A Blueprint for Excellence: Indicators of Outstanding Education

 In a world where almost every school claims it offers outstanding education, how can a parent assess which school is telling the truth? There are ways.

 In Dubai, for instance, you can use the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) Dubai School Inspection Bureau (DSIB) rating. The KHDA is a government agency that regulates and sets standards for private school education in Dubai, and the DSIB is its school inspection arm.

 Suppose you want to know how good of an education you will get at GEMS Wellington Academy. An easy way would be to go to the KHDA website, search for GEMS Wellington Academy and learn about its KHDA DSIB rating (which is 'Very Good', in case you’re curious).

 Below are factors you can use to assess the quality of education offered by your school of interest. The list of factors below is non-exhaustive, but it should still help point you in the right direction. 

1.  Accreditation Reports

There are regulatory agencies, private or public, whose sole mission is to ensure education quality and regulate the education sector. The KHDA in Dubai is an example. Thus, if you're searching for a school in Dubai, your first stop should be the KHDA website to see how the school you’re considering fared in the latest KHDA DSIB inspection.

You don’t have to rely on the report of a single agency, either. International schools often join global school associations and voluntarily undergo accreditation programs.

 For instance, if you're considering a British school, look for accreditation from the U.K. government, specifically the British Schools Overseas (BSO) report. This indicates that the school has voluntarily subjected itself to an inspection by the British government's education regulation agency. The BSO report will also tell you if the school fulfils the standards expected of a British curriculum school.

 You may also look for a school’s Council of British International Schools (COBIS) report. This indicates the school has COBIS accreditation, and the report will tell you how well the school adheres to set educational quality standards. 

2.  Arts Education

Did you know that artistic endeavours positively influence academic performance? A longitudinal study by Ishiguro et al. in 2023 followed seventh-grade students for two years. It reveals that music and visual arts activities, particularly improvements in music and visual arts scores, positively correlate to general academic performance.

 This is not the only scholarly report out there that says arts education has a positive impact on academic performance. Decades of study provide evidence of this positive association.

All in all, students involved in creative pursuits such as visual and performing arts do better academically. They show improved reading, maths, verbal communication, higher-order thinking, reasoning, and hypothesising skills. They perform well in standardised tests.

 

Why Arts Mean Better Academic Performance

There are many reasons why art education leads to improved academic performance.

 

●     Art education fosters creative problem-solving. It encourages learners to approach challenges from unique perspectives and devise innovative solutions. This approach not only keeps them engaged; it also nurtures creative problem-solving which is a vital skill that they can apply to their academic journey.

●      Art classes serve as a vibrant medium for visualising complex concepts. Abstract theories or challenging subject matter can be illustrated through art, rendering them more accessible and easier to comprehend. Art instruction also enhances a spectrum of skills—from motor and language skills to social abilities, decision-making, risk-taking, and inventiveness—all of which can lead to academic performance improvements.

●     Visual and performing arts also help develop students’ presentation skills. Learning about colour, layout, perspective, and balance has direct applicability in creating compelling academic work. Body language, vocal register, pitch, volume, and verbal and non-verbal communication skills learned through performing, meanwhile, help students communicate their ideas better.

●     Art education cultivates critical thinking, encouraging students to be more observant and thorough in their perception of the world. It is inclusive, as it offers challenges suitable for all learning levels. It also lets students form connections with their own culture and gain exposure to a broader global perspective, promoting tolerance and empathy and equipping students with the mindset to help them thrive in a constantly evolving and increasingly diverse world.

 

What This Means to Parents

Since artistic and creative activities help students excel, look for a school that does not only offer regular art classes but seamlessly and successfully integrates the arts with other disciplines.

 You’re looking for visual and performing arts extracurricular activities. A school should have interdisciplinary subjects that enable students to draw from their artistic and creative knowledge and skills to enhance their academic performance.

 Ideally, you want a school that does not offer art as an alternative but as an integral part of its curriculum. Schools that provide visual and performing arts student pathways actively and vigilantly nurture the artistic and creative inclinations of their students.

 3.  Graduated Approach

Students are individual learners, and while most can thrive with standard educational approaches, some will inevitably fall behind. This is why you want a school with a graduated approach to learning.

 Such a school operates from the premise that students have individual needs and barriers to learning. Thus, teachers are willing to customise and tailor lessons, curriculum content, instruction, and methods according to individual requirements.

 These educational establishments go beyond differentiating a curriculum. When necessary, they provide short-term interventions and devise time-bound, customised education plans to help students learn and mitigate their blockers.

 When students need long-term educational support, the school crafts and implements specialised educational programmes for individual learners, providing special needs education as and when needed to ensure inclusivity and education that fits every student's needs and learning style.

 You can read about the graduated approach by going to the portal for online enrolment by GEMS Wellington Academy Silicon Oasis and navigating to the graduated approach section of its curriculum. 

Give Your Child the Best Education

Excellent education goes beyond grades and the percentage of college admission passers. It equips and prepares students so they can thrive beyond the school environment.

 To assess a school’s ability to provide excellent education, check its accreditation, visual and performing arts education programme, and approach to learners’ individual and special needs.

 AUTHOR BIO

Jinky Elizan is a content writer for SEO Sherpa. She has more than 15 years of experience in producing content for SEO, inbound marketing and link building as well as in creating copy for web pages and social media. She also develops WordPress websites.