What parents should look for when considering a change of schools for children?

Parents are the primary decision-makers for the future of their kids. A right step can mend a child’s future, and a wrong one can turn it down. Schools are the secondary guide of every child and, therefore, must be carefully chosen. But if due, for any reason, the current school of your child is not correct, parents must consider a change of school for children. Students may not be comfortable at their existing schools for multiple reasons, and parents must acknowledge these issues carefully instead of neglecting them. Not only this but sometimes even parents decide to change schools for various reasons. Let us have a look at what are the different points to consider when thinking of switching your child’s school.

Reasons for considering a change of schools

Schools are an integral part of every student’s life, so it is crucial to always select the right learning environment for your ward. Although sometimes parents may land up in a situation where they must consider switching their child’s current school. This can be for various reasons-

1. Changing cities– Parents dedicated to the nation’s service and having a background in national defence services are constantly moving after a specific tenure and therefore take their family along wherever they go. While other parents often get better job openings in other localities or cities and have to move to a different place.

2. Financial crisis- Families go through economic ups and downs. If parents cannot earn enough or just lose their jobs due to some pertinent issues, they may consider withdrawing their kids from their current school to put them in one that they can afford

3. Unsatisfactory school– Parents get their children admitted to schools where they expect a holistic development of their child, from a healthy, sound and ethical environment, quality education, sports and extracurricular exposure. If either of these expectations is not met, parents are bound to reconsider their child’s school.

4. Better opportunities– If there is an alternative school you heard about and know would give better exposure and opportunities for the holistic development of your child, you must consider changing schools.

How do you know if your child should switch schools?

While there are several reasons parents face that cause them to consider changing schools, there are many reasons why parents make this decision due to their children. A few reasons why the child needs to change school can be- 

1. Mental health– Your child may struggle with studies and school environments. It can be because of the demotivating academic environment, biased behaviour of teachers, or any sort of bullying or ragging on the school premises. In all these circumstances, it becomes difficult for children to focus and give their best performance in school daily.
   
2. Academic burden– All students are built differently, have different learning styles, and take time to grow and develop. Therefore, comparing one child to another is not good. The curriculum of some schools may turn out to be too rigid, demanding and tough to cope with for your child. It may cause exam stress and root feelings of self-doubt, self-loathing and depression in your child.

3. Insufficient opportunities– Extracurricular activities are essential for the holistic development of a child. If the child feels that he is capable of learning and excelling in a particular field and the school lacks facilities, it will restrict the growth and passion of your child.

4. Branding your child– Children get affected by the most minor things in life at a young age. If your child did something wrong for once and is punished and branded as a destructive troublemaker, it will stay in their head. If the child has been given a bad reputation and is constantly nudged around it, that will hamper his peace of mind and make them not want to go to school.

5. Expelled from school– Due to extreme misconduct, your child has been expelled, and you feel that it would not be suitable for their mental state to go back to the school and bear taunts and biased behaviour from students and staff; it is better to switch schools. Children often suffer guilt and social anxiety after expulsion and fear facing their peers and teachers, so it’s best to teach them where they went wrong and give them a fresh start.

Factors influencing parent’s decision in choosing schools

Children spend most of their day at school trying to learn, unlearn, and build themselves. Being a parent, the responsibility for your child’s future rests on you. Therefore, before considering a change of school for children, carefully consider the various aspects of different schools to pick the right one for your child.

1. Location– It matters because you do not want your child to waste time commuting from school to home. The distance between school and your home should be manageable so that your child can reach school on time and come home to rest after a productive day.

2. School’s environment– A productive, energetic, and sound environment are motivating factor to the growth and development of your child. Go ahead and visit the school premises to see how other children feel about studying in that school and know more about the alumni to see how far the school can boost your child’s academic growth.

3. Adequate facilities– Every school must provide basic facilities such as technologically-equipped classrooms, good and ventilated infrastructure, medical rooms, clean washrooms, playgrounds, and conveyance arrangements. All these make it better and more comfortable for your children as they will spend most of their time in school.
   
4. Well-trained and experienced staff– Teachers are the potters who mould and shape the future of young kids. The students learn values, morals, and lessons and build their personalities and identity through their teachings. Therefore, schools with encouraging, skilled and motivating professional teachers are the best choice for your child.

5. Financial status– High-priced education does not necessarily imply high-quality education, it is the school and not its fee structure that decides its qualitative worth. Education requires investment, but that does not mean going out of the way to educate your kids in high-end schools if your budget does not allow it. It is only after careful consideration of the prospectus and fee structure that the parents must decide to choose any school.

6. Child’s choice– Children are sometimes driven towards studying in certain schools because they hear about it from their friends. You should not neglect your child’s suggestion and carefully consider it if that school turns out to be the right fit.

How to get your child to adjust to a new school?

Switching schools may be quite a significant change for your child, and it may require some time before they settle into the new environment, make new friends and adjust to the learning methodology of the new school. Therefore, you must motivate your children to take their time and enter their new school confidently and optimistically.

1. Give your child positive affirmation– When they go to a new school, they may face nervousness and anxiety and seclude themselves from others. As parents, it is your job to motivate your kid to open up, talk to others, and instil positive thoughts and ideas about the new school. Tell them about the school facilities that your child might find intriguing. It is an efficient way of giving your child something to look forward to in school.

2. Address their fears- After returning from school, your child may be full of experiences and fears, give time and listen to all of them. Carefully try to resolve their issues and divert their focus on positive experiences more than negative ones.

3. Help them out in studies– In new schools, the curriculum changes, teachers change, and the teaching technique and pattern. Your child may initially find it challenging to cope with the learning speed and try to run away from it or get irritated. Spare a few hours to invest in breaking down lessons for your child according to their learning style.

4. Talk to the teachers- If your child is still finding it difficult to adjust to the new environment, you can approach their teachers and ask them to pay a little more attention to your child until they become familiar and comfortable with the new school.

There are multiple reasons why parents or children think of switching schools and looking for newer options. So if you have decided, these are a few tips to consider when looking for a change of schools for children.

SKV is among the top schools in Gwalior to provide high-quality education to girls from classes VI to XII. We are a residential school offering a holistic environment for the academic and extracurricular growth of the child.