Which school is the best? Public state or private independent?

Choosing the right school for your kids is important, every parent wants the best opportunity for a quality education. It is a job that mums and dads take very seriously. How do they know what is the best school? Although they are full of hope and enthusiasm it is overwhelmingly confusing to differentiate between the many schools on the websites.

Competition with enrolment is rife between the independent school system and the state school system. Their websites show only well presented schools, well worded visionary statements, promises of providing excellent curriculum teaching and extra curricula sports and arts activities. Well meaning friends have the best intentions giving opinions and personal stores.



Choices are made and parents are buoyant that their young kids or teenagers will be happy. But things can go very wrong, even after all the researching. Like a teenager in an independent school or state school unhappy, not fitting in to not learning very well. There is no option but to decide on a shift. Not all kids are suited to the one type of school. The best is up to individuals, we are all different.

What makes a school run well? What makes parents and children happy in a school?



David Gillepsie, is an Australia author who asked this question. In a journal article that appeared in the Australian 'Weekend Magazine' a lot of years ago compared the independent and state school systems. He found that it was not the number ovals or quality of classrooms that made a school, it all boiled down to the effectiveness of the leadership of the principal. Yes, the principal creates the tone for the school, sets teaching standards, the quality of relationships and communication between parents and school and whether students feel belonged or not.

It was a riveting article to read and one that I totally agreed with David Gillepsie. Having worked with many principals I have seen many different personalities and management and leadership styles and I can honestly say that it was the person factor that was the winner. A man or woman who can relate warmly to people and children, crack the whip when necessary, democratically consult with staff and parents and most of all is well liked and respected by the students makes a school great.



To me this is what parents want in a school. But, finding the best school can be a trial and error process. If your young child or teenager is not happy and not achieving with learning, ask questions, listen and make the decision to shift him or her if necessary. Don't muck around. A quality education is worth its weight in gold.