How to Choose a Good International School for Your Kids

Moving to another country with your family is a great adventure. Unfortunately, it also comes with some challenges. One of these challenges is to find a perfect international school where you can enroll your kids. Ideally, you would want a school in a very convenient location, with quality education, and where your kids can settle as well as make friends.

What Defines International Schools?

According to experts at Cognita Schools, people define an international school differently. But generally, this is what an international school means:

• Preparing students for quality education abroad
• Using English or other languages as the major instructional language
• Culturally having a diverse student body
• Following non-national curricula that are different from the host country

Why Enroll Your Kids in an International School

As a parent, you have to pay more attention to quality education. Mostly, international schools focus on providing modern and quality education. Their main goal is to create learners who will be the agents of what they learn. They invite kids to be engaged and inquisitive in promoting great transformations. In addition, these schools provide an IB system, which opens many doors. These learning institutions collaborate with other schools globally to provide international extracurricular and academic projects, like sports and arts that make students proficient in various languages, including English.

Tips for Choosing a Good International School

At first, it might seem overwhelming. But whether you choose to look for an international school with an expert’s help or not, it can help a lot to have a very clear idea of what your requirements are. While these will differ based on the specific wishes and needs of every family, the following are tips that can help when choosing an international school:

• Check the Admission Process

Various schools have unique processes for admitting students. Although you might have a suitable option for your kids, you can find that the school only accepts students at the start of the academic year. Other schools can undertake admission exams as well as other evaluations, which don’t guarantee your kids a spot automatically. Therefore, look at the admission processes so you can meet their application deadlines, help your kids prepare for evaluations, and put together the required documentation.

• Meet Tutors

The headteacher of the school will give a ‘birds-eye’ point of view of what to expect from the learning institution. If possible, personally talk to a few tutors about the syllabus, rewards/disciplinary system, class size, teacher-parent evenings, homework, afterschool clubs, and specific curriculum, among other issues. Tutors of the school will give you a detailed overview of everyday life at the learning institution. In addition, they can give you real expectations, which will be put on your kids and you as a parent. Not to mention, they may link you up with previous students and parents, as well as give you a rough idea of what their learners do next, whether in their future careers or life in the university.

• Prioritize Educators’ Professional Development

Tutors play a crucial role when it comes to your kids’ education because they help to shape their future and impact their personality. Looking at the style of communication or the educational background of the tutors won’t be enough. You have to do a lot more than that. You have to prioritize a school with tutors who engage in the presence of the classroom and have skills, such as patience, empathy, adaptability, collaboration, and listening. Are you wondering if this is possible? Yes, it is especially when tutors get involved in continuous processes of professional growth and development.

• Consider Support

Most schools provide very comprehensive support programs, like guidance counseling, learning support, and pastoral care, to name a few. These support programs help to create a conducive learning environment catering to the needs of all students. Some schools use personalized learning and concentrate on the abilities and unique goals of students, too. This, in turn, helps to ensure your kids stay excited, motivated, and happy to learn at an international school.

• Determine the Student-Tutor Ratio and Class Size

The student-tutor ratio as well as the size of the class significantly impacts the personalized instruction and attention level your kids get. Generally, smaller class sizes allow for better engagement of students and more individualized attention. As a parent, ask about the student-tutor ratio and average class size to make sure your kids have more opportunities for personalized learning and interaction. Lower student-tutor ratios foster a meaningful relationship, create a very supportive environment for learning, and facilitate better ways of communicating.

• Look at the Certifications and Accreditations of the School

It is important to extensively research the bodies or boards of various international schools by looking at their certifications and accreditations. This way, you will determine which school suits your budget or kids better. By looking at these certifications and accreditations from different organizations, you will get confidence that your kids are assured of quality education. Some of the organizations you may look at are:

• ISA (International School Association)
• Cambridge Assessment International Education
• IB (International Baccalaureate)
• CIS (Council of International Schools)

• Compare the Fees

School fees are often a basis for most parents who want to choose a good school. Mostly, parents enroll their kids only in expensive schools, assuming they are suitable for their children. This is just a misconception. There are other reliable international schools globally that have affordable fees and provide quality education. As a parent, you have to consider whether you are getting value for your money in terms of extra-curricular activities, facilities, quality, and safety.

• Evaluate Facilities and Infrastructure

If you pay a potential school a visit, consider evaluating its facilities and infrastructure. Is the lab fully equipped with modern instruments and technology? Does the school have a spacious play-ground? These are some of the questions that you need to ask yourself when choosing a good international school. Remember, it is not all about quality education for your kids. It is also about the basic facilities, which are crucial for school experience and quality education.

In conclusion, choosing a good international school for your kids is an important decision that you need to make keenly. By researching accreditation, visiting various schools, and prioritizing the needs of your kids, you will be able to make a good decision that will align with their personal and educational goals.