HOW TO CHOOSE A SCHOOL ABROAD

Don't do what one of my former parents did. They were leaving Milan and going to Paris and, despite the demand for places at the British School of Paris, I managed to persuade my friend and colleague there to squeeze in the two children of this family. Six months later they came back to Milan on a short holiday, visited the school and I had a chat with them. It then transpired that the children had gone to another school I'd not heard of.

"Why," I asked, "did you choose that school?" "It was the nearest." "The nearest?!" "The best school is the nearest school," was their definitive answer.

It is true that transport can be a problem and it would certainly not be the first time that this has been an issue in choosing a school. But there are other serious criteria. Admittedly, no criteria can be regarded as 100% sure-fire certainties, a five-star guarantee. Nor can you really say that any school is necessarily right for every child. Nevertheless, you have to make an educated, well-informed decision when your child's future is at stake, so therefore, below, are what I might best describe as a list of "indicators" which will help you to make up your mind. It might be that just one of these is sufficient, whilst a positive combination of various indicators should start to give you a good picture of what to expect.

I should add that a number of these "indicators" apply to British schools. But they have their equivalents in the American system, for example.

FINDING OUT

In some places there may be only one school, so you have little choice - it's that or boarding in the UK. But more and more you have the choice in many locations. The schools which are reasonably well recognised in the area you are moving to will be known to your company, to the British Embassy or Consulate, or perhaps to the local church or local expatriate organisations. This gives you a start. But also it is as well to speak to your child's current Head and to contact organisations in the UK who deal with schools abroad for example, associations such as COBIS, or organisations such as ISC (Independent Schools Council) or Gabbitas Educational Consultants. Many schools abroad are also registered with the DfES. Then there are local groupings of schools that you may be put in touch with.

And don't forget the web-site. These days many schools have their own web-site, as do associations such as COBIS. This will not tell you how good a school is, perhaps, but it will contain a good deal of information about it. In this Directory you will find the address of the COBIS web-site, which is also inter-connected with those of individual schools. Alternatively, a search for, say "British School Paris", or whichever city you are going to, may well provide what you want.

With any luck, therefore, you are likely to have a fair amount of information to work on before you start.

PRIOR CONTACT

It can be very important to contact the school as soon as you know that you are, or likely to be going abroad. Many schools are over-subscribed, so an early contact can be crucial.

A PERSONAL VISIT

Wherever possible you should, of course, visit the school yourself before making a decision, preferably with your children. It is surprising how many parents appear to leave the decision up to their children these days. I'm not so sure about that, but certainly their feeling about the school is important.

Visits are best made in term-time. One very quickly gets a "feel" in a school. It is not difficult to pick up the atmosphere when you walk around it. This is difficult to lay a finger on, but comes from such factors as the way the pupils behave and react to your presence, the attitude of the teachers when you meet them, the quality of displays. It always pleases me, for example, when prospective parents talk about such things as a "happy and purposeful atmosphere".

FACILITIES

These are not the be all and end all. There are some very good schools with limited facilities, schools with happy children and good teaching. But nevertheless the facilities are important. Look for the size of classrooms and what they contain, a well stocked library, well equipped laboratories, computer equipment, outdoor play areas and so on. Some schools have their own sports area and even a swimming pool. If not, what provision is made for sport (eg use of a local sports centre)?

STAFFING

Ask about the staff : where do they come from, what are their qualifications, how long do they stay? In a Primary School try to ensure that you meet the teacher currently teaching the appropriate year and/or the teacher your child will have when you arrive. A positive impression here is obviously important.

CURRICULUM

Most, if not all British schools abroad basically follow the National Curriculum - "but not slavishly", as a colleague of mine always puts it. There is no obligation to do so, but it obviously makes sense to offer the UK equivalent curriculum even if there are variations on a theme. Similarily there is no obligation on schools abroad to offer the Key Stage Tests but if a school does have its pupils taking the Key Stage 1, 2 and 3 Tests (at ages 7, 11 & 14) then it is a fairly clear indication that it is taking the task of providing an 'equivalent UK education' seriously. Which public examinations do pupils take? Naturally you will expect to find GCSE and A Levels. Many schools offer IGCSE instead of, or combined with GCSE : "I" simply means International. IGCSE is administered by the Cambridge Board and is fully approved as equivalent with the standard GCSE for university entrance. You may also find that a British school offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) instead of A Levels. This qualification is also more than acceptable for university entrance and you will find that British universities are well acquainted with the IB and will make offers based on a student's IB results in exactly the same way as they do with A Levels.

ACADEMIC STANDARDS

Don't be afraid to ask what the academic results are - preferably ask to see them in print for yourself. If available, ask to see a list of where the students went to university. This is the best indication of what the school's academic standards are. Whilst we are primarily talking about (I)GCSE and A Levels (or IB), in a Primary School they should have the Key Stage results available. If not, at least ask to see the children's work in a Primary School as you will be able to compare this with your knowledge of what your own child is doing. Any good school should welcome the opportunity to show you what their children can do.

RECOGNITION

This relates to two areas - firstly, official inspections and/or government recognition : secondly, membership of associations.

Most schools in most countries have to have official approval, although the rigidity of the approval process will vary from country to country. In Spain, as an example, the Spanish government will approve a British school on the recommendation of the British Embassy. The British Council, as the cultural arm of the Embassy, organises inspections of all British schools in Spain. Official recognition at least gives some assurance that the school is a bona fide organisation and, as in Spain, shows that the school has been regularly inspected. They would also need to comply with local (which usually means EU) safety regulations. COBIS schools are inspected by arrangement with the Independent Schools Inspectorate, and accredited by COBIS

Membership of educational associations is also a useful guide, since there are certain basic requirements which need to be met in order to qualify for membership.

These associations come under an 'umbrella organisation' known as ISC (Independent Schools Council). Schools in membership of ISC associations, including COBIS, undergo an inspection by the Independent Schools Council (ISI).

Membership of one of these associations carries, by implication, a certain prestige and approval of standards.

Here again, membership of such organisations, whilst not a guarantee of perfection, is certainly an indication of quality.

PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION

Armed with the information offered above, you should have a fair idea of what to look for. But the final proof of the pudding is in the eating. Find out what other parents - and their children - think. They may be in your own company, or be found through other contacts. But if all else fails, don't be afraid to ask the school for names of parents to whom you can refer. Most schools advertise. But most school Heads will tell you that, on average about 85% of their pupils come though personal recommendation. If other parents and their children are happy with the school, the chances are that you will be too.

CONCLUSION

The "indicators" above will give you useful background reference by which to judge a school for your children. But, in the final analysis, you must go by your own feeling about the school and by the independent judgement of other parents and pupils.