How To Move Schools Successfully? Advice To Parents

This guide will provide valuable advice on how to move schools successfully, addressing everything from the initial research phase. With these tips in mind, you can ensure a smooth transition for your child on their first day.

Table Of Contents
  1. Why Would You Want Your Child To Move Schools?
  2. How Does Changing Schools Impact Your Children?
  3. How To Move Schools? Tips for Choosing the Right School?
  4. Equipping Your Child for a Successful Move with UNIS Hanoi

Why Would You Want Your Child To Move Schools?

It’s a big decision to move your child to a new school. There are several reasons why a parent might consider this step.

Why Would You Want Your Child To Move Schools?
  • Relocation for a job or family: A change in family circumstances, such as a job relocation, may necessitate a school transfer to ensure proximity to the new residence.
  • Financial constraints: The decision to move to a private school from a public school is informed by financial considerations such as scholarships or changes in income.
  • Your current school doesn’t serve your child’s needs: A transfer may be necessary if the present setting lacks resources or programs that address individual learning styles and needs of a child, for example, gifted programs or special needs support.
  • Bullying and safety issues: If bullying goes on at your child’s current school without adequate protection measures, choosing another school that has an effective anti-bullying policy and concentrates on student safety might be essential.

How Does Changing Schools Impact Your Children?

Changing schools means that everything will need adjusting, especially for children. It means new friends, teachers, routines, and environments. Here’s how moving schools can positively impact your children:

How Does Changing Schools Impact Your Children?
  • Opportunities to Develop and Progress: Changing schools can expose children to new teaching styles and advanced curriculums, potentially accelerating their learning and fostering intellectual growth.
  • New Relationships and Friendships: A new school environment provides opportunities to build new friendships and expand social circles, fostering important social development skills.
  • Enhance Adaptability Skills: The process of adjusting to a new school environment strengthens a child’s ability to adapt to change, which is a valuable skill for future academic and professional endeavours.
  • More Happiness and Engagement: A positive new school environment with supportive peers and teachers can increase a child’s overall happiness and engagement in learning.
  • New CoCurricular Activities, Subjects and Interests: Exposure to a wider variety of cocurricular activities, subjects, and interests at a new school can spark a child’s curiosity and ignite new passions.
  • Lifelong Learning Passion: Successfully navigating a school change can instil a love of learning and a growth mindset that encourages children to embrace challenges and seek knowledge throughout their lives.
  • Better Academic Performance: In some cases, a change in schools can lead to improved academic performance due to a more suitable learning environment, better teacher-student ratios, or a focus on specific strengths.

So how to move schools smoothly? Our next section provides a checklist for choosing the suitable school for your children.

How To Move Schools? Tips for Choosing the Right School?

Some tips that are useful for choosing the right school for your child and will help you make an informed decision.

  1. Locate the school
  2. Support availability for students with learning challenges and gifted programmes
  3. Offer a variety of subjects
  4. Provide a range of cocurricular activities, including sports and arts
  5. Apply teaching methodologies
  6. Determine class sizes
  7. Calculate expenses for transferring your child
  8. Ensure pastoral care and well-being programmes
  9. Evaluate the school’s academic performance
  10. Analyse previous inspection reports
  11. Gather reputation insights through reviews
  12. Collect insights from parents and students about switching schools
  13. Check extended care services availability
How To Move Schools? Tips for Choosing the Right School?

1. Locate the school.

Moving schools often starts with finding the schools located in your area.

A close-by school minimises commute times and allows for easier participation in after-school activities. Some areas have designated schools based on your address, while others offer more choices.

If transportation is required, research the efficiency and safety of bus routes or carpool options.

2. Support availability for students with learning challenges and gifted programmes.

Can the school accommodate the needs of your son or daughter? Ask if there are IEPs (Individualised Education Plans) or any other learning supports for kids with special needs. Schools that have well-established departments in special education will have qualified personnel who can come up with personalised learning strategies to guarantee your child’s success.

For academically talented children, consider schools offering special programmes that provide enrichment and challenge. Such programmes of study may include fast-paced coursework, opportunities for individual research as well as engagement in academic contests.

3. Offer a variety of subjects.

How to move schools involves making sure that a new school has a variety of course subjects aligned with the interests and academic objectives of your child. A strong curriculum should contain basic subjects like mathematics, science, language arts, and social studies.

Moreover, search for schools that go beyond the core requirements by offering courses such as foreign languages, computer science, or electives in visual arts, music, or theatre. This will enable your kid to realise his/her areas of interest and passions.

4. Provide a range of cocurricular activities, including sports and arts.

Opportunities for students who participate in cocurricular activities are an opportunity to develop their social skills, discover passions, and create a well-rounded resume. Find schools that offer diverse types of cocurricular events including sports, clubs as well as arts.

Provide a range of cocurricular activities, including sports and arts.

Whether your child is drawn to athletics, theatre, debate, or robotics, it is important to find a school with varied programmes.

5. Apply teaching methodologies.

Teaching styles can significantly impact a student’s learning experience. Research the school’s teaching methodologies to see if the school utilises traditional lectures, inquiry-based learning, project-based learning, or a blended approach.

