Questions Every Parent Should Ask on a School Tour

October 16, 2026

Key Takeaways

A school tour is a two-way evaluation — arrive with questions, not just curiosity
What questions should I ask on a school tour covers academics, culture, class sizes, facilities, and logistics
Observe as much as you listen — how staff behave tells you more than what they say
Specificity in answers is a quality indicator: vague responses to direct questions are a red flag
Use the checklist above to stay focused during the visit and compare schools fairly afterwards
Best questions to ask at a private school open day are the ones that reveal how the school operates on an ordinary day, not a showcase one
The next step is to see it for yourself — book a school tour, check our upcoming open days, or enquire now to speak with our admissions team

A school prospectus tells you what a school wants you to see. A tour, on the other hand, tells you something that’s a lot closer to the truth. The way a teacher greets a student in the corridor, the atmosphere in a classroom between lessons, the confidence with which staff answer an uncomfortable question. All of these are the details that matter most, and none of them will appear in a brochure.

A school tour isn’t a sales presentation. It’s an evaluation for you and for them. The school is assessing whether your child is a good fit. You’re assessing whether the school is. Arriving with the right questions to ask on a school open day puts you in a position to make that judgement confidently.

This article gives you a practical, ready-to-use set of questions across academics, culture, class sizes, facilities and logistics. For a broader framework before you visit, read our complete guide to choosing a school.

Why a Tour Matters More Than You Think

No website can answer the questions that a tour can. What to look for when touring a school goes well beyond the facilities on display: it includes how staff speak to learners, whether pupils seem at ease and how honestly your questions are received.

Arrive prepared rather than relying on the guided script. Schools are practised at showcasing strengths. To get a better understanding of the school, your job is to ask what isn't being volunteered.

Questions About Academics and Curriculum

Questions to ask about class sizes and curriculum should anchor your academic conversation:

Which curriculum does the school follow — IEB or NSC — and what does that mean for my child's matric qualification?
How does the school assess and report on academic progress throughout the year, not only at exam time?
How are high-achieving learners stretched and challenged?
How does the school identify and support learners who are struggling before they fall too far behind?
What subject choices are available from Grade 10, and what guidance does the school offer when selecting them?
How does the school's matric pass rate break down, specifically distinction rates and bachelor's passes, not just the headline percentage?

Questions About School Culture and Pastoral Care

Culture is the hardest thing to fake across an entire campus. During your visit, observe how staff interact with learners when they think no one important is watching. Then ask:

How does the school handle conflict between students, and what does the discipline process look like?
What is the school's approach to bullying — both in person and online?
How do teachers get to know individual learners beyond their academic performance?
What pastoral or emotional wellbeing support is available, and how is it accessed?
How are parents kept informed about how their child is settling in, particularly in the first few months?

A school that answers these questions with specifics rather than generalities is one that has genuinely thought them through.

Questions About Class Sizes and Individual Attention

What to ask at a private school open day in terms of class size matters more than most parents realise. Smaller classes change the quality of every interaction.

What is the average class size across grades, and does this vary by subject?
What is the teacher-to-learner ratio, and how does this compare to larger mainstream schools?
How does individual attention work in practice when a teacher has fifteen or more learners in a room?
How does the school manage learners with different ability levels within the same class?

Questions About Facilities and Extracurricular Life

Strong facilities signal investment. Strong extracurricular programmes signal investment in the whole child.

What science, technology, arts and sports facilities are available, and what condition are they in?
What clubs, teams and leadership opportunities exist, and how easy is it for a new learner to get involved?
Are extracurricular activities included in the fees or charged separately?

When visiting specific campuses, ask staff directly about what is unique to that site. Whether you're exploring Abbotts College Northcliff or another location, on-the-ground answers will tell you more than any general overview.

Questions About Fees, Transport and Practical Logistics

These are the questions parents sometimes feel awkward asking. It’s important that you ask them anyway.

What does the full annual fee include and what is billed separately?
Are there payment plan options and how are annual fee increases communicated?
What transport arrangements are available and at what cost?
What are the school hours and is aftercare available?
What are the enrolment timelines and what does the application process involve?

How to Evaluate What You See and Hear on the Day

Collecting answers is only half the task. How to evaluate a private school during a visit means reading between the lines too.

Watch for consistency: do different staff members give you the same picture of the school's values? Notice how your questions are received. Do staff hesitate, deflect or offer vague answers to direct questions? This is informative as the answers themselves. Watch whether learners seem engaged and whether the environment feels calm or pressured.

For a structured approach to interpreting what you observe, read our guide to assessing school fit before or after your visit.