We have narrowed it to two schools in Bopal. Fees and distance are similar, and both follow Cambridge. What questions during a second visit gave you useful information — teacher turnover, class size, homework, sports access, communication, or something else?
We made a simple spreadsheet with total annual cost, travel time, class size and what we observed during the visit. It stopped us getting distracted by facilities we would barely use. We found this out only after doing a second school visit. We are in Ahmedabad, so local logistics may be a little different.
We made a simple spreadsheet with total annual cost, travel time, class size and what we observed during the visit. It stopped us getting distracted by facilities we would barely use. We are in Hyderabad and this came up for us last year. I wish we had asked this before paying the registration amount. We made the change gradually rather than all at once.
Can I ask roughly what age/class your child was when you tried this? For us, the admission office answer and the parent answer were not always the same. Your child's response may be different, but this was our experience.
This helps. I am going to add this to the questions for our next visit/meeting. I would still verify it with the school for the current academic year. We are in Lucknow, so local logistics may be a little different.
We made a simple spreadsheet with total annual cost, travel time, class size and what we observed during the visit. It stopped us getting distracted by facilities we would barely use. The biggest surprise was that the practical routine mattered more than the option that looked best on paper. I would still verify it with the school for the current academic year. We are in Thrissur, so local logistics may be a little different.
Did your child take time to adjust, or was the improvement fairly quick? The commute piece changed our final shortlist more than expected. We made the change gradually rather than all at once.
Thank you. I like that this does not require changing everything at once. We found this out only after doing a second school visit. We are in Hyderabad, so local logistics may be a little different.
Same here. The logistics are what make the 'ideal' option difficult in real life. I wish we had asked this before paying the registration amount. In our house, the practical routine mattered more than the ideal plan.
This is close to what my spouse is suggesting too. I may have been overcomplicating it. We found this out only after doing a second school visit. We made the change gradually rather than all at once.
We made a simple spreadsheet with total annual cost, travel time, class size and what we observed during the visit. It stopped us getting distracted by facilities we would barely use. I wish we had asked this before paying the registration amount. Your child's response may be different, but this was our experience.
We tried something similar once, but probably gave up too early. How long did you continue before judging it? For us, the admission office answer and the parent answer were not always the same. I would still test it for a short period before making a long commitment.
That is reassuring. We are trying to avoid making this a bigger issue than it needs to be. I wish we had asked this before paying the registration amount. We made the change gradually rather than all at once.
Replying to @deepthi_k
This is helpful for us too. The commute piece changed our final shortlist more than expected. In our house, the practical routine mattered more than the ideal plan.
Interesting — we had assumed the opposite. Helpful to hear a first-hand experience. We found this out only after doing a second school visit. Your child's response may be different, but this was our experience.
This helps. I am going to add this to the questions for our next visit/meeting. I would still verify it with the school for the current academic year. We are in Kochi, so local logistics may be a little different.
That is reassuring. We are trying to avoid making this a bigger issue than it needs to be. I would still verify it with the school for the current academic year. In our house, the practical routine mattered more than the ideal plan.
Replying to @ev3881
Understood. I will check this before we decide. The commute piece changed our final shortlist more than expected. In our house, the practical routine mattered more than the ideal plan.
We made a simple spreadsheet with total annual cost, travel time, class size and what we observed during the visit. It stopped us getting distracted by facilities we would barely use. Our child reacted better once we explained the change in advance instead of announcing it on the day. I wish we had asked this before paying the registration amount. We are in Visakhapatnam, so local logistics may be a little different.
This is close to what my spouse is suggesting too. I may have been overcomplicating it. I would still verify it with the school for the current academic year. I would still test it for a short period before making a long commitment.
Good point about asking for the details in writing. I had not thought of that. I wish we had asked this before paying the registration amount. I would still test it for a short period before making a long commitment.
Could you share what you would do differently if you were starting again? I would still verify it with the school for the current academic year. I would still test it for a short period before making a long commitment.
Do a second visit on a normal working day if the school allows it. Open-house days can feel very different from the everyday atmosphere. We found this out only after doing a second school visit. Your child's response may be different, but this was our experience.
We made a simple spreadsheet with total annual cost, travel time, class size and what we observed during the visit. It stopped us getting distracted by facilities we would barely use. I would still verify it with the school for the current academic year. I would still test it for a short period before making a long commitment.
I agree with this. Once we reduced the number of moving parts, everyone became calmer. For us, the admission office answer and the parent answer were not always the same. We made the change gradually rather than all at once.
We made a simple spreadsheet with total annual cost, travel time, class size and what we observed during the visit. It stopped us getting distracted by facilities we would barely use. The biggest surprise was that the practical routine mattered more than the option that looked best on paper. We found this out only after doing a second school visit. In our house, the practical routine mattered more than the ideal plan.