How to pick the right international school

Published on 11th May, 2017 by Anne Keeling. Published in For Candidates / TIC News

Advice for expat parents looking at international education choices

How do families pick the right international school in a city when there are so many to choose? And how do teachers do the same? Today, there are 24 cities in the world that each have over 100 international schools to select from.

TIC’s Andrew Wigford was recently interviewed by one of the leading expatriate publications, Global Living Magazine about this question. All major expatriate cities offer a choice of education for families these days,” he says. “That’s why time spent researching all the options within a locality is so important before settling on a school that’s right for you.”

He suggests identifying your priorities. “These can include school size, the number of native English speaking teachers and school leaders on the staff, the type of curriculum, the learning approach, support for special needs, sports or arts facilities, proximity to your new home, and school fees,” he says.

“If possible, visit the schools, take a tour while lessons are in progress, talk with teachers and, importantly, with current parents. Identifying an accredited international school that is a member of a respected organisation, such as COBIS (the Council of British International Schools) or EARCOS (East Asia Regional Council of Schools) is a reliable guide. Many of these organisations have codes of practice and standards that schools need to maintain.”

You can read the whole article including personal experiences of selecting a school from parents and teachers here

You might also be interested in these informative articles:
Why are teachers in the UK leaving the profession?
TIC raise over £1000 in climb for Kathmandu
Top international teaching destinations – and what it’s like to live there

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Anne Keeling

Anne handles the media relations for TIC. She researches and writes the articles that appear in the press and on websites about how TIC is supporting teachers and the international schools, and how teachers who have been placed by TIC are getting on with their international teaching experience. She has spent over 25 years in media relations.