Criteria for choosing a secondary school

After attending primary school, it is now time to choose the right secondary school. Parents and their children have certainly identified various criteria so that the choice of secondary school suits them personally: 

1. Potential of the child 
2. Desired diploma
3. Learning concept 
4. School profile 
5. School size 
6. Full-day or half-day school 

We will go into more detail on the criteria below, some of which have been grouped thematically. 

Potential of the child and desired diploma

Probably the most important criterion is the right type of school, which enables the pupil to be encouraged and challenged. In particular, the potential of the child and the current grade should not be disregarded. This also includes the question of which diploma the school offers. Carefully weighing the advantages and disadvantages of the respective school types is appropriate in order not to stand in the way of school development by over- or under-demanding. 

Learning concepts 

In addition, the school's learning concept is another aspect that needs to be taken into account. In particular, certain independent organizations such as Waldorf or Montessori are very specific, but state schools can also follow different approaches. Just as with the general choice of qualification and type of school, it is also essential to get to know the learning strategies, the requirements, the achievements and the potential of the child in order to select the best possible learning concept. 

School profile 

Another important point for choosing the right school is the respective school profile. For example, some schools offer a linguistic focus, musical focus, while other schools offer a scientific or even sports or artistic focus with appropriate support. At Mentora Gymnasium, we have a STEM education paired with an international orientation. For the final decision on a school profile, the main focus should be on the interests and talents of the child so that they can be encouraged and challenged in their areas of interest. 

School size 

In addition to graduation opportunities and the learning concept, the size of the school and the school community play a role. Grammar schools, integrated secondary schools and community schools all have a different influence on learning behavior. The class size also makes a difference. The larger the number of students in a class, the more contact points there are in and outside of the classroom. Conversely, a small number of students generally leads to smaller class sizes, which in turn influences learning behavior and improves teacher-student interaction. 

Full-day or half-day school 

For some it is conviction, for others a pragmatic criterion. The question of all-day care. Should my child also work at home for school, should they be able to spend the afternoons freely or should they also ask about possible working groups? The length of stay at a school is a hot topic for discussion and an important criterion for many parents when choosing a secondary school.  

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