Education is a first-order priority for most families but finding the right school isn’t always a straightforward exercise.
Academic results and statistical profiles only tell one part of a school’s story. Its values, atmosphere and learning culture are often just as important to a student’s happiness and success but these intangible qualities can be difficult to appraise from a distance.
While websites and social media reveal a great deal about a school and its achievements, even in this digital age the personal touch goes a long way. There’s nothing like a face-to-face meeting to get a true “feel” for a school.
At the North Shore Schools Expo earlier this month, almost 2000 parents took the opportunity to meet with staff and students from Sydney’s top independent schools.
The occasion allowed families to build on their research and engage closely with a wide variety of schools serving the north of Sydney.
“The wonderful thing for parents is that it saves legwork,” says Expo convener Dorothy Willoughby. “With all these schools in one place, families can explore many different options in just a few hours.”
“Many of the schools have their principals there — and students. It’s terribly important to talk to the principal. The principal makes the school really,’’ she says.
Obtaining a first-hand account of a school from current students is another benefit, Mrs Willoughby says. “Parents can actually see for themselves what the other students are like and hear what they think about their school.”
Bruce Perry, registrar at St Andrew’s Cathedral School in central Sydney, says families tend to have similar concerns with the top questions pertaining to issues around:
- Length of waiting lists and relevant procedures
- School size and student body composition
- Class sizes
- Co-curricular opportunities
- Processes and prerequisites at different entry points: Kindergarten, Year 5, Year 7, etc…
- Religious components and requirements
- Information about the International Baccalaureate and how it differs from the HSC
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Gifted and Talented programs
- STEM teaching
He says discussing these matters one-to-one is ideal because “in my experience, even though many of the questions are the same, all students and their parents are different and have different needs. Chatting to staff and students at an Expo booth can help a lot with this.”
In terms of negotiating parents’ top concern — waiting lists — Mrs Willoughby offers this advice:
“Get the relationship started as soon as you can; the earlier, the better. Be flexible. Stay in contact with the school to let them know that you’re still interested and be prepared to take up a vacancy at short notice.”
The advantage of visiting the Expo for parents in this situation, she says, “is that it allows them to establish a rapport with the school.”
“Parents are looking for that perfect match, where the family and the student fit into the school community. If a student is doing well and looks like they would benefit from an independent school education, the school is more likely to try to find a place for that student,” she says.
“The Expo offers families the perfect opportunity to get the familiarisation process underway to achieve the best outcome for their children,” she concludes.