Open evenings are important and exciting events in the school calendar. They offer crucial opportunities to showcase your school, staff, and students at their absolute best and to welcome prospective students and parents with fresh classroom displays, high levels of enthusiasm and a vibrant atmosphere. However, they arrive quickly once the new academic year begins, and they require significant effort and careful planning at a time when schools are just settling down.
Here are some ideas and tips to help you put on an open evening that is informative, engaging and, most importantly, fun for all involved.
Classroom readiness
As a classroom teacher, one of your key responsibilities is to maintain a clean, tidy, and clutter-free environment. Ensure that any rooms not in use during the evening are left neat, with doors closed and lights switched off to signal they’re not in use. Keep valuables—like your USB drive or car keys—in a secure spot that you’ll remember at the end of a long day.
Arrange furniture to allow easy movement, especially during busy periods. Many departments designate a room for showcasing student work and subject-related resources, as well as for hosting conversations with prospective pupils and their accompanying adults. For example, humanities might display historical artefacts or religious items to spark curiosity and discussion, while English could feature curriculum texts and student writing for visitors to browse.
Explore secondary classroom displays here
Presenting your department
Another great way to showcase your department to young visitors is through lesson observation. This works especially well in subjects like PE, Science, MFL, and Technology, where guests can watch, interact with students, or even join in. After all, who doesn’t enjoy the excitement of Bunsen burners, magnesium flashes, and chemical reactions?
Some departments go a step further by transforming classrooms into immersive experiences. History rooms might become WWI trenches or Anderson shelters, while MFL spaces could resemble Parisian cafés, with students taking orders in the target language to spark engagement. Drama lends itself naturally to this approach, with dressing-up areas and photo booth activities adding a playful touch that appeals to younger pupils.
Scavenger hunts can be used to keep children entertained while highlighting the best of your school. They also give parents and guardians valuable time to speak with staff without distraction.
Consider making at least one classroom in your department interactive for visitors. While ‘showstopper’ rooms can impress, parents often recognise they don’t reflect everyday teaching. Instead, simple activities and games around the room can give a more authentic glimpse into your classroom experience.
Problem-solving tasks, mysteries, and escape room-style challenges often spark engagement with prospective pupils. Quick wins like map skills in geography, coding in computing, philosophical questions in RE, or number puzzles in maths can prompt great conversations and are easy to set up—especially if they link to your current schemes of work and resources you might have already created. If physical resources need to be created, why not laminate them to use again year after year?
Discover resources for open evening here
Resources for visitors
With so much to see and so many questions to ask, it’s easy for visitors to feel overwhelmed. You want them to leave with a positive impression and the right information to make informed decisions about their future school. If you have an interactive whiteboard, use it to display a looping PowerPoint with key departmental information. Include curriculum highlights, clubs and trips, photos (with consent), top-level academic data, and FAQs. Instead of handing out printed maps and timetables, use large posters of timetables, maps or signposts around the building. Where possible, go digital across the school. Most curriculum and exam board information is already on your website, and QR codes can easily be used to direct parents to online resources.
If parents are happy to share their email address on arrival, consider sending a follow-up email with links to key information. This allows them to enjoy the tour with free hands and open minds. Social media is a powerful tool—use it! After the event, share a round-up of frequently asked questions and answers. You can also upload this to your website or email it to prospective families.
A whole school approach
Get your students involved in parents’ evenings. Give them clear roles such as guiding tours, acting as runners, or helping with refreshments. If time allows, brief your student helpers ahead of the event. Give them talking points and prepare them to answer common questions.
If budget allows, show your appreciation for student helpers with a small thank-you gesture, like a goody bag or reward points. Make sure that the head teacher and/or senior staff are available to greet families, mingle in shared spaces and or lead presentations. Give visibility to your SEND and pastoral teams. Their presence reassures parents that their child will be supported beyond the classroom, especially in a larger, more complex setting than primary school.
Lastly, don’t forget to consider comfort!. Ensure that toilets are clearly signposted and provide refreshments — a hot drink and a snack can go a long way in keeping energy and morale high – for both visiting families and staff.
Ideas and activities for open evenings are often shared in a last-minute flurry across social media and forums each year. Hopefully, some of the tips and ideas shared above will spark inspiration for your next event with plenty of time to prepare!
