CHOOSING A PRIVATE SCHOOL ABROAD
8 MISTAKES TO AVOID
Have you already discussed with your family and friends, gathered information from various sources, and feel ready to begin the search for a private school abroad?
Read this article to avoid the most common mistakes parents tend to make when starting this journey.
If you are looking for an educational consultant to guide you through the process, Your Education Shape can be your trusted partner.
HOW TO AVOID PITFALLS AND MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION
When you start the process of researching schools abroad, aligning your priorities with those of your child is essential. Over the years of offering educational consultancy, I have noticed several mistakes that parents tend to make when choosing the right school for their child. Below, I have highlighted the most frequent ones.
💡 When it comes to choosing a private school abroad, sit down with your family and make a list of the most important criteria you should take into account: the academic programme, type of school, location, facilities, extracurricular activities, and subjects offered. Consider whether you should apply for a scholarship in order to fit your budget, and decide what the ideal amount to be covered would be.
But also keep in mind the 8 major mistakes you should avoid when searching for the right school for your child.
THE 8 MOST COMMON MISTAKES
1. RELYING ON SCHOOL RANKINGS AS YOUR ONLY SOURCE OF INFORMATION
Rankings can be useful tools if you know how to read between the lines, as they rarely provide the full picture of a school. They are often based on public examination results, while other important aspects get lost along the way.
I do not discredit rankings – they can be helpful once you already have a general overview. However, I have often consulted several so-called reliable sources only to find inconsistent information. For example, I once came across a ranking of the best IB schools in the UK that included schools without an IB programme at all.
Moreover, the school at the very top of the rankings might not necessarily be the right fit for your child. Beyond academic results, you must also take into account gender balance, educational philosophy, class sizes, emotional wellbeing, extracurricular activities, and personal development opportunities.
2. RUSHING THE PROCESS AND MAKING HASTY DECISIONS
Finding the right school for your child is far too important, so it is crucial to allow yourself sufficient time. Understanding the academic programmes, the types of schools, the various educational styles, the internal organisation, the ethos, the opportunities available to pupils, as well as the financial aspects – all these require time for clarification. This understanding will help refine your search criteria and give you the peace of mind needed to make the final decision with confidence.
Additionally, some schools begin their selection process several years in advance, while others have a very clear admissions calendar. It is best not to limit your options because of time constraints. The admissions process can be lengthy – and let’s not forget about visas when it comes to the UK, the USA, or other study destinations.
3. RELYING TOO MUCH ON FRIENDS’ RECOMMENDATIONS
I understand – friends’ recommendations carry a lot of weight because they already have first-hand experience with a particular school. But what may be suitable for your child’s friends might not be at all suitable for your own child. The type of experience may differ completely. Keep your options open and your mind flexible. Decisions must be made in accordance with your own family’s criteria – and that combination is unique.
💡 You may also find my article 11 Essential Tips for Choosing the Right School for Your Child helpful.
4. PRIORITISING A SCHOOL’S PRESTIGE ABOVE ALL ELSE
There are many variables more important than the name or prestige of a school. The key is to find the right balance, ensuring the educational environment truly suits your child. High selectivity does not necessarily equate to high-quality education.
Some children need a less competitive environment, with less academic pressure, where individual needs are valued, and where they can thrive in a friendly, supportive atmosphere.
5. SKIPPING THE SCHOOL VISIT
The information you gather can often be overwhelming, contradictory, or beautified through marketing tools. When browsing school websites, it is easy to be drawn in by presentations, highlights, and photos. Do not let this distract you from what matters most for you and your child – the curriculum, the school ethos, the quality of teaching, and development opportunities.
That is why visiting schools is so important. By interacting directly with the environment, staff, pupils, and teachers, you lift the veil of marketing. A school visit releases you from the purely factual data accumulated up to that point, offering an immediate experience that activates your intuition – which is also crucial in decision-making, complementing rational analysis.
Observe, interact, and gather as much information as possible. During visits, you also have the chance to ask every question on (and beyond) your list – about how your child will be supported academically, socially, and emotionally.
Families often return from school tours with a completely different ranking of preferences compared to the one they had at the start.
So, do visit them. If circumstances do not allow it, your educational consultant can help organise virtual tours and arrange conversations with teachers, pupils, or parents from the selected school communities.
6. CONSIDERING ONLY ONE SCHOOL OPTION
I have often worked with families who came in with just one school in mind – whether because it ranked top in the charts or because a friend’s child was already there and recommended it. Some children, after attending a summer boarding camp, became so attached to the school that they only wanted to study there.
This usually happens because of the emotional connection and sense of familiarity. However, I always encourage families to keep their options open and explore alternatives before making a final decision. Frequently, at the end of the admissions process, families chose a different school than the one they had originally set their heart on. Why? Because after taking entrance exams, attending interviews, visiting schools, and interacting with the community, new criteria emerged as particularly important – criteria that were not even considered at the beginning.
7. BELIEVING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IS EVERYTHING
A common belief is that academic performance guarantees a secure future: a good job, a high income – hence the tendency to choose schools solely based on exam results, Olympiads, and academic awards.
But a school should offer the whole package: nurturing emotional intelligence, social skills, critical thinking, creativity, physical wellbeing, and other essential abilities for a child’s balanced growth into adulthood.
School should be a space for exploring passions, where curiosity thrives and hands-on learning develops the multiple forms of intelligence. After all, there are nine recognised types of intelligence!
💡 I have also written an article on extracurricular activities and their role in developing children’s multiple intelligences. You can find it in the Useful Info section.
8. DELAYING CONTACT WITH AN EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT
An educational consultant can take a huge weight off your shoulders by informing, guiding, and supporting you every step of the way.
Here is how I can help you, along with testimonials from families who have already benefited from our tailored consultancy services.
