Welcome
to Slovenia

As parents, you will want to know what planned activities are in place to assist your child in a positive start to school. These can often be in the form of a settling-in period or having a ‘buddy’ system in place for your child when joining. Also, do the students seem happy at school? It is important to have an understanding as to how the school measures progress and how often you will receive information on this. If your child has additional educational needs, how can the school meet these and what general levels of care and support are offered to students at the schools? Children need to be at the centre of all that a school does.

It is not uncommon for parents to choose their school first and then decide where to live. Ask to speak to some staff or the Principal, look beyond buildings and facilities to the heart of the school.

Longevity and an ability to continue delivering successful educational outcomes for students are areas that parents may wish to focus on; a good track record can reassure many parents that the chosen school can deliver on its promises.

One of the first decisions a parent will have to make is whether you wish for your child to follow the British curriculum with future IGCSE and A Level examinations or choose a school that follows a different programme. Schools should publish their examination results, and these are a good indicator of student success.

Ask about Extra-Curricular and Co-Curricular Activities which are an excellent opportunity to enhance learning and can often be academic, creative and sporting. They also offer a means for students to discover new interests and develop existing skills.

Great teachers will be key in delivering the best education to your children; it is important that they are well-qualified, experienced and competent classroom practitioners. As parents you must be confident as to what the expectations for staff are regarding behaviour and conduct, as well as learning expectations.

It is important that during your visit you are able to see teachers in action in the classroom.

Find out what matters to the school - to the Principal and the staff. Ask what are the school’s values but, more importantly, how do they make these real and authentic, and how does the school develop children’s character.

International schools are also a community, as many of those attending will not have the support networks family and friends can provide in their home country. Many schools have Parent-Teacher associations or ‘Friends of’ networks that can enable you to become a partner in your child's learning and offer opportunities for you to contribute to the school by sharing your own skills, knowledge and time in support of the school and the community.

All schools are different; they have their own 'personalities', generating a particular feeling or atmosphere, which goes way beyond a simple analysis of the curriculum offered, number and range of after-school clubs or examination success. These factors are, of course, important, but there is often more to making the decision. This is why visits, taster days or attending an open day will allow you to make an informed choice as to what is best for you and your family.