How to choose a school for my children? As parents, few decisions are as important as choosing the perfect school for our children. When our little ones reach school age, it marks a pivotal moment that sets the course for their educational journey. There are choices to make regarding public or private education; school size; religious or secular orientation; bilingual or monolingual teaching; emphasis on sports, art or music; and a host of other crucial factors which significantly shape their learning experience.
Once we are clear about what we want, we can weigh up what the schools around us have to offer.
So, what variables do we compare when choosing a school?
How to choose a school for my children?
1. Educational Method
Depending on the location, there may be bilingual schools which focus on English in either the British, American, or Spanish educational system. Schools may favour French or German, or they may operate as free schools, with Waldorf or Montessori pedagogical systems. Schools may also have a mixed or gender-specific setting, among others.
At our school we use methods backed by educational research for each learning area.
EARLY YEARS
Starting from the first year at our school, students are taught in English. To ensure a gradual and personalised learning experience, we have divided the curriculum into core and specific areas. Initially, our youngest students concentrate on fundamental areas such as physical development, personal and social growth, emotional development, and communication and language skills. This leads to successful learning in: literacy, mathematics, world understanding, expressive arts and design.
The Early Years Foundation Stage also focuses on three key aspects that form the basis of our students’ learning:
- Active Learning through Play and Exploration: We believe in an educational approach that actively involves children in playful and exploratory activities. We see play as a crucial tool for early learning, as it encourages curiosity and experimentation.
- Creative Expression: We value and support students’ creative expression. Through activities like art and music, children get the chance to develop their creativity and express their ideas in unique ways.
- Emotional Development: We understand the importance of emotional development in early education. We work to help students understand and manage their emotions, creating a safe and caring environment where they can fully develop.
Children have fun learning through play. Students’ acquisition of English is supported and accelerated by the ‘Talk for Writing’ approach, where they become active storytellers and learn a range of vocabulary associated with key actions.
We know that children’s surroundings play a key role in their development. Our classrooms are spacious, bright and welcoming, with direct access to the outdoor area.
The emotional well-being of our pupils is of paramount importance. Our priority is to ensure they enjoy their childhood and feel secure, so that learning can take place naturally.
PRIMARY
Our primary students are educated in an international environment with a diverse team of professionally trained, bilingual teachers. We offer the best education in English for your child, with excellence in all subject areas.
Throughout the primary years, we provide a learning community that inspires, nurtures and celebrates achievement. We encourage pupils to develop their talents, fulfil their potential and strive to become the best possible version of themselves. We are a ‘school with a heart’, where the well-being of each child is at the core of everything we do.
We provide teaching that sparks creativity and fosters critical thinking in the classroom. Through hands-on experimentation and manipulation, students are encouraged to form their own conclusions during individual and group activities.
In today’s world, computers and new technologies play a crucial role, making it important for all our students to gain confidence and skills in this subject. This preparation is essential to help them face the challenges of our fast-evolving technological landscape.
SECONDARY
Our students are able to obtain a double secondary certification; the Spanish Homologación de la ESO y Bachillerato, alongside the British IGCSE qualifications.
International students who do not have a high enough level of Spanish to follow the Spanish curriculum can take Spanish as a second language, enabling them to learn the language and reinforce their language skills.
We think it’s crucial to encourage teamwork in the classroom. In addition to gaining knowledge, students should develop skills like taking initiative, working together, and caring about making their surroundings better. These skills help them become leaders and learn how to take on responsibilities.
Our students benefit in several ways from this combination, acquiring diverse and complementary learning skills. This makes their education more well-rounded, preparing them for their final stage at our school. Additionally, it offers them the opportunity to receive recognition for their studies from both the British and Spanish education systems.
2. Ideology and Values
Ideals and values play a crucial role in education and society as a whole. They set the principles and beliefs that influence how people behave and make decisions. When choosing a school, it’s important to examine its ideology to see if it aligns with these important values:
Moral and Ethical Guidance to help students discern right from wrong and promote behaviour based on integrity and fairness.
Coherence and Consistency: A school that values consistency in its educational beliefs and actions makes sure its philosophy and goals show up in every part of the learning experience. This means teachers and students share the same ethical and academic principles. Important values like respect, honesty, and empathy are woven into the curriculum and the daily life of the school.
