Summary
The majority of parents prefer to enrol their children in schools close to their residence. And, appropriately so! Proximity is required from a safety standpoint
Student participation in extracurricular activities like sports, gymnastics, yoga, indoor games, meditation, etc., requires students to maintain physical activity while at school
Parenthood brings a lot of joy, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. Every parent wants what's best for their kid. Choosing the best formal school for him or her is one of the most consequential decisions we will ever make. This choice is crucial because it sets the stage for a lifetime of learning.
With shifting parental priorities and increased educational expectations, the debate over what makes a good school has recently picked up steam again.
There is no magic formula for determining the best school, and there are a number of considerations to keep in mind, but here are the ten most important factors you must take into account before making a decision:
- Vicinity
The majority of parents prefer to enrol their children in schools close to their residence. And, appropriately so! Proximity is required from a safety standpoint and to prevent your child from experiencing the daily discomfort of a long commute to and from school.
The location should be easily accessible and not in remote or isolated areas. A school should not be located on a highway in consideration of the safety of the students and the pollution levels.
The travel time between school and home for a child should not be excessive. Determine in advance whether or not the school offers transportation. If both parents are employed, then the school schedule should accommodate their work schedules.
2. Academics & Co-curricular Activities
It is important to look beyond academics and at the extracurricular offerings of a school when trying to gauge its quality.
As a parent, knowing your child's passions and interests can in fact help you narrow down the options when looking for the best school for your kid.
Student participation in extracurricular activities like sports, gymnastics, yoga, indoor games, meditation, etc., requires students to maintain physical activity while at school. These activities have been shown to improve students' health and well-being on multiple fronts and can even reduce the stress associated with schoolwork.
Furthermore, considering a school that doesn't fit with your child's long-term goals can be counterproductive and have a negative effect on his or her academic and social development as a whole.
3. Curriculum
A quality school is distinguished by its curriculum to a significant degree. The most popular curriculum options are those created by the various state boards, CISCE (The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations), CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education), IB (International Baccalaureate programme), and CAIE (Cambridge Assessment International Education).
The breadth and depth of the curriculum, as well as the pedagogical approach, influence your child's college and career paths. For example, you should consider a US-recognised curriculum if your child intends to pursue higher education in the United States.
In addition, some multinational corporations prefer to hire candidates with credentials from particular boards. Therefore, you must conduct extensive research on the curriculum offerings of each school.
4. Digital Presence
A robust digital presence is indicative of how well prepared the school is, technologically. The standard of the school's literary offerings, as well as the degree to which it embraces technological advances and maintains an online presence, should be taken into consideration when making a choice between them.
5. Learning-enhancing technology
In its quest to provide education, a school that places a premium on learning and development also places a premium on cutting-edge technology. With gamified learning and interactive content, digital resources should be utilised effectively. These can aid in fostering a child's imagination and keep them engaged.
When video and multimedia are integrated into learning to supplement real-time instruction, the results are remarkable. Choose a school that goes above and beyond in its mission to provide a quality education by incorporating technology.
6. Leader-led management
Choose a school helmed by an exceptional leader if you wish for your children to develop into respectable adults. Principals must be qualified, trained, and capable of inspiring, empowering, and enhancing student performance.
Additionally, they must manage data, processes, and people for the school's benefit. As the primary source of influence, the principal sets an example for the teachers and students.
Therefore, the leader must formulate a vision for academic success in the school while simultaneously fostering a positive and motivating environment.
7. Teacher Sustainability
In a globalising world with limited resources and limitless ingenuity, schools play a crucial role in preparing students to meet future sustainability challenges.
Sustainability is an important issue, irrespective of who is being taught. It is current, relevant, and useful for all students, no matter how old they are or where they come from, because it affects us all.
The imperatives of sustainability suggest not only new course content, but also new methods for teaching that content. As a cross-disciplinary project, sustainability provides a valuable framework for rethinking pedagogy.
8. Alumni power & Star Alumni
Examining the overall trajectory of the school's alumni and the success they've found in their professional lives is a vital matter too.
Recommendations and reviews from "star alumni" are the most credible and persuasive social proof for your school! After all, they are "the" ones who have been there and done that, so they can speak objectively about their personal experience.
9. Awards, Recognitions & Ratings
A school's rating can help paint an accurate picture of the institution's past. For instance, the rating may reveal that the school has continually improved over the past five years. In contrast, a rise and fall in ratings may indicate that the school has encountered ups and downs in its pursuit of educational excellence.
Examine the school's ratings based on national test scores, graduation rates, and educational honours received as well as the proportion of students who seek higher education post-graduation.
At the same time, acknowledging the achievement, awards earned by the institute highlight a wide range of other merits, including skill, perseverance, and, of course, outstanding performance. The school's history of honours and awards should be thoroughly researched prior to enrolling your child.
10. Security & Safety
When selecting a school, safety should always come first. If a school cannot guarantee your child's safety, the school's academic achievements are irrelevant. Examine the safety and security measures in place at each institution on your list.
Among the questions you must ask are: Does it have the facilities and emergency procedures necessary to keep children safe in the event of an emergency? During playtime, are the children supervised? Are school employees subject to background checks? Does it ensure that only authorised individuals are permitted to collect children after school?
At the same time one should also consider the security system in place, including security guards, CCTV cameras, etc.
Summing it up:
To summarise, we acknowledge that choosing a school is a HUGE undertaking. However, if you have the right guidance and an understanding of what you want for your child, the process can be less challenging and even enjoyable too!
About the author: Dr. Siya Seth, with more than two decades under her belt, has been a driving force behind the success of Spherion Solution Private Limited and its six brand endeavours, which include Skoodos, Skoodosmart, and SkoodosBridge. She brings a plethora of cultural knowledge and business acumen to her position as the organisation's CEO. She made her debut in the education sector, and from there she moved on to successfully implementing social sector projects in the areas of skill development and female empowerment with organisations like the UNDP, the World Bank, and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) in 19 states across India and Kenya, resulting in the professional growth and development of over 68945 youngsters. The establishment of an educational industry, the construction of a complete Digiverse with an ecosystem, and the cultivation of a team of exceptional individuals have been central to Dr Siya’s vision for Spherion Solutions private limited. Dr. Siya Seth, a successful entrepreneur and charismatic public speaker, intends to boost the prominence of the introduction of innovative sections across a variety of academic disciplines in the future.
Last updated on 22 Nov 2022
