Greenleaf Property Developers

Among the many things families who relocate have to bear in mind is the quality of schools in their chosen area.

Indeed, says Martin Schultheiss, CEO of the Homenet estate agency group, the quality of schools may actually be the deciding factor in where a family chooses to settle.

"Children spend a large proportion of their time at school and these institutions obviously play an important role in their formative years. And although most parents are well aware of this fact, it does not necessarily make the choice of school easier, especially when they relocate to a strange new neighbourhood."

He adds that much information may be gleaned from schools' web sites.

"However, web sites may not tell the full story and there really is no substitute for visiting the school in person and meeting the principal and staff."

A personal visit, he says, will give parents an opportunity to observe first-hand any claims made by schools, such as good discipline, dedicated staff and well-maintained grounds.

An interview with the principal can be used to good effect to establish whether the school offers the required subjects, what teacher/learner ratios are, what is expected from learners, what the approach to homework is and what the school excels at, among others.

The extra-curricular programme may give a good indication of where the school's strengths lie and whether this will suit children's interests and temperaments. Some schools, for instance, will place great emphasis on sports, while others may focus more on the arts. A young athlete will probably feel right at home at the former, while a retiring bookworm may feel much more in tune with the latter, Schultheiss says.

The teaching staff's attitude may also reveal much about morale at the school. Parents should try to establish what the annual turnover of staff is and if it seems high, should ask why. They should also ask if teachers are encouraged to further their own training and education.

"Lastly, parents should clearly establish how often the school communicates with parents. Good communication is vital if a school and parents are to be partners in a child's education."

For more information contact Martin Schultheiss on 031 266 9850 or click here to visit the website.