Every parent in the world wants the best possible education for their children. However, this gets a little difficult for the expat parents as choosing the right international school is not an easy process.
First, there is a huge amount of paperwork necessary for the admission process. Then comes the availability, since all the major schools are mostly full or have admissions booked previously.
There is also the matter of language. English is mostly preferred, and the choice of curriculum the school follows. Most parents look for schools that have a common international curriculum so as to avoid disturbances in their children’s education after moving to a different country.
Apart from all this, it is important for every parent to carefully decide the right international school for their children. To help you in that process, here is a list of important questions that every parent should ask before choosing an international school.
What steps do you take to help children settle in your school?
Joining an international school in a completely new country can be a little too much for your child. There will be students from various countries around the globe, speaking completely different languages and following completely different cultures.
Therefore, it is the responsibility of the school to create a friendly study environment where all the students can study and grow together.
What curriculum do you follow?
It is extremely important to know what curriculum the school follows before the admission itself. Most parents prefer a portable curriculum since there is a possibility of moving to a different country.
Best international schools in Singapore follow the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, which is quite different from the curriculum followed by the English system. The IB curriculum is also the generally preferred curriculum in international schools as it is known to provide a better frame of mind for children.
What is the background of your teaching staff?
Never forget to ask about the teaching staff of the school. All the teachers should be professionally eligible to teach and should be considerably experienced in the teaching profession so as to match the international education standards.
If it is a British or American international school, then you can expect the majority of teachers to be from the home countries. In any case, it is always better to ask.
How big are the classes in your school?
Make sure that the classes in the school are not too crowded. It is always better to have as much individual attention as possible for your children and for that to happen, the teachers by students ratio should be maintained.
Most of the schools have 24 students in senior classes while junior classes have around 16 students. The primary classes are a little crowded with almost 32 students together.
What extracurricular activities does your school organize?
Along with a good education system, a school should also help children in getting involved in extracurricular activities. These are equally important as studies and should be greatly encouraged in all schools around the world.
Find out what extracurricular activities and other unique activities do the school provide. Best international schools often have an impressive portfolio of exciting extracurricular and unique activities along with an impressive sports history.