International Schools vary from the very best in the world to cash grabbing organizations with little connection to embracing a global and outward looking community. This is a sector which is expanding quickly and with over 10,000 international schools to choose from, making the choice which is the best fit for your child is a daunting task. Having been raised at international schools, visited over a hundred of them and taught at some of the best schools across a variety of systems, I hope I’ll be in a good place to help with this task!
What is an International School?
There is no uniform definition or criteria to what makes an international school which is part of the reason there is such diversity within them. Broadly speaking an international school offers an education in an international environment: be that through international students, teachers, curricula or even languages. In many cases, there can be little to distinguish a private fee paying school that has an international ethos from a school which describes itself as an international school. The key challenge is to ensure you’ve chosen a good one and even more importantly the right one for your child.
Types of International School
International Schools can be categorized by the following:
Curriculum: schools choose between national curricula (eg British, American, French, Indian), adapted national curricula (eg IGCSEs) or truly international curricula such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) or International Primary Curriculum (IPC). The latter tend to place a greater emphasis on world citizenship and global issues which may mean that, for example, the offering in History is either more diverse or tailored to the needs of an internationally minded child. An international curriculum also has advantages and flexibility when it comes to applying for universities abroad. More details on curriculum differences, using Maths as an example can be found here.
Country: many international schools have a strong tie to a particular country with British, American, Canadian, Australian, Chinese, Indian, French and German schools being the most common. Some of these schools place huge value on those ties whilst others offer a much softer allegiance, perhaps through the choice of curriculum. This may also manifest itself in terms of where the teachers come from, the uniform and elements of the teaching approach.
Funding / Owndership: international schools can be funded and run in different ways: through private ownership, not-for-profit and increasingly by being part of a group of international schools such as GEMS, Cognita, Nord Anglia or the excellent United World College (UWC) group. Whilst these groups bring uniformity and quality control to schools, they sometimes lose the love, care and versatility that a truly independent school can offer. When choosing a school with private ownership I’d highly recommend trying to meet the owners to understand their educational background and involvement in the management of the school. Check to see if they have a Board of Governors, which may even involve parents, to see if different stakeholder opinions are taken into account during the decision making process. Some schools are partly state funded which means reduced fees and greater influence from the government when it comes to student intake and educational approach.
Educational Philosophy: schools vary immensely when it comes to their educational philosophy. Some schools take a more traditional approach to education and show pride in their academic rigor and exam results. Other schools are more progressive in their approach, focussing on developing skills rather than knowledge. These schools will often have a more holistic approach to education, embracing extra-curricular activities as part of the growth of a child whilst engaging with inquiry and project based learning in the classroom. Some schools are even more strongly aligned by their philosophy: notably Steiner and Montessori schools. Steiner education places great emphasis on play in the early years, later giving equal emphasis to the arts and society. Montessori schools on the other hand focus more on intrinsic motivation and hands-on learning at their own pace. IB Schools are typically guided by developing teaching and learning skills outlined in their Learner Profile.
Judging an International School
The following checklist could be helpful when judging the quality of an International School:
Holistic education: the best international schools will offer a wealth of opportunities: not only extra-curricular but also charity connections, outdoor pursuits, projects, competitions, trips and arts beyond the curriculum. Many of these will form the highlight of your child’s education.
Inclusivity and emphasis on the individual: being part of an inclusive learning environment is so important for children. It is worth asking for examples of how the school develops an inclusive and diverse learning community. Asking how they support special learning needs will often be a sign of the extent to which they cater to the individual.
Teaching and Class sizes: the quality of teachers may be the biggest factor to consider. It is worth asking about the retention rate of teachers to assess teacher motivation and continuity. Ideally it should be under 20%. Class size has a huge impact on learning and individual care. Most International Schools tend to have an average of 20 students in a class. Ask about the maximum number and I’d express concern if it is over 25.
Student intrinsic motivation: if possible, it is a great idea to visit a school as you’ll be able to see examples of this in action. Do students look engaged and motivated to learn? Are they excited to be at school? Are there genuine examples of students' work on their displays and even website?
Accreditation: these are absolutely imperative to check as they are a strong indicator of the quality of the school. International Schools can have no inspection body so accreditations are your best friend when judging quality. Look for one of these: Council of International Schools full accreditation, International Baccalaureate authorisation, members of a body such as the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) if British or New England Association of Schools and Colleges if American. Having these will ensure there is some process of school inspection and guidelines for improvement.
Exam results: this shouldn’t be the main decision as it will often depend on the school’s student selection criteria. However, it is worth checking their results and comparing them to national resultsor for example the IB world average. It can also be a good idea to see where their students typically gain university places at.
Years of operation: I’d be cautious sending your children to a brand new school unless they are part of a well established group of schools. It often takes schools between 5 to 10 years to find their feet, develop good systems and have gained clarity on their approach to education.
Online: there are a wealth of resources to gain a good and complete picture of a school online. Start with the school website and try to look beyond the marketing blurb or images: is this a school with happy thriving students? Whilst it is worth exercising caution, it is worth checking out online reviews to see what other parents say. Check out the list below of helpful websites as a good starting point.
Facilities: please don’t be wowed by the school’s facilities as I’ve been to so many schools with amazing facilities yet poor teaching and learning. Your child will be so much better off with the opposite combination. I’d look for facilities which enhance teaching and learning: pleasant classrooms, good playgrounds, a theater, a functional library rather than focussing on the wow items: the swimming pool or computer lab as these often have very little impact on your child’s wellbeing and learning.
Conclusion
Moving locations and sending your child to a new school is a daunting process for both the parents and children. I’d highly recommend involving children in this decision making process. By doing this, they will have bought into the school and are more likely to thrive when it comes to the move. Ultimately, the key is to use a critical eye when choosing and dig deep to try and gain a more complete picture on whether the school is right for you and your child.
If you would like me to offer you individual advice and carry out the research, please do reach out as I’d be happy to help with this important decision.
Useful Resources
Council of International Schools member directory: https://www.cois.org/membership-directory
International School Database: https://www.international-schools-database.com/
International School Advisor: https://www.ischooladvisor.com/
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