Gut Instinct Isn’t Enough – How to Make the Most of Your Primary School Visits

“I liked it… I think?”

If you've ever walked out of a primary school visit feeling unsure, you're not alone. You’re trying to make a huge decision for your child’s future - based on a half-hour tour, a friendly headteacher, and the buzz of children in assembly. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, even more confused than when you walked in.

Most parents tell me that when it comes to school visits, they rely on a mix of gut instinct, Ofsted reports, and recommendations from other families. And those things do matter. But if you really want to feel confident in your choices, you need to look beneath the surface - and that means asking the right questions.

Why school visits feel so unclear

The problem isn’t you. It’s the nature of the event.

School visits are a bit like going to view a house. You might fall in love with the smell of fresh coffee and a cosy fireplace… only to realise later the boiler's on its last legs and there’s damp under the floorboards. Schools do the same - they show their best bits. The brightest displays, the happiest children, the most articulate staff.

And who can blame them? If you had guests over, you'd tidy up too.

But that means a school visit is more of a performance than a documentary. Unless you know what to look for - and what to ask - you’re only getting part of the picture.

A decision based on values, not vibes

Every school is built on a set of values - about what matters in education, how children learn best, how rules are enforced, how much freedom to give, and how much structure to apply.

But most of those values aren’t written on posters in reception. They’re hidden in the small choices leaders and teachers make every day: how they teach reading, how they group children, how they handle behaviour, how play is valued (or not).

So when you find yourself saying, “It just didn’t feel right,” or “I loved the vibe there,” chances are you’re picking up on those values. What we need to do is bring those instincts into the light - so you can name what matters to you, and make a choice you won’t second guess.

The good news: you can get beyond the performance

You don’t need to be an expert. You just need the right focus. Over the next few blogs, I’m going to walk you through three powerful areas to pay attention to on your school visits. For each one, I’ll share practical, specific questions you can ask that will help you dig deeper than most parents do.

Here’s what we’ll explore:

1. Play and Early Learning – What does learning really look like in Reception and Year 1?

2. Grouping and Support – How are children taught, stretched, and supported in different subjects?

3. Behaviour and Culture – What actually happens when things go wrong?

By the end of this mini-series, you’ll feel much clearer, more confident, and better equipped to find the right school for your child - not just the school everyone else is talking about.

Want to dive in straight away?

You don’t have to wait for all four posts. I’ve turned these questions into a free video Masterclass session with key questions and prompts you can take with you on your school visits.

👉 FREE 10 Minute Masterclass Session

And if you want to go deeper, our full recorded course gives you insider knowledge from a former teacher and curriculum leader (me!)—plus an option to book a 1:1 chat to talk through your own shortlist.

🎥 Feel in confident and in control of primary school applications in just three hours with my online course designed specifically for busy parents who care about their child's education.

Enrol in the online course here.

Or, if you want a more in-depth experience, you can get the course with a 1:1 phone/video call with me - I only release 100 spaces per year, so hurry before they all get booked.