[Carey]

We are coming over in March and I wondered if it is appropriate/acceptable to go into schools for an informal look around? Could we just turn up or would it be better to ring and arrange a meeting? I'd be looking both as a parent and potential member of staff being a primary school teacher. We'd ideally like to look at both primaries and senior schools as our kids are aged 11, 8 and 3.
Partly I ask because here in Uk unexpected visitors have hard time getting through the front door of schools because of security etc, but partly want to do the 'right ' thing by kiwi standards.
We'd like to see schools in Wellington particulary as have heard maybe more job vacancies there for primary staff, although can't now recall where heard this! So anyone know if this is so. We are 'country' people so the idea of Auckland is not attractive and OH is in conservation work so depends on where he could find a job. Also looking at Nelson area.

Thanks,
Carey

[andreamatt]

Hi Carey

I can only speak from my experience working at a small school in Devon but parents just turning up on the off-chance to look around certainly wouldn't get beyond the front door - and IMO quite rightly so. I'm sure you'll get other responses - but gut instinct would tell me to do for NZ schools as I would for schools here: 'phone to make an appointment.

Good luck with the school hunting; all being well we'll be looking at primaries in Wellington later this year.

Andrea

[gil]

Hi Carey,
We just turned up at the primary school we wanted and they were really helpful, our kids started the day after next!

In UK, I had experience of 2 different approaches. In one primary you could turn up unannounced and the school was very accomodating and helpful. It had over 500 pupils and the luxury of a non-teaching Deputy and Head.
Our second primary wouldn't let you in without an appointment, even to speak to the teachers in the morning. It was much smaller (approx 300 pupils) and all the staff except the Head taught. The effect of the second approach was to create quite a cool, "unfriendly" atmosphere, despite the staff all being really lovely once you got an appointment.

I don't know what is considered acceptable here, but I wouldn't just pitch up at an Intermediate or College, similar to secondaries in UK, whilst the primary was fine with that approach (I also observed other people doing the same at the primary here and they were greeted and helped as if it is the norm).

Sorry I can't give you a definitive answer, perhaps some of the teachers on here will be able to help more, but I just wanted to share our experience,

Good luck,

Gil

[Carol]

Hi Carey
I think it's fair to say you wouldnt be able to just turn up at most schools in NZ to have a look around without an appointment. Someone needs to take you around - usually the principal/deputy principal. They are busy people and need to scedule in an hour to do that. So generally speaking - it would be considered courteous to ring and arrange a time first.

I've been a primary teacher for 17 years - 10 of them in NZ. I've just taken a couple of years off to do something different for a while.

[Cardy]

Hi we rang a few days before and both the high school and primary school gave us a guided tour and let us talk to the kids ,see them in lessons etc

[SharpBlade]

Hi Carey,
we rang one school, but the principal basically told us he wouldn`t take our kids unless we were living in the school zone (which we were going to do as we had finally found a rental, but it wasn`t enough)> Anyway, he advised us to go to the neighbour school (one km away), we did that, went straightaway, had a little chat with the Deputy Principal who showed us around, and said "why don`t your kids start tomorrow?". It was just what we needed to hear ! It is a lovely school.
I would probably ring a few schools though, it is more civil and respectful IMO.
Good luck , Laura

[willowshouse]

We just turned up. Although we would have been happy enough to just collect an application form and come back at a later time they asked us if we wanted a tour and that was that! (Primary)

For secondary school, we wanted our daughter to go to a very over-subscribed school who had closed their applications in March and handed out all their places in May (we visited in November! :D ). Rather than be a faceless name on the end of a phone we turned up, looking smart and apologised profusely for our tardy application and we were repaid ten-fold. The lady who processed the applications liked the look of us, gave us the form and told us exactly what to do to have a chance of getting a place .. which we did a few weeks later. In that instance, turning up in person meant we showed that we cared enough to do it.

If you turn up unannounced, the worst that can happen is they say - make an appointment!

Dawn