Selecting a School

• Does the school have a good academic record?
• What does the curriculum include (a broad and well-balanced curriculum is best)?
• Do you wish to send your children to a single-sex or a co-educational school?
• Day or boarding school?
• How many children attend the school and what is the average class size?
• What are the qualification requirements for teachers? What nationality are the majority of teachers? What is the teacher turnover?
• What extras are you required to pay?
• Which countries do most students come from?
• Is religion an important consideration in your choice of school? What is the religious bias of the school, if any?
• Are special English classes provided for children whose English doesn't meet the required standard?
• If you've decided on a boarding school, what standard and type of accommodation is provided?
• What languages does the school teach as obligatory or optional subjects? Does the school have a language laboratory?
• What is the student turnover?
• What are the school terms and holiday periods?
• If you're considering a day school, what are the school hours?
• What are the withdrawal conditions, should you need or wish to remove your child?
• What examinations are set? In which subjects? How do they fit in with future education plans?
• What sports instruction and facilities are provided?
• What are the facilities for art and science subjects, for example arts and crafts, music, computer studies (how many computers?), science, hobbies, drama, cookery and photography?
• What sort of outings and holidays does the school organise?
• What medical facilities does the school provide, e.g. infirmary, resident doctor or nurse? Is health and accident insurance included in the fees?
• What sort of discipline and punishments are imposed and are restrictions relaxed as children get older?
• What reports are provided for parents and how often? How much contact does the school have with parents?
• Last, but not least, unless someone else is paying, what are the fees?