Does the teaching style align with your child’s learning preferences? Consider if the school incorporates technology into the classroom and how teachers assess student progress.

6. Determine class sizes.

Class size is a key factor to consider when selecting a new educational institution. Smaller class sizes often allow for more individualised attention from teachers which benefits students who may require additional assistance or prefer a more interactive learning environment.

Determine class sizes.

On the other hand, bigger classes encourage learners’ independence; thus they own their learning process. When judging class sizes at different schools, think about your child’s personality and learning style.

7. Calculate expenses for transferring your child.

The financial implications of changing schools can be substantial.

Evaluate factors such as fee structures, uniform costs, textbooks, clubs or societies’ expenses for parents to pay including transportation fare and any other charges for clubs and special programmes. Some schools may offer financial aid or scholarships, so be sure to inquire about these options.

8. Ensure pastoral care and well-being programmes.

Children usually find it hard when they transfer schools. Find schools with a strong pastoral support and well-being system that emphasizes student well-being above everything else.

Ensure pastoral care and well-being programmes.

These approaches could include advisers, social workers or specific personnel that students can turn to when they are having difficulties navigating their way through this stage of their lives.

Additionally, some institutions have policies in place that help create a safe school environment for all students where bullying is prohibited while maintaining communication avenues between learners and parents.

9. Evaluate the school’s academic performance.

To be sure, academic performance is a key factor to consider when going to a different school. Inquire about standardised test scores, graduation rates, and college admission rates at schools you are thinking of.

Evaluate the school's academic performance.

However, it’s also important to delve deeper and look into the school’s curriculum, teaching methods, and special programmes offered. This includes considering whether your child’s learning style matches the philosophy of education advocated in the school curriculum.

10. Analyse previous inspection reports.

Moving school often involves a period of research to identify the best fit for your child. One valuable resource is inspection reports from government or accrediting bodies.

These show areas where schools perform best and poorest such as curriculum issues; infrastructure; and student welfare/happiness. When thoroughly examined these can provide an objective view of how well a given educational institution performed while taking into account its fit concerning children’s needs as well as yours.

11. Gather reputation insights through reviews.

Online reviews can offer valuable insights into a school’s environment and culture beyond the data presented in inspection reports.

Gather reputation insights through reviews.

Find websites or other interactive platforms where parents and students can post their opinions. Look out for consistent ideas across posts which are favourable or not so good. Students’ reviews will give you insight into things like a school’s culture, student-teacher relationships, and general ambiance of learning.

12. Collect insights from parents and students about switching schools.

Consider talking to parents in your network whose children attend schools that interest you. By speaking to parents who have been there, one can obtain valuable insights about how the school operates daily and the quality of its programmes.

Furthermore, if your child has friends attending a school that you are thinking about, discuss with them what it is like to make your kid less anxious about transitioning into another place.

13. Check extended care services availability.

Moving schools also involves considering logistical aspects like after-school care. Several schools offer after-school care programmes for parents who need supervision for their kids after normal school hours.

You should also look into whether such services exist. How much do they cost? What activities does it involve? Who works as the staff?

How To Prepare For Your Child When Moving Schools

Here are some steps to guide you on how to move schools and make the process easier for your child:

How To Prepare For Your Child When Moving Schools
  • Facilitate positive reminiscing: Create a journal with your child highlighting cherished memories from their previous school to ease the transition.
  • Maintain existing connections: Compile a contact list of close friends from the old school to enable your child to stay in touch.
  • Bridge the geographical gap: Share your new home address with your child’s former friends to facilitate communication and potential future visits.
  • Organise a farewell celebration: Plan a virtual or in-person farewell gathering for your child to connect with departing friends one last time.
  • Schedule future reunions: Plan regular weekend trips back to visit old friends, fostering the continuation of those important relationships.
  • Ensure proper school uniform: Obtain the necessary school uniform for your child at the new school to ensure a smooth integration into their new environment.

By doing this, you will prepare your child adequately enough for an easy transition to another school.

Equipping Your Child for a Successful Move with UNIS Hanoi

When it comes to how to move schools, the process entails much, but by following these steps and remaining supportive, you can equip your child for a positive transition. Ingredients needed for success are openness in communication, preparedness, and an optimistic attitude.

Equipping Your Child for a Successful Move with UNIS Hanoi

Is your child ready to take the next step? UNIS Hanoi – an international school in Hanoi, has an outstanding learning environment that can smoothen their transition. The International Baccalaureate (IB) programme develops critical thinking skills, global citizenship, and lifelong learning. UNIS Hanoi is not just a school but rather a vibrant community where your child can make friends, discover new interests or passions, and excel academically. Schedule a tour today and learn why UNIS Hanoi puts power back in children’s lives!

Reference source:

  • Michelle Roberts. Helping your child when they are changing schools. Retrieved from The Trauma and Grief Network: https://earlytraumagrief.anu.edu.au/files/Schooltransition-1.pdf

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UNIS Communication Team
UNIS Communication Team
UNIS Hanoi is ever-evolving, but one thing that remains is our passion to nurture and equip students to be agents of change for a better world.
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