Education is becoming more and more competitive. The government is throwing money hand over fist to try and gloss up the image of state schools and private and independent schools are spending more and more to capture a larger share of the available market.

For a young couple trying to find the right school and making a seemingly monumental decision about their child's educational future, it must be a frightening and stressful time. It can be one of life's biggest decisions.

All schools appear wonderful on the surface: the prospectus says so and it must be so. Words like nurturing, caring, special, fall off the page like honey. All the pictures are of smiling, happy children; those with tears, bumps and bruises were obviously away the day the photos were taken.

Parents are clever. They know they are sometimes shown a sanitised version of the school. The prefects are trotted out in pristine uniforms, the litter that invariably falls unnoticed has magically disappeared and don't look now but I think the Principal's been to the hairdresser. But what's the school really like? What happens when the crowds go home and the day-to-day business of being a school resumes?

If you were to purchase a car, you'd take a test drive. If you buy clothes that don't fit, you take them back the next day. Our approach at The Knox School to choosing the right school is no different - put your toe in the water; try before you buy.

We know that part of the decision making these days falls to the students themselves. Students, particularly older children, often accompany their parents on school tours or to expos to see for themselves the school their parents are considering for them. We often see parents turning to their child and seeking approval for the choice they've made. If it gets the thumbs down, the deal's off.

So, a few years ago, we started a Spend-A-Day program. Prospective students who are considering entering the school from Year 1 to 12 can book a day in their corresponding class and become immersed in the school life whether it be normal classes, sports or assemblies. This way, they get a greater feel for the school, how it works, what their teachers will be like and how easily they make friends. If the class has an excursion planned, we reschedule. They won't get much of an impression of life at school if they're off oggling Phar Lap at the museum.

We prefer students to attend in normal street clothes rather than their existing school uniform. They are assigned a "buddy" who will show them around and help them fit in. They bring lunch or line up with everyone else to buy it at the canteen. Just a normal day with nothing special planned. After all, we don't want to disrupt the timetable or the planned lessons for that day. This is a chance to see what school is like, warts and all.

In watching our "spendadays" as they become part of the school for a day, it's amazing how quickly they assimilate. They arrive full of trepidation, not knowing quite what to expect but as you watch them during the day they blend in so well, if it weren't for the lack of uniform they would be indistinguishable for one of our own. When mum comes to get them at the end of the day, their smiles usually tell the story.

There are no secrets in a normal day at school. You see it like it is and the stories that go home that night will help make up mum and dad's mind.

Some students need more than one day. Let's face it, how many times did you go back to the showroom before you bought that sparkling new Beemer? Usually though, one day is enough for mum and dad to enter into serious talks with our Registrar or Head of School. They've seen the school and all its everyday magic. They've seen kids with bandaids on their foreheads - yes, mum they do exist - they've heard the teacher raise their voice and they've had their toe stepped on in the crush of the canteen at recess and they still came up smiling. It's a real school after all and I loved it.

About the author

Barrye Dickinson is Director of Marketing at The Knox School in Melbourne.The Knox School is an independent, co-educational school with 800 students from 3 year old Pre-Prep through to Year 12. In 2009 The Knox School was awarded a Gold Award for the best School website in 2009. www.knox.vic.edu.au

The Knox Schools' students welcome
Spend A Day students

Spend A Day