How to book a prep school open day visit in the UK

How To Book A Prep School Open Day Visit In The UK

Choosing the right prep school is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your child. But reading a website can only tell you so much. So, the very best way to understand what makes a school special is to visit in person. If you’re wondering how to book a prep school open day visit in the UK, we’re here to make it simple. At St Columba’s College in St Albans, Hertfordshire, we warmly welcome families to come and experience our community for themselves.

Why Visiting A Prep School Matters

A school visit brings everything to life. You can walk the corridors, meet our staff, and watch our pupils at work. Because every child is different, we believe every family deserves a personal experience. A brochure can show you photos, but it can’t show you the warmth of our community. It can’t let your child chat with one of our teachers or explore our beautiful campus. So, we actively encourage families to visit us before making any decisions.

At St Columba’s, we welcome children from the age of four. Our Prep School is a unique, happy place to learn, right in the heart of St Albans. We pride ourselves on small class sizes — our average is just 14 pupils, with a maximum of 18. That means your child will be known, valued, and treasured from the very first day.

How to book a prep school open day visit in the UK

What To Expect On Your Visit To St Columba’s

When you visit us, you’ll get a genuine feel for life as a Columban. We’ll show you around our facilities and introduce you to key members of our team. You’ll also have the chance to ask questions and tell us all about your child. We want to understand their individual needs, interests, and ambitions, because our education is built around each pupil, not the other way around.

Our approach is genuinely holistic. We combine high academic achievement with first-rate pastoral care. Beyond the classroom, we offer Forest School, wrap-around care, and a rich co-curricular programme. So, whether your child loves sport, music, drama, or outdoor learning, there’s something here to ignite their passion. As the Good Schools Guide puts it, we offer exemplary pastoral care, great teaching, and a strong emphasis on extracurricular activity, all of which add up to happy children reaching their potential.

How To Book Your Prep School Open Day Visit

Booking a visit to our Prep School is straightforward. We offer two ways to come and see us:

Open Events are hosted throughout the year and give you a broader look at school life. They’re ideal if you’re at the early stages of researching schools. Private Tours, on the other hand, are perfect if you’d like a more personalised, one-to-one experience. You can explore the school at your own pace and have dedicated time with our staff.

To book your visit, simply head to our Visit Us page.

There, you’ll find our upcoming open event dates and the option to register for a private tour. We recommend booking early, as places fill up quickly.

For further guidance on choosing the right prep school for your child, the Independent Schools Council offers helpful advice for families at all stages of the process.

What Makes St Columba’s Different

We understand that families have many excellent schools to consider. So, we want to be clear about what makes us stand out. St Columba’s is more than an academically ambitious school, although we are certainly that. Our A Level results consistently place us among the best, and our leavers go on to Russell Group universities, top apprenticeships, and prestigious US institutions.

But our real point of difference is our culture. We believe that education is not simply about making a living, it’s about creating a life. Our Catholic ethos, rooted in the legacy of Father Coindre, shapes everything we do. It fosters kindness, resilience, and a deep sense of community. And because our classes are small, every pupil genuinely matters here.

We’re also one of the few schools in the region to offer a seamless journey from Prep through to Sixth Form. That continuity is enormously reassuring for families and pupils alike.

What To Bring And Ask On Your Visit

To make the most of your visit, we suggest coming with questions. Think about what matters most to your family, academic stretch, pastoral support, extra-curricular opportunities, or faith values. We’re happy to discuss all of these openly and honestly. You might also want to bring your child along. Seeing their reaction to the school can tell you a great deal.

Some useful questions to ask during your visit include: How do you support pupils who need extra challenge? What does a typical school day look like? How do you communicate with parents? And how do children transition from Prep to Senior School?

We don’t believe in the hard sell. Instead, we simply let our school speak for itself, and, so far, it hasn’t let us down.

Get In Touch

We’d love to meet you and your family. Whether you’re ready to book a visit or simply want to find out more, our admissions team is always happy to help.

Visit our admissions page here.

Or contact us directly:

St Columba’s College King Harry Lane, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 4AW
Telephone: +44 (0)1727 855185

We look forward to welcoming you to St Columba’s.

Book a Visit or Enquire Now