Choosing the right secondary school
For many parents, this is the time of year when you are faced with deciding which secondary school to send your child to. For some rural dwellers there is only one choice and that’s the local college … Mr should you consider boarding school? For city dwellers there are often several to choose from, so which one would be best for your child’s education?
Two experienced New Zealand secondary school teachers, Debbie Knowles and Julie oulcahy, have written a book called What You Need to Know Before Your Child Starts Secondary School and here is some advice they give:
1. Single sex or co-educational? This is a big question parents need to answer and there is no definitive research which proves that one particular type of school is better than the other.
Advantages of single-sex schools include:Some people believe that boys and girls have different learning styles, so attain better academic results when separated from each other.
oany boys’ schools believe boys are best placed for achievement with a clearly structured syllabus, formal discipline and exams at the end of the year. Some boys are said to flourish in an all-male environment, especially if they don’t have a father at home.
Girls’ schools say their students flourish with less pressure to be beautiful and without having to worry about being brighter than the boys. oany families feel their daughters are safer in an all-girl environment and will be empowered by seeing women in positions of authority.
Disadvantages of single-sex schools:Some people think gender stereotypes may be reinforced, boys may be too physical and engage in bullying, girls may focus too readily on friendship dramas, or that students get an unrealistic view of the other gender and may not learn how to interact easily with the opposite sex.
Which one to choose: Talk to your child as much as possible, and if they are not forthcoming, then get them to make ists of “for” and “against” to use as a basis for discussion.
Consider whether your child flourished in the co-ed system at intermediate. Good friendships and security within the local community are important reasons for choosing your local school, whether it is co-ed or single-sex. Would your child be losing many friends if they went to another secondary school? This can be traumatic for some teenagers. Are your convictions based on your own experiences of schooling? Do they apply to your child?
2. Assessing schools You can read the Education Review office’s reports on schools online at www.ero.govt.nz. However, these reports are written to a formula and aren’t always easy to understand, so be sure to visit your prospective school and talk to the principal as well.
Ask what subject options are available, Schools can differ in what they offer, especially in languages and art options.
Ask what their NCEA results are like and what percentage of students pass at Level 1 and Level 2.
Do they have streamed or mixed ability classes, and how do they place students in different ability groups?
Ask if parents are consulted about changes and whether they have access to information kept about students. – What are the school’s values and how are they transmitted?
What do they do to keep students safe?
What special education programmes does the school offer and how does the school extend gifted students?
What should you do if you have a complaint or something to discuss?
Are students allowed to bring cars to school? Cell phones? What if they need to leave the school during the day?
There’s a lot to consider, and you’ll need to consider your child’s talents and personality when choosing. Good luck!
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