Identity and Belonging: Ideals and values play a key role in shaping the identity of individuals, institutions, or cultures. For instance, being part of a group of schools comes with several benefits that greatly influence the educational experience for students, teachers, and parents. These advantages not only enhance the quality of education but also foster an environment that supports the overall development of students and the growth of the educational community. Grouped schools often have access to a diverse range of resources and services that may not be available to individual schools, such as advanced educational technology, certain extracurricular programs, cutting-edge sports facilities, and enriching learning opportunities.
Elian’s British School is part of the IEP Group, a network of schools across Spain. This year, we’ve joined the Dukes Education family, marking a new phase in IEP’s development. Dukes Education is known for its innovative focus on student and staff-centred learning. This partnership brings several advantages for students, teachers, and parents in the IEP Group. Students will gain access to international exchange programs, summer camps, sports competitions, career guidance, and quality university counselling.
Teachers will have excellent professional development opportunities, and parents will find a supportive community of like-minded families with learning opportunities in the Dukes Education network. This collaboration marks an exciting new chapter in the IEP story, promising to enhance the overall educational experience provided by the institution.
Respect and Tolerance: Values such as respect, tolerance and diversity promote understanding and peaceful coexistence among people of different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs.
Personal Development: Our students are encouraged to reflect on their own beliefs and develop a deeper understanding of themselves and others. When choosing a school, consider how much it focuses on your child’s personal growth. A school that values personal development helps students become balanced individuals by cultivating self-awareness, social skills, resilience, stress management, confidence, and self-esteem.
Social Responsibility: Values such as responsibility, solidarity and empathy promote social engagement and contribution to the well-being of the community and society as a whole.
Conflict Resolution: Resolving conflicts in school is vital. It helps keep a positive and safe learning environment, develops important social skills in students, stops problems from escalating, and improves relationships. It also teaches tolerance and empathy, helps control emotions, keeps a positive school atmosphere, and gets students ready for adult life. It also lowers aggression and bullying by encouraging a culture of peacefully resolving conflicts, and empowers students by making them responsible for their actions and choices.
3. Geographical Proximity
How close the school is to your home matters because it affects your family’s comfort and your child’s well-being. Living nearby cuts down on travel time and reduces the stress of long journeys, giving youngsters more time to relax, study, and join after-school activities. It also makes it easier for parents to be involved in their children’s school life, encourages students to be independent in managing their responsibilities, and improves lifestyles by saving on transport costs and simplifying the family’s daily routine.
4. Pupil Class Proportion
Knowing how many students move up to the next grade in a school is crucial. It gives important clues about the quality of education and how well students are doing. The promotion rate shows how good the school is at getting students ready for the next academic level and helps find any issues in teaching and learning that need fixing. It also helps identify students who might need extra help and lets us see if intervention programs are working. Being clear about this data is important for holding the school accountable and always making education better.
5. Academic Level
Another element to take into account is the academic level of the school, which can be assessed through the results obtained in external tests, or through its position in educational rankings.
6. Services Offered by the School
It’s also important to assess the services offered by the school, like the cafeteria, after-school activities, extended hours, transportation, and more. This can be a deciding factor for families dealing with challenges in balancing work and family life.
At Elian’s British School all our pupils eat a high quality three-course hot meal in the school dining room. We offer vegetarian and halal options, as well as adapted menus for pupils with allergies. All food is prepared with fresh ingredients in our own kitchen.
We have a bus service, our bus routes collecting students from Calpe in the north of the Alicante region, to the beach area of San Juan – Campello, in Alicante.
We also have a wide range of extra-curricular activities, including our music school, with the possibility of tuition in different instruments.
In conclusion, when searching for the right school, it’s crucial to think about various factors that match the family’s needs and values. An ideal school should provide high-quality education that supports both academic and social growth. It should be a safe and positive place, where parents are encouraged to actively participate in their children’s education. It’s important to consider the teaching approach, cultural diversity, extracurricular offerings, and the school’s commitment to family values. Ultimately, the perfect school is one that closely aligns with the family’s educational goals and values, creating an environment where students can thrive and reach their full potential.
