如何为您的孩子挑选一所合适的学校

在广州，选择适合孩子的学校是家长们必须做出的最重要和最艰难的决定之一。在这个竞争激烈的地方，所有学校都有自己独特的特色，并且很多学校都自称“国际”或“双语”。我希望通过关注家长们寻找的最重要特点来帮助他们做出选择。

教师

家长们最应该关注的是教师。学校的教师是否来自不同国家？学校是否为教师提供专业发展机会？教师是否与其他学校的教师甚至其他国家的教师合作？学校是否允许家长在参观时与教师交谈？教师的孩子是否也在这所学校就读？

理念

家长们应该了解学校是否真正相信所有孩子在得到支持和努力学习的情况下都能成功。学校的课程是否包括了丰富多彩的音乐项目和STEAM项目？学校是否给人温暖友好的感觉？学生们是否外向自信？教师和学生是否看起来享受学习？

开放视野

学校是否与其他机构有联系，丰富他们的课程？学校是否在科学、技术、工程、艺术和数学技能方面处于发展的前沿？

学生和课程

学校的学生群体是否多元化？学校的课程是否国际化、包容？

设施

设施需要足够和安全，但并不是选择学校最重要的方面。

作为广州领先的学校之一，广州诺德安达学校提供中、英、国际课程的最佳教育。作为诺德安达教育的一部分，广州诺德安达学校为您的孩子提供真正独特的国际和双语学习体验。

（*以下为原文）

In many respects, choosing the right school for your child is one of the most important and daunting decisions that parents have to make, especially here in Guangzhou where there are so many schools jostling for attention, all apparently having unique features, and many calling themselves “international” or “bilingual”. I hope to help parents in their choice by focussing on the most important features to look for.

Teachers

Bill Clinton’s advisors famously helped Bill focus by telling him “It’s the economy, stupid”. For parents without a doubt the most important thing to focus on is “It’s the teachers!” Are the teachers from a wide range of countries? What professional development opportunities do the school offer for teachers? For example, does the school sponsor teachers to do Masters Degrees? Do teachers cooperate with teachers in other schools or indeed teachers in other countries? Does the school allow you to actually talk to teachers when you are being shown around? Do you get to see inside actual classes during a lesson? Do the teachers’ own kids go to the school?

Ethos

Does the school truly believe that all children can succeed with support and hard-work, or do they just pay lip service to this? The acid test is to ask whether they set by “ability” in Mathematics. If they do, they don’t truly believe every child can be good at Mathematics.  Incidentally, most research suggests that “setting” doesn’t work, and in fact harms the progress of most children. Ask how ambitious they will be for your child. Does the school feel warm and friendly when you visit? Are the students out-going and confident? Do the teachers and students appear to enjoy learning?

Outward looking

Does the school have links with other organisations to enrich their curriculum? Do they have a vibrant music programme? Do the students do STEAM projects highlighting skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics? Are they on the cutting edge of these developments? Again, many schools will say they include these aspects, but what evidence is there that they are acting on this? STEAM is so much more than robots!

Students and curriculum

Does the school have a diverse range of students from a variety of backgrounds and countries? If you are looking for an international school or bilingual school, how “international” is it really in terms of its students and teachers? Does it have an international, inclusive curriculum like the International Primary Curriculum, IGCSE or international A-levels?

Facilities

To be honest, whilst facilities need to be adequate and safe, this is the most unimportant aspect of choosing a school. Too often parents are persuaded by “state of the art” facilities, only to find that teachers are under-qualified and lessons poorly planned.

NAS Guangzhou Panyu is one of Guangzhou’s leading schools providing the very best of Chinese, British and international curricula. As part of premium education provider Nord Anglia Education, NAS Guangzhou Panyu offers your child a truly unique international and bilingual learning experience.