The 'surprising' questions families ask when choosing a school

BarcelonaSome families know exactly which school they want for their children, while others begin an intense research process after a positive pregnancy test. My first thought would be that the perfect school doesn't exist. Just like perfect parents and the perfect job don't exist. There will always be something that feels off, and you'll have to define your true red lines. I do think it's very important to consider different educational options and visit more than one school, whether at open houses or by having a personal interview. Let's be honest, if we go to different dealerships to buy a car, this infinitely more important task requires our time and a clear understanding of the school where we'll pre-enroll.

I'm very fortunate to be part of the team at my school that visits and interviews new families. Over the years, I've noticed that they increasingly want to know more about logistics and less about the educational project, and that most of them come with a list of questions. It's quite endearing to see this interrogation, and I always imagine they've been up until 11:30 preparing for the visit so they don't forget anything. Although I'm probably romanticizing the situation, and they've probably just asked ChatGPT to give them a list of the ten things they absolutely must ask.

The thing is, I think I could write a whole book about my experience with new families. I've encountered questions like: at what age do students learn the secondary colors in English, what temperature are the classrooms, or which subjects are most important for medical school (the student has to start in I3). But the funniest anecdote was told to me by another teacher friend who saw one of the families with a small container filling a bottle with tap water. She caught them, and they told her it was to check the pH level of the water. Like I said, it's a story worthy of a book. My advice is always to talk a lot with other families at the school, and especially with current and former students. They will share honest, lived experiences with naturalness and transparency.

A decisive stage

And as for the teachers, I always think we have an easier time choosing a school because in many cases the children end up going to ours. It's logistical, and we know the educational philosophy well. Although I'm not sure our children completely agree with this choice. I'd even say that at times it makes them uncomfortable because they're always labeled as "Magda's child." Also, in case of any incident, our colleagues find it easier to alert us. When things are running smoothly, there's no problem, but if our children are more intense or prone to getting into trouble, they suffer more because of being "Magda's children."

Choosing the right school is key because, as you know, where we study defines us forever. It's a crucial stage where classmates and teachers leave a tremendous mark on us. We all remember our teachers, and in many cases, like mine, we studied the same subjects as our favorite teacher. That's why choosing a school goes beyond curricula, languages, or projects. The core curriculum is everywhere these days, and our children's future studies don't even exist yet. What we should look for is a school that's rowing in the same direction as us and that encourages students to work well and, above all, to do good.