When expatriates move to new countries to start a new life, one of their first challenges is to decide where their children will go to school. This may also be on your mind if you’ve recently uprooted to live in a country like Singapore. Even if your children were away from their home country—and thus form a standard of schooling that all of you are familiar with—you would still want them to get a good education. You’ll also want the kind of education that best reflects your family’s emerging lifestyle—one that prioritizes open-mindedness but also a sense of connection to the culture you already know.
You may be able to find what you’re looking for in international school in Singapore since a large chunk of the student population in international schools consists of ex-pat children, and the curricula are designed for kids of diverse backgrounds. Personal achievement, community, and cultural enrichment all go hand in hand with the unique environment of an international school. For these reasons, your child may grow to enjoy their international school experience, and your family will be thankful that you pursued it.
Below is a list of the top five ways that international schools support the ex-pat lifestyle. Consider these when choosing between a Singapore international boarding school or a conventional day school arrangement for your child.
They Offer a Familiar Standard of Education for Expat Children
One good thing about sending your child to an international school is that, from the outset, there will be several elements in their education that are already familiar to you. The first is English as the standard medium of instruction. The second is internationally accredited educational pedagogies, like the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) programs. At an international school, you won’t worry about securing a world-class education for your child—the curriculum is already designed for it.
They Help Expat Children Broaden Their Worldview
Though you may want some familiarity with your child’s educational experience, you may also want them to grow up with a broader worldview. After all, the chance to expand your horizons is probably something you sought for yourself and the rest of your family when you left your country of origin. An international school is a great place for your child to become a good global citizen. Under the international school curriculum that they will learn under, as well as the friendships that they will develop with kids from other cultures, your child could grow up to be as inquisitive, empathetic, and community-oriented as you’d hoped for them to be.
They Promise a Well-Rounded and Exciting School Life for Ex-pat Kids
You might equate an international school with academic rigour, but in truth, most international schools also put a premium on social enrichment and extracurricular activities. If you hope for your child to get more interested in sports, music, the creative arts, foreign languages, and other such disciplines and diversions, international schools will offer them great opportunities. There’s no dearth of athletic teams or clubs that they can join, and they may even have the chance to go on study tours or join competitions overseas. An international school is a great choice for a well-rounded school life that doesn’t centre completely on academics.
They Bolster Chances of Admission into Top International Colleges and Universities
An international school education—especially one that incorporates a standardized program like IB or AP—will also leverage your child’s chances of getting into top colleges and universities across the globe. You can help them attain the prestige of studying in a highly ranked institute of higher learning, and you can pave the way for them to succeed in their career. Given that international schools also encourage independence and self-determination, you will see these values blossom in your child before they head to college or university. This will make for a rewarding educational experience for them, as well as a fulfilling life abroad for the rest of your family.
They Allow Parents to Network with Other Ex-pat Families
The international school experience is also a very sociable one—for parents as well as for children. You may get the opportunity to make friends with fellow parents, many of whom will also be expatriates. That means that you and your children can bond with other families about the ex-pat life, and you can maintain a network of support amongst yourselves. That will surely make your life abroad a little less lonely and a little more colourful. Consider doing more than attending your child’s parent-teacher conferences or special school events—volunteer for the parents’ association, befriend other parents and share your family life with them.
Final Words: Choose the School That Best Supports Your Ex-patriate Lifestyle
Though international schools will have these five experiences in common, one school may be better for your child than the others. Choose according to your child’s needs, as well as those of your family. For example, if you intend to follow your child to your new destination country, seek out international schools with boarding facilities.
The ex-pat lifestyle looks different for everybody, but those differences will be celebrated at an international school. Look for a good school for your child, and ensure that their educational experience includes all the best things about studying abroad!
