Spring is rapidly approaching, and it is that time of the year when a young person’s fancy turns to thinking about school for the following year. This is especially so for those in Year 6 who are about to set off on their next big education adventure, but it is even relevant for teachers who are contemplating new positions and new locations.
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Year 6 students have probably already had their minds made up for them by their parents or caregivers, but I assume that all good parents would have discussed their choice with their son or daughter. After all, it is the student who will in all probability spend the next six years in the chosen school, and students need to have confidence that the school they will be going to will be the right one for them.
So here are some tips for the students to make sure that they feel that the school is right.
Firstly, it is important in making the big jump from Year 6 into Year 7 that students will have friends going with them or that they know students already in the chosen school. Even if the school is familiar to the Year 6 student, day one in high school is not as stressful if there is a friendship group starting at the same time. Fortunately in the Southern Highlands there are good transition processes from primary school to high school, especially with the local public schools, and lots of Year 6 students have visited their chosen high school and enjoyed activities there.
For students who don’t have that benefit, the chosen school will have processes that have been communicated to parents about how new students are made welcome and how they can be connected to other students.
Secondly, the right school will have open communication that enables students and parents to find out about the teaching and learning that occurs from the start of Year 7. All good schools these days have lots of this information on their websites, and many have links that enable students and parents to download subject and course information. The best schools talk about how they support student learning for all abilities, and some will have significant material that can help guide students to control their own learning, such as having the scope and sequence of what will be taught and learnt throughout the whole academic year. Google school websites and check them out – the right school will have a friendly website that has lots of links to help students and parents.
Thirdly, the right school is one that feels welcoming when you walk into it the first time. Not just at the front office but when walking around there are students that greet you and help you find your way around. Spaces for students are important, not just for playing handball or touch football but also for sitting comfortably outside and chatting with friends. Schools are the social hub for many young people and a good school will have outdoor furniture in shaded and protected areas. Check them out on Google Earth!
The right school can also be the one where students can walk or ride their bike to school. I always feel sorry for students who have to spend valuable time sitting on a school bus, although the local bus drivers are great. Incidental fitness comes from walking or riding, and young people can meet up and chat before and after school, developing their social skills.
The right school also has teachers and support staff who are keen to help every student learn. From my observation of many schools, every school has staff who want students to do their best, but some are able to engage students more effectively. Students generally know which teachers best suit them, and high school allows all students to have a variety of teachers every day.
Teachers also give thought at this time of the year as to what might be the right school for them. If they are happy in their current school and getting lots of opportunities for professional growth, then that can be the right school. If they are young and have been teaching for only five or six years, it might be time to think of applying to teach in a different school. No two schools are the same and moving to another school can provide insights into how other schools operate and how resources can be used for effective teaching and learning in alternative ways. The right teachers learn a lot from each other so the more they meet a bigger group of professionals, the more they will be exposed to innovative ideas and processes.
The right school for teachers might be in a new town or region. The teacher grapevine can be useful in finding out about other schools, but teachers can also check out school websites and the MySchool website for helping to discover if a different school might be the right one for them.
It is important that all students and all teachers feel that the school they have chosen is right for them. When that is the case, great things will happen for all members of the school community.
