Looking to find the best school for your child can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be according to Malcolm Gladwell, The Outlier. He advises parents to start their search for the best school by focusing on what they want a school to do for their child.

Here are 5 questions that parents can ask themselves to help them focus on finding the school that aligns with their child’s needs:

  What do I want my child to learn?

This question will outline the specific subject matter, curriculum, level of academic difficulty, teaching style and assessment methods that the school uses. A lot goes into establishing a school’s approach, model and selecting its curriculum.

How does my child learn best?

Establish what your child’s particular learning style is and their challenges. While a lot might depend on the parent and their values, it is important to look at your child’s personality and strengths. Different children will thrive better in environments that are suited for their personality and individual needs.

Will the school be practical for my family’s daily schedule?

This question will provide you with answers relating to distance and location of the school, school hours, and affordability as well as extra curriculum activities so that you can plan around a practical schedule that works for both you and your child. It is important to ensure that you have the means, can maintain a schedule for your child to attend that specific school and support them in their school schedule.

What is the school’s behavior policy?

Some parents might value the whole structured discipline approach while others want a school that encourages and values the student voice. It is important to consider how different school policies and values fit with family values and family life, but most importantly, look for a school that complements and supplements who your child is.

How does the school prepare my child for the real world?

You’ll want to find out whether the school will equip your child with skills to survive and thrive in a constantly changing environment. Schools need to be able to prepare your child for tertiary education and beyond. What’s important is that your child has skills to cope in the real world long after leaving that school.

Whatever questions that parents decide to focus on when looking for the best school for their child, it is essentially about what will work best for the child’s personality, strengths, needs and interests. Also, making the right choice on a school will allow parents to focus on supporting the child and their school in doing the best they can to equip the child for their future.

Original blog post: https://www.novapioneer.com/sa/blog/what-to-consider-when-looking-for-your-childs-school/