Choosing a school for your child

Final exam results for last year’s candidate classes will soon be released. While just the mere thought of what they could turn out to be sends chills down some student’s spine, another question both students and parents must tackle is what school to opt for in case the student is not offered any of their preferred school choices during the selection process.

Some students picked school choices based on peer pressure or even a lot of optimism rather than being realistic while others will just not perform as well as expected for one reason or another. But as a parent, this is one uncomfortable situation you could find yourself in and have to make quick decisions about. Here are a few pointers on selecting a school for your child taking into consideration the performance of your child and the previous cut off points for the different schools or even if you simply want to switch your child’s school from the one they have been attending:
Consider your child’s needs

When looking at the potential alternative school options, consider not only the current year but also the years ahead. For example, you might want to check if the school offers both academic and extra-curricular programs that your child wants. Your child will grow and develop in that school and if your child needs extra attention, you would want to know if the school offers the necessary support for your child.

Another aspect to consider is whether your child would fit in the school. Most parents would be looking at competitive schools but you might want to consider if the school is not too demanding for the student. Do not try to force your child into a school that will not nurture their interests and talents just because of its name but endeavour to make sure the classes meet your child’s needs.
Financial and practical considerations
Are the school fees affordable? How about the extra items that parents are expected to buy or pay for other than the school fees? A parent will also want to consider the location of the school or if the school is far, how the student will commute say by taking a school shuttle or shared transport. Or consider sending their child to a boarding school. Financial implications play a crucial role in school choice. You might want to consider schools that offer scholarships and bursaries to some of their students.
The schools culture or philosophy
Different schools are guided by different philosophies for example religious affiliations. Some parents would prefer to have their children go to traditional schools with strong cultures as opposed to newer schools. Whether the school is single-sex or mixed sex is guided usually by parents personal views based on the child’s personality, parent’s experience or family values.

What is important to you and your child will determine what school you should choose for example schools with a balanced approach to sports and education or artistic and musical areas or even science or art subjects.

Be sure to read the schools prospectus or handbooks and more recently school websites so you get to know more about the different schools.

Parents should consider their children class sizes because smaller class sizes are associated with more positive effects on children’s learning although teacher quality and working conditions may be more important.

Using the above pointers taking into consideration the schools’ previous academic performance, facilities and services and reputation, make a short list of about 3 schools that you have zeroed on and in the meantime, visit these schools instead of simply relying on the opinions of others or websites. Apply to where you know your chances of acceptance are high.

Your child will benefit tremendously from your active concern and involvement with his or her education. Stay involved in your child’s education, encourage your child to work hard and provide additional opportunities to learn at home and in the community. Good luck!

Should my kids go to the same school?
If you have more than one child, depending on the age difference between them, you may want your kids to attend the same school. This can help younger siblings settle more easily as there will always be a familiar face on the playground.

This won’t work for everyone though – if there is a history of strong sibling rivalry, this could be amplified in and out of the home environment. Likewise, if your children are emotionally dependant on each other, you may wish to take this as a chance to help them build their own confidence and enrol them at separate schools. Sometimes the reality is that different kids will need different schools.