Five questions you need to ask when considering a school for your child in Singapore
School selection is baffling at the best of times. In Singapore, it can be like watching a foreign movie without subtitles. Most of the confusion is due to the plethora of quality options available. So we’ve put together five questions that will help you discover what educational criteria you value the most.
First of all you’ll need to apply some grey matter, put pen to paper, and narrow down what you look for in a school: tall, handsome, good-looking…sorry, wrong list! Try to answer the following questions and you’ll be well on your way to finding the right school for your children.
What is your ideal outcome?
What does successful education look like to you? Is it about academic achievement, a place where talents in sports, language or drama can be discovered, or an environment where your child is going to grow confidently?
What type of educational philosophy is important to you?
What core values are most important for the school to possess and practise? Do you want the message to your child to be about giving back, striving to the best of their ability, developing a love of learning or to always enquire and seek answers?
What methodology do you prefer?
What style of education appeals to you and responds to your child’s needs? Does your child learn better in a structured environment, somewhere informal, or in a small group?
What curriculum is best for your child?
What curriculum is going to fit your lifestyle both now and in years to come? Would you like your child to continue with what they were learning in their home country, or are you set on IB?
What criteria would you like the school to place most emphasis on?
What part of a school do you consider to be the most important to invest in? Would you like access to state of the art facilities, do you hold ongoing teacher training in high regard, or do you want a big selection of subjects available to your child?
One World International School
Other considerations:
Go local or go home (country)
Don’t just limit your horizons to international schools. There are a considerable amount of very good local schools that might appeal and greater numbers of expat students are attending them than ever before. This might be a great way for your child to assimilate to life in a new culture. Of course, a little bridging may be required to adjust between curriculums if and when it’s time to move on, but this can be overcome.
Go and knock on the door
Singapore loves an Open House. Schools left, right and centre throughout the school year host days when prospective students and their parents can check out the environment. So take advantage to sticky beak and grill teaching staff – they’re expecting it.
A word on your wallet and your ‘hood
Budget and location are two very important factors that are likely to influence your decision. Schooling can be quite costly here and it’s prudent to gather some estimates based on current income. Don’t forget to factor in changes in circumstances and if there is a transition to a new job.
Where you live in proximity to a school will have a daily impact on your life and particularly, your child – the commute should be weighed up in terms of time rather than distance.
And the word on the street
People power is the greatest untapped resource at your disposal when it comes to selecting a school. Talk to people, meet parents, ask friends of friends about their experiences, don’t stop short of lingering by school gates, and researching online forums (though you might choose to take what you read with a grain of salt).
Go here for more information and to use our School Selector Tool.
Lead Image: Australian International School