3 Key Qualities of an Excellent School

People spend the maximum part of their formative years in school. This is doubly true for students studying at residential schools. As a result, a school is not just the place where people gain academic knowledge. It is the place where their personalities are formed, their ethical and moral values seeded and their passions and abilities nurtured. School is the place where students can find and develop the best version of themselves. For these reasons, it is important for parents and guardians to give every child the best schooling possible. A good school is the first step towards a bright future, both for a child and for the society as a whole.

To help you decide on the perfect school for your ward, some of the important characteristics of a good boarding school have been listed below.

Location: A good boarding school should be located in a relatively secluded and tranquil area, preferably surrounded by nature. This will ensure that students get the peace and tranquility they need to focus on their academic and extra-curricular development. This will also keep students from getting distracted by the typical distractions of urban life – clubs, parties, concerts, etc. The natural surroundings will enable and encourage participation in sports, regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle, which are all quite rare in the modern world.

Academics: While academics are the primary purpose of all schools, surprisingly few get it right most of the time. A good academic environment does not involve rows upon rows of students being forced to memorize chapters from prescribed textbooks. A good school must use academics to develop a thirst for knowledge in its students. The process of learning must be voluntary, with the required help from teachers and other staff. Schools must also encourage students to participate in competitions such as the national and international subject Olympiads. It should also prepare them for competitive exams such as the IIT JEE and NEET, that they might have to face in the future.

Holistic development: Apart from academics, schools must also focus on the holistic development of their students. This is particularly true of residential schools as students spend all their time in these institutions, and must learn everything they can at the school itself. A good school must identify and nurture the inherent talents and abilities of its students. It must encourage them to follow their passions and realize their dreams. After all, schools should be the venue where children develop their best qualities and work on their strengths. A supportive and well-trained staff as well as understanding faculty is necessary to turn a school into a nurturing ground for talents and passions. Extra-curricular activities such as sports, music and the arts must be given stress in the syllabus.

Apart from the abovementioned points, there are many other factors such as infrastructure, curriculum and past results that determine the quality of a school. In order to choose a good boarding school for your ward, you should also try and talk to the ex-students and alumni of any given school. Their advice and opinions about their alma mater might provide you with valuable insight about the institute. To enroll your child in the best boys’ boarding school in Mussoorie or Darjeeling, you should first use the internet to research the most reputed residential schools in the area. The future success and happiness of your child will depend on the accuracy of your analysis and decision.