Things to Think About Before Choosing a School for Your Child
In today’s educational climate of exam results and league tables, many parents may think this is the final information they should consider before choosing a school for their children. But while it is easy to see how schools are judged by their school results, there is a huge wealth of evidence that highlights the damaging stakes of testing culture in schools. It is proved that this greatly affects children’s learning identities that lowers the esteem of many who tend not to perform as required.
It can be misleading seeing many schools solely concerned about achieving the best grades. As for many children the most important factor in school life is the relationship they build with their teachers and fellow students. With children, secure friendships sustained over time are closely associated with feelings of confidence and upgraded self-worth. Friendship to children makes them adjust to school life and form positive school values.
As it is well known with children, they change friends frequently and can even end up having several friends in a short span. In this way the ups and downs of friendships can also cause a lot of issues for children. Due to this reason it has led some schools to take the controversial measure to ban the “best friends” thing kids tend to make, something social psychologists have contradicted greatly. The psychologists have argued that they want children to get good at leading close friendships, not superficial ones.
Given that close peer friendships nurtured through adolescence stage encourages social developments in children and helps them to build other significant relationships. It is clear that the friendships children make in school can have a long and lasting impact. With that in mind, here are some of the things to look for while choosing a school for your child.
Laws of Friendship
Literally friendships and relationships can strongly influence a child’s sense of both exclusion and inclusion at school. You should therefore give a careful consideration of how a school provides for the emotional and social-being of their pupils. See how teachers respond to children’s difficulties in their friendships.
Stay for Playtime
It is worth sticking around for break time, as this can give you a real sense of how children are able to interact on their own. It is highly important because it shapes their experience. Emotional responses in children form key parts of schooling that helps in building a sense of belonging and learner identity.
Talk the Talk
You should have a detailed conversation
with the teachers and the headmaster. Get a sense of how you experience them as ethos setters and role models. Learn how they interact with the staff and the children. It is important to know this when you are visiting a prospective school. It will give you a sense of how the school is run and the priorities in place.