This is a time of year when many families relocate and need to find schools for their children. Unfortunately, this is also the season when many schools are closed, so it can be more difficult for prospective students and parents to get a feel for a school and what it would be like when full of students and teachers.
So, if you or one of your employees with kids is relocating this summer, we hope you will find these suggestions helpful: tips for making the most of a school visit and getting a sense of its personality and culture, even when it’s empty:
1. This is the time of year when schools that are closed for the summer benefit from repairs and cleaning and polishing, which means that classrooms may be completely dismantled. Still, ask your tour guide if any classrooms are intact and if you could see them, even if not the ones your child will inhabit. Pay attention to resources, desk arrangement, natural light, decorations, and the overall feel of the room.
2. As much as possible, note the material that the school displays on the walls of classrooms, hallways, labs, art and music rooms, etc. How creative or “canned” is it? What evidence do you see of student creativity?
3. In the case of private schools, make the most of the marketing material Admissions shares with you. Yes, it is marketing material and therefore intended to feature the school in the best possible light, but it will still answer a lot of questions and convey a sense of the school’s culture. Watch the videos on the school's website, read all of the hard copy brochures—You can actually learn a lot.
4. Make an effort to attend any school-related events that might be taking place. For example, if the school offers a summer camp run by students and coaches, give it a look. Or if there are sports practices underway, take the time to observe a few, especially if your child might end up participating.
5. Ask to be put in touch with another family who was new to the school in the last couple of years. Ask them about their transition to the school and how well supported they felt by teachers and staff and the community in general.
6. In the case of private schools, lean on your Admissions contact. Don’t be shy about asking lots of questions. They want to share as much as possible and help you make a good decision.
We wish a fun and adventurous summer ahead!
Warmly,
Elizabeth Sawyer, CEO
Over the years, Bennett International Education Consultancyhas worked with hundreds of corporations across the globe, many of them Fortune 500 companies, providing domestic and international school advisement & placement services - preschool through university - to the dependents of relocating employees. In addition to education placement, our team provides customized consulting for corporations with a range of education issues: education policy writing & benchmarking, tuition studies, group move advisement & planning, and remote education solutions.