Manila, Philippines Report of what it's like to live there - 03/04/14
Personal Experiences from Manila, Philippines
School Name:
The King\\\'s School Manila
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
Parent.
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
Kindergarten, 2nd grade, and 4th grade.
3. During what years were you affiliated with this school?
2013-2014.
4. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
My husband is with the U.S. Embassy.
5. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
I was looking for an alternative to ISM, and I was impressed with the class schedule and the reputation of other schools within the British Schools Foundation.
Admissions & Welcome:
1. Are the admissions and placement procedures clearly stated to prospective families, either on the school website or through other means of communication?
A
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
A
Administration & School Procedures:
1. For the following attributes, down to the next blank box, grade your experience at the school on a scale of A (excellent) to F (unacceptable/terrible) and provide comments:<br><br>Overall fair and equitable treatment of all students and families:
A
2. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
A:
Excellent. This is by far the best school we've attended with regards to communication. The school has a portal set up that is similar to facebook, and teachers post daily information and even photos of what the class is doing. I have easily contacted teachers during school days via e-mail, and there are the parent/teacher meetings, reports sent home (actual paragraphs written about your child's progress, not just a checkmark), and monthly coffee mornings.
3. Availability and variety of after-school activities for various ages:
A:
The school currently only runs through grade 7. The grades offered will increase each year of operation. Right now, everyone seems content with the activities offered.
4. Maintenance of appropriately high standards for all students:
A:
The children each have individual targets they work towards. I'm very impressed with the teachers' ability to challenge each individual student, especially when there is such a vast difference in the abilities of students within one grade.
5. Homework assigned (quality, quantity):
A
6. Administration-parent communication:
A:
Again, excellent. The administration also posts on the portal and is present at coffee mornings. They are prompt to reply to questions as well.
7. Teacher-student communication:
A:
The students clearly know what their targets are and what they need to work on. They are very much motivated by "house points" to work hard, behave well, do their best, be kind, etc. (they get rewarded for any positive behavior).
8. Does the school offer a wide variety of elective or non-core classes such as art, music, and drama?
The school has an excellent music teacher/program and also a Mandarin program. The children attend Mandarin class every day (and it is amazing how much they learn!). Art and drama is incorporated into class activities. There are assemblies throughout the year where the children put on a program for parents/schoolmates.
9. Does the school provide appropriate assistance to new students?
Yes. The school as a whole (students, faculty, staff, and parents) is extremely welcoming and does all it can to help a student adjust and feel "at home".
Academics & Resources:
1. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
B:
The library isn't huge but that is simply my observation. The children haven't ever complained about a lack of books from which to choose, and my oldest is an avid reader.
2. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
A:
I'm not that up on technology but there are smartboards (I think that is what they are called) in every class, and the children use IT programs and resources often in their learning. My older girls make power point presentations for fun now and have taught me a few things.
3. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
A
4. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
A:
There are at least two teachers in every classroom. As the school is growing, if a class size reaches 20, then another teacher is added until the class is formally split in two. Currently my 5-year old is in a class of 13 with a lead teacher, assistant teacher, and student teacher. My 2nd and 4th graders are in classes of about 22, each with a lead teacher and two assistant teachers. My second grader's class will split next month. So essentially there is a teacher to student ration of about 1:8 or 1:7, not including the specialist teachers.
5. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
Yes. I've been extremely pleased with the homework policy. My youngest brings a book home each night to read, and the older two are assigned spelling, math, and/or literacy homework once a week. They have one week to complete the assignments. It isn't too much, and it isn't busywork.
6. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
Yes. All lead teachers are UK-educated and assistant teachers hold education degrees as well. The assistant teachers may be Filipino, but their English is excellent (actually a bit more "American" than "British").
Social & Emotional Well-Being:
1. Do expatriate students socialize with local students at the school? Are both groups successfully integrated into the school culture?
Yes. Again, the school is very welcoming, and the local and expat families are extremely friendly. If you have a child in a younger grade, be prepared to be invited to a birthday party at least once a month, and be sure to go! They are lots of fun!
2. Are there are any problems with exclusionary behavior, cliques, or bullying at this school? Please describe any problems your children may have experienced in this area.
No. I've never seen or heard of anything, and when asking my 9-year old if she's ever heard or seen bullying/teasing at the school, she looked horrified that I would even think such a thing and said, "No, why are you asking?" Actually, I'm sure the majority of students are expats (from all over Asia, Europe, Australia, and North America).
Overall Impressions:
1. What is the greatest strength of this school?
The children have fun, yet they are learning and the faculty and staff stress appropriate behavior just as much as academics.
2. Greatest challenge?
The school is growing. This is only the second academic year, and a number of projects are underway . . . but everything seems to be running smoothly so far.
3. Would you choose this school again? Why?
Definitely. I'm very pleased with the quality of teaching, the programs offered, and the whole climate of the school. I'm so pleased, that if available, a British school will be my top choice at our next posting, and if we are in a city with another school that is part of the British Schools Foundation, I will not hesitate to enroll the children.
