Welcoming the New Semester - Maxview Realty’s Advice for choosing Schools for Foreigners

Oct. 24, 2010 - PRLog -- One of the greatest concerns for families relocating to Shanghai is finding quality education for their children. China’s semesters usually begin in September and March, so Maxview Realty, a leading online house rental agency, today released a helpful tip list for parents to choose a school for their children. Most parents should find living in Shanghai offers great benefits, giving children rare and valuable exposure to different influences and societies.

Most parents coming to Shanghai have two major educational concerns: whether the educational program available for their children in Shanghai is adequate and whether the schooling matches the requirements of their home country’s educational system. To seek a consistency of the education style and avoid language or culture differences, most parents choose an international school for their children in Shanghai.

Shanghai’s academic standards are generally high, with a good range of international schools to choose from. One of the primary benefits of an international school education is that children will find themselves in smaller classes and a more multicultural environment than they may be used to back home, fostering tolerance and open-mindedness. Since most expat families stay in the city for 1-3 years, students are always coming and going, meaning there should be no worries about being the ”new kid.”

But whether parents are choosing an international or a local school, they should consider the questions below.

Has the school program been accredited or licensed after examination by a relevant outside agency?

Is the school curriculum comprehensive?

Does the school have specialty subjects?

Does the school meet the needs of individual students or is the teaching methodology the same for all students with a focus on rote learning?

Is there an after-school activities program and, if so, what is its defined purpose and curriculum?

Is the use of technology fully integrated into the core curriculum or is it a stand-alone program?

Is there a meaningful professional development program for teachers?

Is there an inter-scholastic athletic or activities program for secondary students?

What provisions are there for student security and safety?

Is the atmosphere within the school supportive, collegial and reinforcing?

Are members of the teaching staff trained, experienced and licensed?

Who owns the school and what is the purpose for its existence?

Do parents have significant involvement in the school’s governance?

Parents should spend some time to get all the answers to the above questions, and ensure 70%-80% of the answers are satisfactory before sending their children. Another point to keep in mind: International schools are always in suburban districts, such as the campuses of the British International School and the Shanghai Community International School, both located in Kangqiao, south of Pudong district.

About Maxview Realty:

Maxview Realty combines local real estate market knowledge with a selected group of experienced real estate experts to provide a full range of real estate consulting services covering research, consulting, valuation, leasing, sales, investment and asset management. Maxview Realty offers value-added services aligned with the business interests of multinational clients throughout Shanghai.

For more information, please contact :

Alex Cureton-Griffiths
Marketing Manager    
Tel: +86 21 3360 7060 ext: 8828  
Email:alex.griffiths@Maxviewrealty.com
Website:www.Maxviewrealty.com

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Maxview combines local real estate market knowledge with a selected group of experienced real estate experts to provide a full range of real estate consulting services covering research, consulting, valuation, leasing,investment and asset management.