How to find a good international school

When choosing an international school, most parents will be looking for the same things. They will want their children to be happy, to make friends and to feel comfortable in their new surroundings.

While it may be daunting for your child to begin an education in a new country, international schools often offer a rich and transformative learning experience. Your child will be able to learn alongside students from many different backgrounds and cultures, gaining knowledge which will serve them well for years to come.

It is a good idea to plan visits to international schools in your chosen area, so that you and your child can get a feel for each place before making a decision. Here are some key considerations to make to ensure that, whichever school you settle on, it’ll be the right one.

Your child

Any school you choose will likely have a big influence on how your child develops, therefore it’s important to consider the student body of each school when making a decision. On visiting each school, pay attention to whether the students seem happy to be there as well as how much support they are given inside the classroom.

You may also want to enquire about individual counselling options for extra support for your child.

Many international schools have schedules of planned activities to assist students in beginning stages of the academic year. You’ll be able to find out more about these by visiting the schools and talking to staff members. You can also find out how big class sizes are and how often you’ll be updated about your child’s progress at the school.

The curriculum

From those who are looking for diploma programmes to those who want to find an International Baccalaureate programme at a school such as www.icschool.co.uk, the number one concern when choosing an IB school will be the type of courses offered. Depending on what stage your child is at in their education, you will be able to gather specific information about what’s on offer when you visit your chosen schools.

As well as finding out about what your child will be learning, you can also find out about any co-curricular activities on offer, such as sports, arts and community work. Finally, if your child will be starting secondary education, it is a good idea to enquire as to how many students from each school were accepted into university. Many IB schools can also offer university placement programmes.

The teachers

During your visits, teachers should be on hand to give you further information about the school but also about their own training. It is important to find out that the teachers are certified and you can also enquire as to how many members of staff have gained advanced qualifications.

Another factor to consider is how staff at each school are trained to handle students of exceptional circumstances. Students who are looking to gain support for high ability will need to have teachers who will recognise their skills. Likewise, students looking to find courses in SEN life skills with ICSchool.co.uk should be able to gain the right levels of support during their learning.

These are just some of the questions to consider during your initial research. However, as each school will be unique, it is important to consider the atmosphere or ‘feel’ of each place when making your visits. For some, the decision will be easy and for others it may take some time. Trust your instincts and gain as much information as you can to make the right decision for you and your child.

Useful links

The Good Schools Guide 

Several guides to choosing the right school for your child 

The Good Schools Guide International 

Specific advice for parents choosing an international school 

ExpatFinder 

Lots of information for families who are re-locating abroad