How to choose the best school for your kids
As a parent or caregiver, choosing where your children go to school is big decision with long-term implications. More than just the place your children grow into who they become, their school will be like a second home for your family during the learning years.
From curriculum to facilities, personal and cultural preferences to the unique needs of each child, choosing a school might seem overwhelming. But with the right strategic approach you will soon find the best fit. Below, we’ve compiled a list of considerations to help set your kids up for success.
Location and accessibility
Some families will be content sending their children down the road to their local public school. Others might favour a private, religious, or independent school, or one that follows a certain teaching methodology. Whatever your preference, the location matters as it will impact your family on a day-to-day basis for several years.
There are many benefits to enrolling your children locally, the first and foremost being convenience. From a quick drop off on your way to work or perhaps allowing older kids to travel to school independently, there’s no doubt living close to school makes life easier.
In a growing area like Smith’s Lane, there’s the added benefit of building a community with other families, creating a shared sense of belonging and trust that will benefit your children, and provide peace of mind. Two new schools you’ll find at Smiths Lane are Clyde Grammar private school, in operation since 2020, and the state government Topirum Primary School which opens next year.
If your child has a special interest or talent they want to pursue, or you wish to send them to a particular school, you might have to look beyond your immediate area. In this case, it’s important to research things like transport options, provided both publicly and by the school, as there are financial and logistical implications associated with travelling further afield.
Curriculum / Academic performance
School curriculum and academic track record might also be important to you. Maybe there’s a specific teaching methodology you’re interested in, like Steiner or Montessori. Or, you may be after a school that offers programs for children with special needs or certain elective subjects for older students.
When looking for performance data, first visit the school website and then consider one of the many school database websites. For example, My School is a helpful site that contains performance metrics alongside school profile and population data, attendance data and financial details. Operated by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) – the body responsible for collecting and reporting data on Australia’s schools, running the National Assessment Program (including NAPLAN) and other assessments, and the Australian Curriculum – My School has up to date insights to help you make an informed decision.
How to find ATAR results
For families with children in secondary school, you’ll hear the term ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) with increasing regularity as they near the end of school. Calculated by adding up a student’s scores from each subject, an ATAR is a number between 0 and 99.95 that ranks the student relative to other Year 12s in their state.
By going online, you can also locate an ATAR ranking for each secondary school, which represents the median ATAR achieved by its students. This information can be found on the Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority (VCAA) website.
Class size
There’s a popular sentiment that small class sizes are better. While this may be true in certain circumstances, there are advantages to larger groups or schools, as they often have more capacity to offer specialised programs, educators, and opportunities. The most important thing to think about is: what sort of class size is right for your child?
Facilities and resources
The facilities and resources available at each school can impact your child’s development and their enjoyment of school. Are any desired subjects and/or extracurricular activities on offer? Will their before and after school care services meet your needs?
Local Smith’s Lane families are spoilt for choice when it comes state-of-the-art school facilities, with both Clyde Grammar and Topirum Primary boasting modern new buildings, outdoor and community spaces, and sporting grounds.
School vision and values
Each school has a clearly defined vision, mission and set of values that guide their practices, so be sure to investigate how well this aligns to your personal and family values.
For example, at Clyde Grammar, respect, honesty, generosity, empathy, perseverance, and commitment are the core values that underpin the school’s practices and programs. At Topirum Primary, Founding Principal Marc de Ley wants students to develop a sense of active and responsible citizenship.
What questions to ask
Whether you attend a school’s open day or take a private tour, be sure to have a list of questions handy. You might ask about the curriculum and academic performance, how standards like discipline, technology, and uniform are managed, the frequency of student assessment and parental communication, or whether you can expect any out-of-pocket expenses throughout the year.
By the end of this process, you should have a good feeling about a particular school and can plan with confidence.
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