Choosing a school is one of the most important decisions a parent can make for their child and there are many factors that come into play. Location, style of teaching, curriculum and let’s not forget your child, who obviously should have a say in the matter; all these things should lead you to making an informed decision.
There are excellent, good and not so good schools and as a parent, it is your job to do some research into any educational institute that you are thinking of sending your child to.
Make good use of the web
The Internet hosts a wealth of information about schools, you can find parent forums online and talk to parents of the school you are interested in. Check a potential school’s website for their mission and vision statement; indeed, you can find out a lot about a school from their website.
Study the curriculum
Every school has its own curriculum; detailed content that is taught in a structured way and the best is the UK National Curriculum, used in the top international school in Bangkok which is globally regarded as the best there is!
Curriculum Delivery
A curriculum can be delivered in a number of ways; actively, through project-based learning, or passively, as with a traditional rote learning system, which we feel is outdated and does not cater to today’s students and the digital world we live in. Most top schools use project-based learning, which makes things fun for the students and helps to develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
School visits
Of course, gone are the days when you could simply rock up and have a look around the school campus; you need to book an official tour via the school’s website. You will be escorted by a senior administrator and do ask if you can sit in on one class activity, which will allow you to see the style of teaching and how the kids react.
Take note of the grounds, which should be well maintained; look for learning resources such as language & science labs, IT centre, arts and wood workshops. A large school should have at least one full size swimming pool and a fully equipped sports area, with football & hockey pitches, plus an indoor gym with badminton and basketball courts. Click here for information on free AI courses.
Academics
For some parents, exam scores are everything and while academic performance is important, there are other aspects to a child’s education. If your son or daughter is academically gifted, find a school with the best GPA stats and your child will reach their full academic potential. If your child is more of hands-on person that likes to work with their hands, choose a school that focuses on things like wood and metalwork, where your child can explore their talent.
Start with a list of all the international schools in Bangkok and that can be the foundation of your search and hopefully, you will find the perfect K-12 school and your child has a fantastic education.