With Rydal Penrhos’ latest Open Day approaching on Saturday 30 September 2023, we answer some of key questions ahead of your visit.
The Rydal Penrhos School community is eagerly looking forward to opening its doors and welcoming potential new pupils, parents, carers, and family members on Saturday 30 September for our annual whole-school Open Day. Whether you have already registered your place at Open Day, or are still considering joining us, we have put together some answers to the key questions you may have about our showcase event.
We hope this information will be of use; if you have any questions or queries, please contact our Admissions team on 01492 530 155 or admissions@rydalpenrhos.com.
What can I expect to see at Open Day?
Open Days at Rydal Penrhos School aims to offer visiting families an insight into school life, from the broad range of classroom lessons to the sporting opportunities and high-quality extracurricular activities available each day.
On both the Prep School and Senior School sites, Open Day will begin with a welcome from the Principal, followed by a tour of the site and an opportunity at the end of the tour to enjoy some refreshments and speak to members of our community, from teachers and staff to our existing parents and alumni.
As you go about your tours, teachers will be happy to answer any questions our parents may pose regarding the curriculum or pastoral matters. Each teacher puts an impressive amount of work into offering prospective pupils a taste of their subject, its themes, and the resources they will be working with during their lessons – all in the fun and engaging style that is familiar to our pupils. Children and parents can both expect to learn something new across their tour, be it from a dazzling Science experiment or an amazing History display!
Across both the Prep and Senior Schools, visitors will also have the opportunity to speak directly to pupils about their experience of being a Rydal Penrhos pupil and what the school means to them. We are especially excited for you to meet our children and young people as they make all of us at Rydal Penrhos immensely proud and are truly the best ambassadors for our community.
Will the Principal be speaking to prospective families?
Yes, he will. Our new Principal Mr Hutchinson is thoroughly looking forward to meeting all the visiting children, parents, carers, and family members. Both Senior School tours and the Prep tour will begin with a welcome from Mr Hutchinson, who is excited to welcome all to Rydal Penrhos and share the school’s vision, ethos, and tradition.
I would like to see both the Prep and Senior sites. Is this possible?
Yes, visitors to the Prep at 10:30 can follow on immediately to a tour of the Senior School. Following your tour of the Prep School, one of our staff members will be delighted to accompany you down Pwllycrochan Avenue and show you around the Senior site. If you would like to visit both schools, then please kindly let us know ahead of time.
Do I need to book my place at Open Day?
Yes, we ask that all visitors please register their place at our Open Day in advance. This can be done by using our online form (available by clicking here) or by speaking with a member of our Admissions team.
What time does Open Day start?
There are three start times for our Open Day visitors. The Senior School start times are 09:30 and 11:30. When you register your place, you will be booked in for one of these times; if you are unsure which you have signed up to, please contact the Admissions team. If you are visiting the Prep School, then the start time is 10:30. Proceedings will begin promptly in both the Prep and Senior Schools, so we kindly request that visitors please arrive in good time.
Where should I arrive for Open Day?
Visitors to the Senior School should enter via the school’s main gates on Pwllycrochan Avenue, opposite Merton Place. From there, please make your way to the Osborn Hall through the entrance nearest Hunt House. You will find teachers, staff, and Prefects ready to welcome you and guide you to the Hall. There will also be an A-Board on the pavement along Pwllycrochan Avenue, pointing you in the right direction.
Visitors to the Prep School should make their way to Prep School Reception. The Prep School is recognisable as the prominent white building overlooking our sports fields at the top of Pwllycrochan Avenue. To access Reception, enter through the large black gates and continue to the right along the path, following the hedge, which will lead you towards the playground. If you continue to follow the path, you will find the front door to Prep School Reception. Again, teachers, staff and pupils will be ready to welcome you.
Who can I bring with me to Open Day?
You are encouraged to bring anyone along with you, whether it is your children, extended family, or friends. However, we ask that you please inform us of the number of individuals attending in your party prior to your visit.
I cannot make Open Day but would like to visit the school. Do you have any private tours available?
Yes, private one-to-one tours are available if you cannot join us for Open Day, which can be scheduled for a date and time that best suits you. Please contact our Admissions team to arrange your visit.
I have already visited the school for a private tour, can I visit again for Open Day?
Yes, we would recommend that prospective families join us for Open Day if they have only toured privately in the past. Open Days offer a unique opportunity to enter every classroom, speak to every teacher and see all the possibilities of a Rydal Penrhos education. In this sense, Saturday’s event will offer a very different perspective to a one-to-one tour.
Where can I find more information about admissions?
Immediately following your Open Day visit, the Admissions team will send out all the information that you will need to move onto the next steps of the admissions process. This will include all the relevant documentation, such as the Registration Form and Scholarships and Bursaries information. Of course, if you have any further questions or queries, please contact our Admissions team.