Researching Schools
Research the choices open to you in your new location:
- Get personal recommendations
- Talk to your employer and colleagues
- Use web resources
- Look up Education Member Associations
- Ask at the embassy
Assignment Length
The length of time overseas is a predominant factor in the type of school your child attends. If your child will be rejoining the education system back home in less than five years, the curriculum and education structure needs to be in line and an international school may be preferable.
For a stay longer than five years, national schooling options will socially integrate your child and provide more environmental stability in the long run, as well as teaching them a new language and allowing them to experience a new culture.
Location
If your new location is not a popular or well-established expatriate location, then your options may be limited. It may even be so remote that your employer has established a school solely for their employee’s children. Other locations offer a wide variety of choices.
School Policies and Teaching Styles
Is your preference for a public school or would you rather pay the fees for a private school?
Review school policies and consider how the school deals with a range of issues like bullying or special educational needs. Ask how the school involves parents in decision-making, problem resolution and about the school’s stance on discipline measures.
Standards and Achievements
Find out whether the host country government recognises the school and monitors and inspects it, or if it is part of a recognised education member association.
Checking out previous academic results from the school provides parents with a good indication of academic standards, as does asking which universities former pupils attended.
Ask about average class sizes and the number of teachers employed in the school, as well as about their qualifications and where the school recruits teachers.
Cultural Considerations
Determine what language the teachers deliver lessons in, and the effects this may have on your child. Request information on the composition of the student body in terms of nationalities and languages spoken. Does this disadvantage your child, or widen your child’s cultural boundaries?
Curriculum
Study the curriculum carefully and ascertain if your child can move easily from their current learning program. If not, what are the bridging options?
If your child starts tertiary education on repatriation, ensure that all the necessary subjects for entrance to these establishments are on the curriculum of the school overseas.
Do you want your child to study your own culture, events like Thanksgivings and Guy Fawkes? Or, is your preference that your child learns in depth about other cultures?
Facilities
Consider the facilities and extracurricular activities the school offers. Look at the size of the classrooms, library and the laboratories and the equipment in them. Think about sports facilities, access to information technology, and opportunities to be involved in art and music.
Admittance Process
Prior to filling in any application forms, visit schools wherever possible. Visiting allows you to meet pupils and teachers and see them in action so you can get a feel for the atmosphere.
Schools will usually require some form of test and/or interview as part of their admittance process. Enquire about the requirements, and assess whether your child can fulfil these satisfactorily. If the test is not in your child’s mother tongue then he or she may already be at a disadvantage.
Cost
International schools are costly. Make sure you have a clear overview of the tuition fees and the terms of payment. Find out about the expected costs for extracurricular activities, school materials and field trips. If an employer is assisting with school fees, determine exactly what costs will be covered and how payments will be arranged.
Choosing a school overseas is a complex journey, but comprehensive research helps you to make a decision that is right for your family and the best fit with your child.
Amanda van Mulligen
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