Is X school a great school?
/In our FREE School Choices Advisory Consultations, this is the most frequent question that we are asked.
Is (insert school name) a great school?
Parents want the best of the best for their children.
We want our children to have the best possible education so that we can support them to have the best possible future. Because for the majority of us, no one is coming to rescue us. We rely on ourselves to support our children. To make the money needed to ensure that they have the best possible lives. To be their guide. To be their anchor in this crazy, messed up world.
Many of us had mixed experiences of school ourselves. Some of you loved it. Some of you hated it. Nothing in between.
If you know me at all, you will know that I do not rate my school experience. I believe that it was a complete and utter waste of time. It was mediocre at best. I believe that the majority of the relationships I formed were not real (not all of them but the majority). I believe that I struggled for far too long as a young adult because I didn’t have the correct guidance. My education (what I learnt) was okay. Nothing more. The schools I attended treated their students as numbers and not as individuals. It was a tick box kind of thing.
I could go on…
But let’s focus on this.
When parents ask me this question, I know that deep down they feel so many mixed emotions. They want to invest 30k+ a year on their child but they also want to make sure that the schools that they are choosing are great.
But my answer will always be the same. A great school relies on great teachers. So if you happen to have a great teacher one year, you’re golden. If you don’t, then you will have issues.
Doesn’t matter which school it is.
The teacher your chid has is totally out of your control.
So sadly, this is a question that I cannot fully answer.
You can of course look at the school exit results and see how they did. If they results align with the results you are after, go for it. But results don’t always tell the full story.
So, how can I answer this question for you?
I suggest you go and see the schools in action. Feel the vibe. Sense if you think your child could flourish in that type of environment. But again this is just a snapshot and it’s not the full picture. Truthfully, you will only know if a school is a ‘great school’ after you’ve experienced it. And as I always say to all of my clients, be prepared to pivot. To make changes as and when they are needed.
Be your child’s biggest cheerleader. Be their biggest advocate. Listen to them when they tell you things that could give you a true insight to whether or not they believe this school to be great or not. Don’t listen to the opinions of others. Only yours truly matters.
