Finding an international school may seem like a daunting task however with a few tips mentioned below, your search for the best international and Montessori schools in Pune will seem quite easy.
A Little Bit About International Schools and Montessori Schools in Pune
There are many international schools in Pune and most of these schools follow the CBSE curriculum as a standard curriculum.
These schools are private entities that are not funded by the government. These schools are accredited by the authority of education for that state or the governing body of education.
These private schools have created their own pedagogical approaches to create a modern curriculum to match the global standards.
Montessori schools in Pune are schools that follow the Maria Montessori method of education which aims to provide children the independence and the self-initiation skills to learn concepts with their own efforts. It is a world renowned curriculum followed by some of the best schools across the globe.
1. Research the School in Question
The first thing you can do is to visit the school’s website and take a good look at the school’s vision, mission, curriculum, teaching practices, facilities, safety, and if the campus is technologically enabled to be in line with the current practices.
There are other important aspects like student-teacher ratio, programs to help teachers upgrade their learning methods, enough initiatives to make children understand their community, environment and other crucial awareness programs.
Bridge programs to bridge the gap if a student joins in the middle of an academic session. You should also check if the school hires the right teachers and faculty who have the skills to teach the curriculum.
2. Check if the School Is Accredited by Their Respective Education Governing Bodies
You can check the authenticity of the school by verifying the accreditation of the school to its governing body. For example, if the school is a CBSE affiliated school, then it should be accredited to the Central Board of Secondary Education and should have the right credentials to prove the same.
The accredited number is usually mentioned in the website of every school. Once you confirm this, you will rest assured that the school will follow the guidelines of the governing body and will fulfil all its obligations as a responsible educational inst
3. Check if the School is Associated With an International Educational Organisation
Many schools have affiliations with international educational institutions. This will mean that the school meets all the criteria to be a member of that institution.
Such schools will also have an international mindset and will include lessons in their curriculum that is in lieu with the global education system.
Being a part of an international network will also enable the students of the school to take part in exchange programs that can be a great opportunity to enhance their educational outcomes.
4. Visit the Campus and Talk to the Faculty
You will get a clear understanding of the facilities offered when you choose to visit the campus. You can gauge how safe and secure the school surroundings are and if there are any spaces in the school that can be hazardous to young children.
There should be high raised railings and staircases that are built according to the regulations. You can also check if the school provides sports facilities and other extracurricular spaces that are usually mentioned in the website.
You can talk to the teachers and the faculty to understand if they follow an open communication policy and if they use the right methods of teaching inside the classrooms.
A school that follows an open door policy for parents is usually a good option. You should also remember that schools should regularly hold parent teacher conferences in order to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of a child and the possible ways to help them overcome it.
5. Check if the School Has Got Inspected by Government Authorities
This is also another crucial point to remember. All private international schools in Pune and public schools have a certain set of rules to follow in terms of norms and standards, including infrastructure norms, minimum teacher qualifications, pupil- teacher ratios and curricular standards.
The authority of development of schools for that particular state or city will ensure that the school is following all the standards and the security protocols that have been laid down by conducting inspections.
6. Teaching Pedagogy Followed
This is by far an important feature you should definitely look into while searching for international schools. What once used to be the best practices for teaching by learning concepts and theories from books has now changed drastically.
Schools now understand the importance of involving the students in every step of learning. They are no longer treated as children who need to follow strict rules and only accept what the teacher is imparting to them.
The learning methods are now more collaborative and children get a chance to form opinions and voice them without the fear of being ridiculed by the teachers.
Teachers teach concepts by helping children self-initiate through project based learning, research, group discussions, etc.
This is important to allow children to get the courage to reason with these concepts and understand from where it has been derived and how best to apply these to the current situation.
7. Holistic Curriculum
Most parents understand the need for a holistic curriculum. Some children may have a high academic inclination while some may be inclined towards sports or other extra and co-curricular activities.
Therefore, a school should have a holistic curriculum that is well-balanced to help children work upon their other interests apart from core academics. This will enable each child to distinguish his strengths and weaknesses and also raise his confidence levels.
Every child wants to be unique and this aspect can be further enhanced by giving them an encouraging environment to hone their skills effectively.
Extracurricular activities and co-curricular activities are known to impart key skills like interpersonal skills, critical thinking skills , problem solving skills and team building skills.
8. Technologically Enabled Environment
We rely on technology like online education, apps, websites, and other social media platforms to share knowledge and use new methods of teaching and learning.
Therefore it is important for the school to enable children to pick skills in a tech-enabled environment. A school should have all the basic infrastructure like smart classrooms, labs, and other technological facilities in regard to safety and security.
Conclusion
These are some ways in which we can make sure we have left no stone unturned to find the best international school in Pune for our child. A good school will be transparent with its methodologies and will encourage a diverse set of values and cultures.
