There are many challenges parents face when they move to another country. One of them is choosing the best possible international school for their children. International schools stand out as a truly great option since education quality is consistent and language barriers can more easily be dealt with.
Fortunately, in most parts of the world, there are different options available to choose from. For instance, one of the best we could mention is the Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong British international school.
If you want to choose a very good international school, one that could really help your children, here are some of the most important things you have to analyze.
The Admission Process
There are differences between admission processes from one school to the next. You might end up finding a really good one but admissions will not be accepted until the start of the new year. Admission tests might be in place while some schools will use extra evaluations that rarely guarantee a spot.
You will also find some international schools with a pretty long waiting list. Your children might end up having to wait for a number of years until being able to join.
It is a very good idea to analyze the international schools available where you want to move before you actually do so. You might have to deal with really strict application deadlines and serious documentation requirements.
Accreditations
Make sure to think about the child’s curriculum as early as possible. This is going to help you to choose a suitable international school, one with proper accreditation in place. The most common curriculum choices present in most international schools nowadays are Edexcel, International baccalaureate, and Cambridge Assessment International Education.
Accreditation is important because it is a huge part of the child’s future. It dictates the career opportunities that are going to open up after education ends. Also, accreditations are vital when it comes to joining higher learning institutions. Without the proper accreditations, there might be serious limits in place.
Academic Standings
You should always look at academic standings right after analyzing the available curriculum. This is going to dictate the likelihood that your children are going to perform well when testing phase comes up. In addition, academic standing is a great way to analyze how good the teachers and the overall teaching quality are.
Only opt for curriculums that are well-covered and challenging. Students need to be offered everything they need to succeed. This includes receiving support and learning materials. Your child is basically much more likely to perform in schools where academic performance is very high.
Logistics
This is one factor that is rarely considered by parents when choosing international schools and it can be a huge mistake. Most international schools will enforce daily attendance. Others will give access to boarding facilities. Based on factors like location and commute, the best school is going to be different from one situation to the next. Day schools closely monitor children and ideally, they are close to home. Avoiding long commutes is always a huge advantage. This is particularly the case when there are many children who would attend different schools.
When choosing a boarding school, traffic time will not be wasted. The environment is much more focused and students tend to become much more independent. Lifelong bonds might also be formed with classmates. In such a case, you have to look at the quality offered by the international school in terms of meals, accommodations, and all the other available facilities.
Classroom Sizes
It is always better to choose a smaller classroom size. This is because teachers get to offer more personalized attention. They can make sure all students are focused and so much more support can be offered whenever a student needs it. In addition, both teachers and students end up in a less stressful learning setting. Academic outcomes are instantly improved.
Costs
This is an obvious thing to take into account as you choose an international school. Costs do tend to vary a lot from one institution to the next. Also, education costs do go up quite a lot when faced with provided facilities and school location.
Stay practical as you establish school fee ranges you can afford. Always take into account absolutely all possible costs, including transportation, which is so often forgotten. If you cannot afford the school, your children are going to suffer.
Teacher Caliber
The schooling experience of your child will be strongly impacted by teaching staff. These are the people that will offer curriculum instructions and will serve as role models. International school staff does spend a lot of time with your students. They do become confidants and mentors.
Technical qualifications should always be taken into account but you need to also think about character. The very best teachers are those who are passionate and genuinely care about student development.
School Infrastructure
International schools that are the top of the rankings always invest a lot in their infrastructure. This includes various things from laboratories to playing fields. You have to analyze the facilities available so you are sure they can provide what is needed to nurture all students, together with the ambitions they have. Co-curricular child interests also have to be analyzed. Not all international schools have what is necessary.
Since you are analyzing infrastructure, do also think about academic pursuits. For instance, when your child has an interest in sciences, libraries and laboratories are particularly important. The very best international schools will offer several facilities so that taught students can be supported.
Character Development
Last but not least, the school is very important in the process of cultivating student character. This is particularly the case when looking at formative years. Only consider schools with an emphasis on really good ethical values and moral values. For instance, think about things like responsibility, self-discipline, compassion, and integrity. The child’s character will be built better when there is a good foundation in place.
On the whole, it is not that difficult to choose the very best international school when you think about all factors highlighted above. However, there might be other things that are important for you. Make sure to take your time as you make the final decision.
