A school tour is a performance. That's not a criticism; it's what tours are. Your job is to notice the details the tour isn't about.
1. Watch the transitions, not the classes
A good classroom during a tour looks good anywhere. The transitions — how students move between classes, how teachers greet them in corridors — tell you what the school is actually like when no one is watching.
2. Look at the library
Quiet? Busy? Full of kids? Or empty with perfect shelves? A full-but-quiet library at lunchtime is a very strong sign.
3. Check the staff room from outside
If you can glimpse it, watch the energy. A happy staff room correlates with a happy school far more reliably than any league-table metric.
4. Ask about teacher turnover specifically
"What percentage of teachers left last summer?" is a better question than "how good are your teachers?". Under 10% is healthy; above 20% is a flag.
5. Look at the children's work on the walls
Is it impressive adult-polished work, or is it genuine child-produced work with spelling mistakes and all? The latter means the school values the process, not the performance.
6. Talk to parents at pickup, not the ones the school arranges for you
Hang around the gate 15 minutes before pickup. Ask two random parents "what's the one thing you'd change about this school?" Their candidness will surprise you.