We often talk about our children growing up in a world that is very different from ours. One that is changing faster than any of us can comprehend. Where today’s learners are expected to have 10-14 jobs by the time they are 38 years old*. We are, therefore, preparing students for the unknown.
The education that our children experience should, therefore, respond to this new reality, the new ‘normal’. With many international schools in Saudi Arabia offering a range of programmes and philosophical underpinnings, how do they translate into meaningful outcomes for your family?
Here are 6 factors to consider when making that important decision for your child.
Different schools adhere to different philosophies. Some schools align with the national curriculum of a country to enable students to transition to their own countries. In Saudi Arabia, we have international schools offering British, American, and International Baccalaureate (IB) curricula. However, for a lot of expatriate families, there is no certainty as to which country their children will grow up in, let alone work as adults. It is, therefore, prudent to consider international programmes that enable your family to transition to different contexts. Inquiry and international-mindedness are being recognised as the pillars of all successful international school programmes. Remember, to ask for:
As the world gets increasingly globalised and geographical boundaries become less important, an international education environment must respond and mirror this development. International schools must, therefore, be a global community of learners, a melting pot of different cultures, where there is a genuine and enthusiastic response to different traditions and customs. We do not want a world where our children are isolated in their thinking despite living in a global context.
It is therefore important to:
There are several research findings that emphasise the importance of multilingual skills. It is important to evaluate a school based on its second/additional languages programme and whether the programme is differentiated to respond to individual learning goals.
Some suggested questions:
A school is only complete if it offers programmes that allow students to develop their skills and enhance their learning through a variety of experiences.
A good international school will have a diverse and well-thought-out extra-curricular programme in a variety of domains. They will have specialist teachers and studios equipped with materials that are cutting-edge and in line with best practices.
Ask for:
This will give you an opportunity to benchmark the school’s performance in areas outside of academics as compared to other schools.
Schools whose programmes are certified and authorized by international and local organizations are those that have invested in putting processes in place to cater efficiently to the school community. This translates into the content of the programme, the quality of teaching staff, the learning resources and the relationship the school has with its parent community.
Look for schools that have international and local validations in terms of their programmes and operations. These include partnerships with well-respected organisations to deliver programmes. The IB and IGCSE are some of the external validations that you should look out for.
A school is as good as the educators it attracts. Be sure to ask about the following:
After you have considered all of the above, what really matters at the end of the day is how the school makes you feel. Did you feel valued as a family, were your concerns respected and addressed well, did you matter? Each and every interaction with the school, right from that first phone call to the goodbye at the end of the school tour will give you a very strong indication of the philosophy that drives the school. Go with your gut, as you know your family best. Good luck!
Experience a school that combines academic rigour with happiness and well-being.