You may not know it, but your choice of school could have far-reaching consequences for your child; it could be the difference between mediocrity and success. Being just round the corner should not be a major reason for choosing a school, rather the school’s vision and mission statements should demonstrate a desire for holistic education, not simply academic excellence, which is no longer enough. Kids need to be in the right environment and allowed to explore within a safe space and if your son or daughter is soon to reach school starting age, here are a few components of a successful school.
- Active learning – All studies point to the fact that child-centred education offers the best learning outcome, which is why the leading International School in Bangkok has a project-based curriculum. Children perform best when they are actively engaged in the learning process, which develops problem-solving skills and critical thinking, while teachers are acting as facilitators, guiding the groups through the various stages of their projects.
- Strong vision & mission statement – This defines a learning institution and can tell you a lot about the school’s ideas on education and the way it should be approached. If you would like to read a school’s mission statement, you can find it on their website, along with other essential information about the campus, the curriculum and the teachers.
- Excellent facilities – The campus should include everything the students need, with a sports section, playing fields and an indoor gym. A large campus would accommodate K-12 students and be designed in a way that is conducive to safety. There should be gardens and areas where students can grow produce, while CCTV should be evident. Security is obviously critical for a school and a large K-12 campus would have 24/7 manned security as a matter of course. You can find out more about online math learning here.
- Academic excellence – Let’s face it, you want your child to study at a school that produces a high level of academic excellence; international schools that use the British curriculum are generally recognised as the best there is, with a high track record of grade A students.
- IT friendly – Every school should integrate IT into their program, with a computer lab, where students get hands-on experience; indeed, IT is an integral part of international school education and that’s the way it should be, we are living in a digital world and our kids need to be equipped with essential IT skills.
- Parental participation – A good school encourages the parents to be involved, with a strong parent-teacher connection, both in a group and personal setting. Of course, you want to know what your child is doing and how they are coping; you should receive weekly emails informing you of parent-teacher workshops and other social activities designed around the parents.
We advise choosing a K-12 school, as your kids will be able to complete their 12 years of formal education at a single institution, which avoids the trauma of changing schools. There are many international schools in Thailand, which you can shortlist for a tour of the school and a meeting with the school principal.
