Schools are the building blocks of a child’s educational and academic career. Children spend considerable hours of their day in school and hence, as parents, it is quite important to choose a school that caters to the all-round development of our kids as well as suits us in all aspects.
I recently enrolled my kids in a formal school and I must say it’s not an easy decision to make. Choosing the ‘right’ school for your child requires careful and diligent planning on the part of parents. It’s one decision that goes a long way in shaping kids both individually, as well as academically. At the end, we all want our kids to shine and have the most rewarding educational experience.
Basic Factors to keep in mind while choosing the ‘right’ school for your child
Here are some of the factors you must keep in mind while finalising a school in Mumbai for your child. I personally kept these in mind while doing a recce of schools for my kids and they helped me make the decision quickly and easily.
1. Distance between the school and the house
This is the first and foremost factor to be considered while choosing a school for our kids. In especially metro cities, it’s best to choose a school in close proximity to avoid wastage of time and energy in travelling far and making it exhausting for the child.
2. Pocket friendly
This is an imperative criteria considering that education is an expensive field. As much as we want our children to study in the best of schools, our budget in choosing the right school can’t be ignored. It’s wise to choose a school where one can easily sustain to pay fees regularly and in the long run.
3. Education Board & Curriculum
Before shortlisting on any school, know and understand about all the School Boards- ICSE/CBSE/IGCSE/IBDP, their pros/cons and what’s the best suited for your child. Go with the school as per your preference of the Board.
4. School Infrastructure, Curriculum and Extracurricular Activities
Select a school that has spacious, clean, airy classrooms and provides for basic facilities like library, auditorium, playground etc.
Check that the school curriculum is child-centric and focuses on learning and practicing core subject-skills as well as life skills such as, thinking skills, personality development, etc.
Also check the extracurricular activities that the school offers as they are important for the all-round development of the kids. Go for one that includes basic activities like yoga, arts, dance, coding, etc.
5. Quality of Teachers
Teaching-learning is an evolving process and teachers are the one who are going to shape the future of our kids. So make sure that the school has well- qualified, updated, dynamic and well-trained teachers .
6. Student-Teacher Ratio
This has to be one of the important checkpoints. Choosing a school with less number of kids in a class is always an advantage. Kids get individual attention and the teacher can concentrate equally on all kids.
7. School Management
The actual workforce behind the school- the Management- can really make or break a school. Make sure that the school management has relevant educational background and enough experience in the field of education. It’s best to check out the review of the school -read it up online or if possible talk to the school alumnus.
8. Safety & Security
Safety at school is important for children of all ages. Know about the safety procedures and policies that the school follows. Understand the measures that school takes to prevent harassment, bullying and other similar issues.
One such school I know of that fits in this frame and ticks all the right boxes is – Orchids International School. It is a chain of schools having CBSE curriculum, spread across 6 major cities (Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata & Pune) with 38+ campuses and 30k+ students.
About Orchids International School
With a vision to set a new benchmark of quality education through innovative teaching methods, unique teaching philosophy and world-class infrastructure, the school aims in shaping young minds by touching lives, giving them a creative platform and a unique academic curriculum for their all -round development. It believes in the holistic development of the child through its wide options of extra-curricular activities.
✅ They are predominantly neighborhood schools located mostly in residential areas, thereby avoiding long distance travels for the students.
✅ The school has a panel of expert and experienced teachers who provide personal attention to each student.
✅ They ensure the safety of every child on campus through comprehensive security measures.
✅ Orchids International is a school of future, powered by robust technology – with a dedicated app for parents to stay informed of announcements, daily classworks, & homeworks, or even details of fee payments and certificates.
✅ Their focus is to provide hands-on learning to the students with the aim at making each child ready for the changing times ahead beyond their classrooms and ensure their all-round development.
✅ Along with core subjects, they also provides options in subjects like coding, Robotics, public relations, etc.
As parents, we envision our children to grow up learning all the necessary skills and hobbies that would make them a complete human being. What’s better than a school that focuses on all the aspects of child development and prepares students for a happy and bright future.
Hope this article makes it easier for you and helps you in choosing the ‘right’ school for your child.
Disclaimer : This post is in collaboration with Orchid International School. However the views and opinions expressed here are my own.