Choosing a school for your child is one of the biggest decisions a parent must make. With the vast amount of information on potential schools available in 2021, it can be overwhelming just deciding where to begin your search. So, what should you take into consideration when choosing a school, and how can you be confident that you have made the right choice for your child? Read our simple, three-step guide to choosing a school for your child below and get started on your school selection journey today.
Step one: decide on what's important to your family
What are your child’s interests and talents and can the school support and develop them?
Children entering the middle and senior school years may already have a strong idea about the kinds of subjects that interest them. For those students, a school that offers Specialist Programs may help to nurture their passion. Conversely, for younger children entering the primary years, or for older children who are undecided, it’s important to look at schools that can offer a broad range of opportunities, so that your child can try as many new experiences as possible, to find out what inspires them. Talk to your child and see if their interests and talents can be developed by your list of potential schools. An easy way to find out what a school offers in more detail is to download a copy of their Prospectus.
Do the school’s values reflect what you teach at home?
What kind of person do you want your child to become? What kind of role models do you want your child to interact with each day? Is being a part of a wider school community important to your family? Does the school offer a robust pastoral care program that supports their wellbeing? These are critical questions to ask, as the answers can shape your child’s future just as much as academic, sporting or other opportunities. Booking a tour with the school’s Principal can provide valuable insight into these questions as they are often the driving force behind a school’s culture.
If you are considering an Independent or private school, faith may be practised to varying degrees during, or even beyond, school hours. This can range from compulsory active association with a local Church, through to a pared-back, values-based approach to faith learning. For example, at Living Waters, an association with a Lutheran Church is not a condition of enrolment, but the College does teach Christian values, with students encouraged to serve others, their school, their family and the wider community.
Is the school conveniently located?
As every parent can attest, the mad rush to and from school can be a major source of stress. It’s important to consider the impact of the daily commute to school on your family’s routine. Do you plan on driving them to school every morning and picking them up each afternoon? Is it important to you that your child can walk, cycle or catch public transport to school? Does the school offer bus services in your area? Failing to do a little extra research here could have a big impact on your day-to-day life once your child commences at their new school.
Living Waters offers complimentary daily return bus services to families living in the Baldivis and Mandurah areas. A map of the service coverage is available to view here.
“As a family, we have all made lifelong friends and our son’s teachers are sensational. If you need an amazing school in the Peel region, we cannot speak highly enough of Living Waters, the leadership team, pastoral care and support to parents and children alike, is second to none!”
Step two: narrow down your list of schools and make contact
Once you have decided what is important for your family, it’s time to narrow down your list of potential schools and make contact. Most schools offer tours, information nights or even Q&A evenings for prospective parents. When it comes to making an informed decision for your child, there really is no substitute for an in-person tour. Our top tip is to start looking early in the year to avoid the typical end-of-year enrolment rush experienced by most schools. Mid-year tours are generally quieter and you’ll get a better look at what each day of schooling is really like as staff and students won’t be winding up for the year. Plus, if you don’t want to wait until the start of the calendar year to transfer your child from another school, a mid-year tour can provide you with certainty on your decision prior to signing any enrolment forms.
Once you’ve made contact with the school and booked your tour, it’s time to prepare accordingly. Make a list of questions relevant to your family before you go – and don’t be afraid to ask too many!
Living Waters offer a mixture of personal tours led by our Principal and group tours, on both weekday and weekend days, throughout the year, to suit the needs of your family. Our College Tours welcome you to explore our facilities and get a feel for our warm-hearted community. You’ll get a chance to meet our students and teachers, visit our classrooms, science labs, gymnasium, resource centre and other specialist areas around the campus. There is always plenty of time to discuss the interests and individual needs of your child and ask questions.
Step three: visit the school and take it all in
Take note of how it feels to be on campus. Is the campus clean and tidy? Did the current students and teachers make a good impression? Did your tour guide take the time to understand more about your family and offer personalised information tailored toward the needs of your child? And, perhaps most importantly, can you imagine your child enjoying coming to school each day? Ask your pre-prepared questions and start building a picture in your head of what it would be like being a part of the school’s community for the long-haul.
A school that cares about your enrolment will take the time to follow up with you after the tour to confirm your interest and to see if you had any further questions. The only thing left to decide is whether to fill out the enrolment form!
Living Waters are running a series of K-12 College Tours on Wednesday 16 and Saturday 19 June, in addition to our regular year-round Personal Tours. We invite you to come along and explore our College, gain insight into student life at Living Waters and find out how we nurture, challenge and inspire our students to build a bright future and live a life of purpose. Mid-year enrolments are welcome.
