Choosing the right high school

Are you confused about your options when it comes to sending your teen to secondary school in New Zealand?

This time is an important one in terms of a young person’s education, so it’s good to consider your options and give yourself time to choose the best high school available. Remember too, it isn’t just your decision as a parent – take your child along to school open evenings, ask what their preferences are and include them in the decision making process.

Although choosing a high school can be a key decision in determining your offspring’s success, academic achievement and social adjustment, it’s important to remember there are many factors that contribute to the success of a child within the New Zealand secondary school system. To ensure you make the best possible choice, take an easy step-by-step approach:

1.    Compile a list of possible high schools

Make a list of local secondary schools, considering:

•    How close the school is to your home

•    How your child will travel to school each day

•    Schooling arrangements for other children in your family

2.    Narrow down your options

Think through your options, bearing in mind the differences between schools. There are often good and not-so-good elements within each option, so it sometimes helps to make a list of pros and cons when making your decision. Some of the choices you might have to consider are:

•    Co-educational or single sex?

•    Integrated (religious) or non-denominational?

•    Private or state-funded?

•    Boarding school, correspondence or day school?

•    Special needs or regular school?

3.    Contact your favoured schools

At this point, contact selected schools to learn more about what they offer. You might want to find out:

•    The size of the school

•    The number of students in each class

•    Whether the school has streaming (this divides students of the same age group into classes ranked according to their general ability)

•    Facilities for any special needs or requirements your child may have

•    The school’s zoning policy. All students are entitled to enrol at the state school which is nearest to their home. Schools that experience overcrowding can define a geographical zone, which means only students in this area have the right to be enrolled at the school. If you live outside this zone, you can enrol under some circumstances, such as if you have a brother or sister at the school or if you need access to special education programmes. Selection of pupils is carried out through a controlled ballot.

4.    Consider the quality of education at the school

Another important component of choosing a secondary school is the quality of education on offer. A word of warning here: a school often has a “good” or “bad” reputation, which is not always deserved. Base your choice on your own observations and research, not on what others say. To ensure you are well informed:

•    Read the school’s ERO report (this report from the Education Review Office outlines a school’s achievements and standards in a wide range of areas, and is carried out every three years. Reports are available at no cost from schools and ERO offices)

•    Talk to members of the Board of Trustees, the principal and the teachers

•    Find out how teaching and learning are managed at the school

•    Check out the range of subjects on offer by reading the school’s prospectus – this will give you an idea of the school’s areas of strength

5.    Visit the school

As a parent or a prospective pupil, you also have the right to visit a school and meet with the principal and/or staff before enrolment. Make appointments to visit the schools you are considering. This will give you an opportunity to:

•    Talk to the school’s teachers

•    Talk to current students (do they seem happy, bored, interested?)

•    Observe interactions between teachers and students

•    View the school’s classrooms and facilities

•    Ask questions about the school’s policies, fees, schedule etc

Choosing a school is just part of a person’s educational path. When choosing a school, the best you can do is ensure that you can see your child feeling comfortable in the school environment – and make sure that your child feels the same way. Although zoning can mean you can’t always get your child enrolled in your top pick, any success your child achieves will be down to their own ambition, talent and drive!

Article by NZS.com.
Looking for more information? Find New Zealand high schools in the NZS.com directory – www.nzs.com.