Kirkham Grammar School in Lancashire is introducing private tours for each family keen to learn more about what it offers.
The establishment, which is predominantly a mixed, independent day school, catering for pupils aged three to 18, but with a small boarding house, was founded in 1549 and is believed to be one of the oldest schools in the UK.
Headmaster, Mr Daniel Berry, explains the advantages of this alternative to the traditional private school open day.
Q: Why did you decide to launch the private tours?
The format of the traditional open day is certainly useful, but it is a prepared, showcase event and I think that if you are investing heart, soul and mind – as well as financially – in an independent school then you need to see it operates day-to-day. A private tour with the head, where you are going into lessons and interacting with pupils and teachers, and seeing the school up and running is probably therefore an ideal open day experience.
Q: What can families expect from the experience?
They will be welcomed by one of our team at the school’s main reception before being introduced to me. I will give them a brief introduction to the grammar school, its values and history, and then take them on a tour of the school which normally takes about 90 minutes. We have quite a large campus and will show the visitors a selection of subjects being taught, as well as many of the indoor and outdoor spaces, such as the dining hall and sports facilities.
Q: What are the benefits of this style of open day?
The tours do work well under some of the current Covid-19 restrictions, but ultimately, we believe they will be successful because they offer the best, transparent, 360-degree view of the school. We will provide a tour tailored to each individual family, giving parents and prospective pupils the opportunity to see the school in action and experience the unique atmosphere at KGS. One of our biggest values here is our emphasis on a family ethos and that is very hard to explain on paper or even demonstrate in an open day.
Q: When can families visit?
We will be running private tours from the end of August through to December and expect about 125 families to take up the offer. We will also be hosting a traditional, whole school open day in March. Looking forward, despite everything we have faced recently as a nation, this is quite an exciting time for Kirkham Grammar School. The school remains at full capacity, we are eager for the new academic year to begin and are looking forward to welcoming families to KGS for these new private tours.
To find out more visit www.kirkhamgrammar.co.uk, call 01772 684264 or email s.potts@kirkhamgrammar.co.uk.
