Page 36 - Education August 2024

CHANGING SCHOOLS:

WHEN TO START LOOKING AT

OTHER OPTIONS

By Mignonne Gerli,
Principal: Abbotts College
Pretoria-East

uch like starting a job and
staying with the company until
Mretirement age is a thing of
the past, so is the idea that one must
attend only one primary school and one
high school during the entirety of one’s
schooling journey, no matter what.

Yes, the ideal, stability, and ability to
form and build lasting friendships during
one’s schooling journey are important.
However, the reality is that the need for
some children to change schools during
their primary and high school years is
becoming more common.

Parents change schools for a myriad of
reasons, including:
• Emigration and semigration,
• Convenience (closer to parent’s new job
or on a transport route),
• Quality of education,
• Class sizes,
• School environment (sense of safety,
issues of bullying) and
• A child’s request for a change.

What is important to note is that There are, however, good and valid reasons You must do your homework when
changing schools is a big decision and one for wanting to change schools, including: finding a new school for your child. Visit
not to be taken lightly. It is important that • The school not dealing with issues prospective schools’ websites, arrange
parents carefully consider and evaluate of bullying and turning a blind eye to a tour of the schools you are interested
reasons for wanting to change schools discipline issues, in and arrive armed with questions to
before doing so. • Your child feeling unsafe at school, ensure that you make the right choice
• Unapproachable teachers, and that there will be no need for
Regarding subject choices, high schools • Little to no communication regarding your another move.
carefully consider what is required for child’s poor performance in assessments,
tertiary studies for the various faculties including the surprise factor when reports
and courses. Even at the tertiary level, are issued,
students will have to take subjects they do • Non-alignment with the school’s values
not necessarily want to, and they will not and policies and
get to mix and match as they like. • Lack of academic focus.

Moving a child because you are concerned If you realise a school is not the right fit for
about their friendship choices is also not your child and family, changing to a new
a good idea. Likeminded people seek each school is best as soon as possible. At Abbotts
other out, and your child will find the College, we enrol students all year round.
same “crowd” within minutes of starting at Support your child in catching up on work
a new school. they did not cover at the previous school. www.abbotts.co.za

Education | August 2024 | 34