Choosing the perfect school for your children can set them up for a lifetime of study, excellent college education and a rewarding job.
The ideal school gives your child a sense of direction and builds your child’s future academic foundation while also influencing the employment choices they make once they graduate from school.
When choosing a school, the obvious criterion that comes to mind is looking at the quality of academics provided by the school. However, Crawford International Lonehill principal Reinhard de Klerk gave the opinion that the school-of-choice decision is more complex than this.
“It’s about more than quality academics, you have to consider what makes the school stand out and what suits your child,” he said.
Gordon Ewen, also part of the Lonehill school agreed with the sentiments of De Klerk and stressed the importance of finding a school that provided ample opportunity for children.
“Your child should be given the opportunity to explore their interests on different levels, whether it be academics, sport or cultural activities,” he said.
Although they agreed that academics was a fundamental factor, De Klerk and Ewen suggested that the following criteria should be considered equally as important when choosing a school for your child.
De Klerk and Ewen gave the following criteria when choosing a school for your child:
The school’s ethos should align with your ethos
De Klerk believes the alignment of ethos is the first and most important aspect to look into when choosing a school for your child before even considering academics, sports, and culture.
“It is important for the school to resonate with your child and to fit with the child’s values. You as a parent will feel more at ease when you know your child will be comfortable with the values as they align with your personal at-home values.”
Find an environment where your child is happy
Both Ewen and De Klerk agree with the importance of your child being happy in the school environment. Take note of their behaviour and body language during an open day to determine if they’ll be comfortable or not in the school.
When walking through the school on an open day and your child is comfortable in the environment and surroundings, they are likely to flourish.
Choose a school that has a future-focused mindset
“Choosing a school that prepares your child for the future and is constantly updating and improving academics is an important element to consider when choosing a school,” said Ewen.
De Klerk said, “Having a future-focused mindset will ensure that the child can work in a constantly changing world. Parents should choose a school that not only prepares their child academically but also socially to help build on this mindset.”
Choose a holistic primary school
“Ideally, a primary school should be holistic, giving the child the opportunity to explore various avenues and directions,” said Ewen.
A holistic school will allow your child to explore what sparks their interests and passions. This is much more beneficial for your child than placing them in a box and deciding on their behalf what they should excel in.
Choose a high school that can enhance your child’s preferences
“Once your child has identified which areas they wish to pursue, it is important to find the right combination of offerings when choosing a high school,” De Klerk said.
Whether the combination is academics and sport, or culture and leadership, it is important to choose a school that caters specifically to your child’s needs to ensure a customised educational experience.
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