Class size, teacher turnover, guidance, fee transparency and clubs: what to ask on an information tour.
Choosing a school is one of the longest-term decisions families make for their children. The sentences you hear on an information tour can be impressive, but asking the right questions is the most reliable way to understand how a school really works. We have compiled the eight questions most often asked of our registration advisers and, in our view, the most valuable.
1. What is the real class size?
"Class size 26" and "average class size 22" are not the same thing. Ask for both the upper limit and today's average.
2. How many years have teachers been at the school?
Teacher turnover affects a child's sense of belonging. Find out the teachers' average tenure and the annual leaving rate.
3. How many people are in guidance, and what do they monitor?
You can ask about the number of students per counsellor and whether services such as developmental monitoring, family meetings and anxiety support programmes are actually delivered.
4. What is included in the fee and what is not?
Ask in writing whether the bus, meals, uniform, books, field trips and summer school are included. Learn the instalment plan and refund conditions before the contract.
5. How does the foreign language programme work?
Weekly hours, the share of foreign teachers and the level assessment method (for example CEFR) show the real intensity of language education.
6. Is there an extracurricular programme?
Clubs, sport, arts and social responsibility activities let a child discover their interests. Ask whether clubs are included in the fee.
7. What happens if my child has learning difficulties?
An individualised support plan, a special education teacher and the practice of working with outside specialists show a school's inclusiveness.
8. How does communication with parents work?
Ask about daily or weekly updates, parent meetings, development reports and quick ways to reach the school in an emergency.
A tip: tour with your child
Take your child on the school tour; watch how they behave in the classroom and how they communicate with teachers and students. The best school is the one where your child feels safe and engaged.
At Menekşe Vadisi College you can book a school tour to get all these questions answered and meet the stage principal and guidance teacher in person.
A small experiment before deciding
If you are visiting more than one school, fill in the same short form for each: class size, teacher tenure, guidance, foreign language hours, total annual cost, extracurricular programme and your child's reaction on the tour. Then score them; emotional impressions matter, but the table protects you from hasty decisions.
Conclusion
The best school is not the most expensive or flashiest one; it is the one that best fits your child's needs, your family's values and your budget. Do not hesitate to ask questions; a good school will gladly answer them.
