parents: Not observed
  • Parent meetings: Not observed
  • Response times for queries: Not observed

Clubs and wraparound care

  • Range of clubs: Not observed
  • Wraparound care availability: Not observed
  • Trips and visits: Not observed

Follow up actions

  • Compare with official information: Not observed
  • Arrange a second visit: Not observed
  • Follow up on unanswered questions: Not observed

Questions and answers

  • How does the school decide on admissions if it is oversubscribed?
  • How does the school respond to bullying?
  • How much homework do pupils have at this stage?
  • What is the school's approach to attendance?
  • How is additional support arranged for pupils who need it?
  • How does the school support transition into and out of this stage?