Decision Time: Choosing the Right School

When she first moved from Australia to Shanghai two years ago, Bronwyn Bowery-Ireland had such a hard time choosing a school for her two sons that she finally set up a classroom at home.

 “I started looking at international schools, but I didn't want them to be in an isolated community where they didn't connect with the local Chinese community. The price was so enormous as well, I couldn’t understand why,” says Bowery-Ireland, who spent three months searching for a school. 

To add to her difficulties, the problem with local schools was that her older son Hamish, who was 10 at the time, didn’t have any Chinese language training.

“In the end I couldn’t find anywhere that aligned with my values, and that would cater to both of my children at our price point. So, I employed three Chinese teachers and we had home schooling for six months.”

Choosing a school is one of the most important decisions a parent has to make. And with a wide range of local and international options, and the large spectrum of students from different backgrounds and education systems, the selection process can certainly be difficult.

 “Expatriate families usually stay in Shanghai for two to four years, on average. That’s enough change as it is, so being confident in the school you choose is important,” says Terry Creissen, the British International School’s leading principal.

Although it’s difficult to measure, finding out how a school helps students feel comfortable in their education environment can help parents with their selection. Creissen says that in most of the conversations he has with parents, the same concern is often brought up.

“The one thing that’s usually predominant in my conversations with parents is they want to know how well their children will settle in the school, whether it’s easy to make friends and they want to know their children will be happy and safe,” he says.