I will unashamedly say that some chose to enroll their children at the school I was running while some chose, for good reason, to enroll them elsewhere. Based upon my experience I would offer the following comments:
All schools are different. It may be stating the obvious but schools do have very different cultures. Some are extremely formal organisations with a multiplicity of rules and rigid structures and hierarchies, others are more relaxed and provide opportunities for students to be themselves and express their individuality; some are closed organisations keeping families at a distance, whilst others are welcoming and value the contribution parents can make to their children’s education and the school community as a whole, and some are very focused on academic performance whilst others believe in the concept of personal development and growth in all areas. Decide what it is you are looking for for your children and what you are confortable with, as no school is right for every child and family.
Teachers matter more than you may think. If I had to choose between a school that had mediocre facilities but high quality teachers or one that had outstanding facilities and poor teachers I would always chose the former, for it is the teachers who make a school. In international schools the quality of teachers is particularly important, as some have a very high turnover of staff that inevitably impacts upon the students’ education. Try to find out something about the backgrounds and qualifications of teachers, where they have emigrated from and what the annual turnover is – anything above 15-20% should be a cause for further enquiry.
Relationships between the teachers and students are key. Whenever interviewing staff I always have at the back of my mind a number of questions. Would I want to be taught by this person? Are they engaging and knowledgeable? Do they care deeply about people? Will they bring vitality and life to the school? Schools are all about human interactions and the staff is key in setting the tone. Mutual respect between staff and students is crucial in developing an environment in which learning can be optimised, so when you visit a school watch the way in which people interact and take the opportunity to speak with some of the students as they will give you a candid view as to whether it is a happy place or not.
Don't focus too much on academic results. Of course academic results are important as they provide the gateway to opportunity, but there are other matters that are equally important. Good exam results can be an indication that a school is doing a good job of educating its students, but they are only one indicator. I would humbly suggest that in this day and age, alongside learning a certain body of knowledge, schools should be aiming to develop the skills and qualities required to lead meaningful lives. No two children are the same and schools should aim to provide students with opportunities for growth both inside and outside the classroom. The key question schools should be asking is not how intelligent a child is, but how is a child intelligent. The key question you should be asking is how is the school going to help my child develop.
Written by Julian Whiteley, Formerly the Head of United World College of South East Asia, currently Chief Executive at Phuket International Academy. Email: julian.whiteley@pia.ac.th
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