Done with "O" Level: Here's how to choose the best school for A level.

By Nhlalwenhle Ncube

It's every parent's dream to make the right choice of sending their child to the best school, public or private.Any parent will find moving a child to high school quite stressful because none wants to make a mistake which might cost their child's future. The good thing is, through preparation and research such fears can be alleviated.

There is no such thing as a one size fits all approach when choosing the best school for your child. Let's face it, what makes a school perfect for your neighbor or friend's child, may not necessarily make it a perfect choice for yours.

Your child's strengths, career aspirations, family circumstances and vision will contribute differently to your choice of schools. Before you even start listing schools to consider, the first step is to take time to list your child's personality, learning strengths, family values, budget and consider if he/she must go to a boarding or day school. Keep your list and refer back to it throughout the research process.

Do not forget some points which may not be quite essential, but would be a bonus to find out throughout your research. Research thoroughly, this can not be said enough. As a parent, remember to involve your child in the school search process as much as you can. Most times you find that there are schools which have always been in your mind - make sure you research on your own and not just rely on other people's experiences.

Never make the mistake of overlooking the general considerations such as school location, philosophy, vision, pass rate, school fees, development facilities and extracurricular activities. Knowing the extracurricular activities helps in knowing if there will be chances for your child to join clubs or develop their character by taking part in activities outside of the classroom which in future can be considered as a pursuable career path.

A school's academic record is one of the factors that can influence how well your child will do at secondary school. Do not get fooled by the saying, "All schools are the same, its all about the child's seriousness."

Check how the school has improved its academic results over the years, curriculum and general results of arts and sports. Even the general discipline of pupils at each school counts and in most cases the way they behave in public reflects the school's picture and bullying rate or policy. After getting your first hand information, narrow down your choices using your priority list as a guide. Remember, applying to at least three schools to broaden your choice in case of an unfavorable response.

Chances are that there are a number of schools that could be an appropriate fit for your child, even online applications for public boarding schools gives you three options. Remember, choosing a secondary school for your child is one of the most important decisions you ever have to make for your child in shaping his/her future.