What can I expect when attending a NAIS Dublin Open Day?
A typical Open Day at NAIS Dublin is designed to give prospective families a genuine, firsthand experience of what it means to be a student at the school. Rather than a formal presentation followed by a guided tour, families can expect to meet student leaders, try out different workshops, and speak directly with members of the academic team during those sessions.
Most Open Days include a Q&A panel featuring parents and students from the existing community, giving prospective families the chance to ask real questions and hear honest perspectives. It is one of the most useful parts of the visit, and worth coming prepared with a shortlist of questions specific to your child's situation.
What questions should you ask on an international school open day?
Questions to ask the admissions team
- How do you support new students in their first term, specifically? Ask for detail beyond the general answer. At NAIS Dublin, every new student is paired with a peer buddy and supported through a structured induction, with their form tutor monitoring progress closely through the first weeks.
- What accreditations does the school hold and when were they last reviewed? NAIS Dublin holds IB World School authorisation across all three programmes, NEASC accreditation, and the UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools Gold Award. Each involves independent external review.
- What is the average class size at my child's year level? Small class sizes are one of the most consistent markers of personalised learning. At NAIS Dublin, class sizes are deliberately kept small across all year groups.
- How does the school handle mid-year admissions? NAIS Dublin accepts applications throughout the year, so joining mid-year is genuinely possible and the school has structures in place to support it.
Questions to ask teaching staff
- How do you get to know individual students and their learning needs? Listen for specific examples rather than general statements. A teacher who can describe adjusting their approach for a particular student is demonstrating real practice.
- How do you communicate with parents when a child is struggling? The answer reveals whether the school has a proactive or reactive communication culture. Schools that contact parents early resolve difficulties more effectively.
- What does a typical lesson look like at this year level? At NAIS Dublin, the IB curriculum encourages inquiry-based learning and student voice. A good answer gives you a sense of how active and student-led learning is, not just how content is delivered.
Questions to ask the principal
- What is your vision for students who leave this school? The answer tells you what the school actually values, not just what it says it values.
- What are you still working to improve? This is the most revealing question on the list. A principal who answers honestly and specifically is running a school with a genuine culture of self-improvement. A vague or defensive answer tells you something important too.
Questions to ask yourself during the visit
Not every important observation comes from a conversation. Pay attention to what you see as well as what you are told.
- Do students seem purposeful and engaged, or subdued?
- How do staff speak to and about students?
- Does the school feel like a community, or transactional?
- How does the school handle the moment you arrive - are you greeted warmly, or left to wait?
A good open day leaves you with a clear sense of whether a school feels right, not just whether it looks impressive. Trust your instincts alongside the answers you receive.
Quick reference checklist
Admissions | How do you support new students in their first term, specifically? |
| Admissions | What is the average class size at my child's year level? |
| Admissions | What accreditations does the school hold and when were they last reviewed?
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| Admissions | What does a typical lesson look like at this year level?
|
| Teaching staff | How does the school handle mid-year admissions? |
| Teaching staff | How do you get to know individual students and their learning needs? |
| Teaching staff | How do you communicate with parents when a child is struggling? |
| Principal | What are you still working to improve?
|
| Principal | What is your vision for students who leave this school? |
| Your own observation | Do students seem purposeful and engaged, or subdued?
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| Your own observation | How do staff speak to and about students? |
| Your own observation | Does the school feel like a community, or transactional? |
Ready to visit NAIS Dublin? Book a place at an upcoming open day or arrange a personalised campus tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the next opportunity to attend a NAIS Dublin open day?
NAIS Dublin holds open days throughout the year. Visit the admissions section of the website for upcoming dates, or contact the admissions team directly. Options include Open Days, Group Tours, and personalised individual tours, so there is a format to suit every family.
Can I visit outside of a formal open day?
Yes. NAIS Dublin welcomes families for individual campus tours, arranged at a time and date that suits you. A personalised tour allows the team to focus specifically on your child's year group and areas of interest, making it a more tailored experience than a group visit.
Should I bring my child to the open day?
For many families, bringing children helps them feel more comfortable ahead of any transition. During an Open Day at NAIS Dublin, prospective students often have the opportunity to take part in a workshop alongside current students, giving the whole family a chance to experience the curriculum firsthand.
