How do you measure the intangible things in life… creativity, teamwork or the happiness of your family? Like many of the important areas of life, schools can’t be measured by a few simple statistics. Director of Teaching and Learning at TIGS, Melina Sangster, explores the dimensions that make up a school’s success.

When it comes to making a choice about which school to attend or whether to switch along the journey, there are a few critical questions that should be asked to determine if you are making the right choice.

Establish the basics

Firstly, consider what is important to you and your family. Just like fingerprints, no two schools are exactly the same. Each has a unique set of values, programs, resources and opportunities. Your child will be spending a large percentage of their waking hours at school so it’s essential that there is alignment between the ethos of the school and the values that are present in their home life. Some schools take a holistic approach while others specialise in an area such as academic achievement, sport or the arts.

Visit the school

Seeing the school in person is crucial. Contact the school to arrange a tour or visit the school during an open day or information evening. Do the facilities and grounds appear cared for? Were students talking and laughing during break time? Were you able to see open interactions between students and staff? Every student deserves to learn in an environment that is happy, safe and enables them to achieve their potential.

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Look at how the curriculum is taught

Classrooms are a great place to see learning in action and how the curriculum is being delivered. Do students have the chance to learn through real-life opportunities and challenges? How do teachers cater to the different learning pace of students? Ask about whether the curriculum enables problem-solving, higher order thinking and reflection that will bring out the best in its students. Schools should be equipping students with skills that enable them to succeed, be it in higher education or in the workforce.

Ask about the co-curricular programs

Co-curricular programs complement the core school program with activities that match a student’s interests and talents. They enrich learning and strengthen personal development. When comparing schools, find out if there are co-curricular programs that cater to your child’s interests. Do the programs include a range of different options such as community service, leadership, outdoor education, sports, the arts and technology? Leadership and community service are attributes highly sought after by universities.

Check external results

In order to compare a school’s results with other schools, you must first start by comparing it with ‘like’ schools. Selective schools with selective schools, those that are not academically selective with those who also meet the needs of a broad range of students.

Go to the individual school websites and look for their HSC summary. Identify the courses where the school has performed well and how each subject performed against state average. For which courses did the school produce the ‘Distinguished Achievers’? Do these subject areas match the strengths of your child? Does the school offer all the courses you are after? When talking to school staff, ask how they review, analyse and improve on their HSC results.

Look at the percentage of ATARs above 80 and 90. Does the average ATAR score remain stable or build incrementally each year?

Assess teacher quality

Students will always remember the teachers that changed and affected their lives. Teacher quality has a profound influence on student achievement. There must be strong engagement in the classroom with constructive relationships between teacher and pupil. Ask about their professional development and class preparation time. What is the student-teacher ratio?

Consider support

Does the school cater for students with additional learning needs? Is there an established and effective pastoral care system? Does the school have effective policies and procedures in place for when things go wrong? Does the school enable students to have a voice?

Education is an important investment, make sure it measures up to what you’re looking for!

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