Relocation with children: Locating schools abroad

Relocating with children is not always easy, but if done correctly, children will adapt quickly. The most common questions are related to locating and registering for educational institutions in various destinations abroad. We have gathered the most important ones to provide you with the full information.

How to locate schools abroad?

When you decide to move to a foreign country, you will need to check out the different educational institutions that exist in the city where you will live and then decide which educational institution provides and meets your children’s needs in different issues such as language, nationality or cultural background.

To get comprehensive information about the schools in the city, we recommend checking out their websites. When there is a company that manages the relocation process, it already takes care of passing on all the information to you, including registration forms and answers to specific questions.

Once I have chosen the educational institution that suits the needs of my children, what is the next step?

With the application for registration to the educational institution (international, bilingual or local) and depending on its popularity, a waiting list is possible. Contacting you soon can help you secure your place. If the child does not speak English, there may be a level classification test for the student, as the date of the test depends on the existing procedure in each educational institution.

Before deciding to enroll in a particular educational institution, it is advisable to make a preliminary visit with the children during the school year, where you will be impressed by the appearance of the school, the behavior of the students and the attitude of the teaching staff and administration.

As long as there is a need to register for an international school – how can a comparison be made with the other schools in the world?

International schools offer an excellent level of education, along with a diverse leisure culture and social life.

It is worthwhile and advisable to ask what were the academic achievements of the school in the past year and get them printed. This is perfectly acceptable, but sometimes there is opposition from the school administration or bureaucratic awkwardness that could delay the process. Using the positioning documents, it is possible to check the ratio of school graduates admitted to universities, and even obtain the names of the universities to which the graduates were admitted, in order to measure the academic standard.

Can my children attend a local school and learn the local language?

Local public schools teach in the local language, and increased language lessons may be offered to students who do not speak their native language. Most often, local schools will teach two additional languages ​​as part of the curriculum. In case you choose a local school, the school will be chosen according to the area of ​​residence. The level of the students will be checked to examine further reinforcement in the language.

For the most part, students are able to integrate into the local school quickly, and the younger the children, the faster the ability to integrate into society and learn the language.

Will my children be tested for admission to an international school?

The entrance exams of schools abroad vary depending on the school and the class to which the students enter.

Children coming from English-speaking countries or from a school system whose main language was English will be exempt from admission, but will be required to have certificates from previous years. Admission exams are done in some schools as part of the admission process.
To understand if your children need an admission test, it is advisable to contact the school directly.

I have heard that waiting lists for international schools are high. What are the chances of securing a place for my children?

Do not let the extensive waiting list deter you. Many families come and go all the time. There will be cases where families will enroll their children in a second priority school while they wait for a vacant place in a school that is their first priority. At the same time, you need to be vigilant and not rest on your laurels. Perform the process as quickly, efficiently and professionally as possible.

You may want to consider enrolling your children in a school far from where you live, because it is more suitable for children, despite the mobility requirements. You can contact the school and ask if there are any students from your area and if there are any shuttles.

My children have special needs, are there schools or centers that can take care of my children’s special needs?

Depending on how special the needs are, there are international schools that can accommodate, but of course there are some that cannot meet the requirements set by the child. To make sure it is advisable to call the school directly and check the issue before enrolling.
Local schools (depending on the area and needs) are tailored to address a wide range of needs.