In the modern world, the value and demand for high-quality education is growing every year, so more and more parents are starting to think about choosing a school for their child as early as possible.

It is important to consider all advantages and disadvantages of their future education. After all, the school stage is one of the main milestones of the evolution of personality and development of each person, and therefore his success in the future. There is no need to rush with this significant decision.

Which type of school do parents trust more — state or private? That's the main issue. Of course, there is no simple, definitive answer since each option has its own strengths and weaknesses, which we will discuss in this article.

What are the main differences between private and state schools?

Recently, parents have tended to opt for private education, the main benefit of which is the possibility of implementing an individual approach to teaching. When discussing what makes private schools better than public, one of the key factors is small class sizes. In the British International School, classes consist of around 7–15 students, allowing teachers to give enough time and attention to each child, while public schools often cannot provide such support due to overcrowded classrooms.

Moreover, at the admission stage, future students need to pass a mandatory test along with an interview. According to the results of these entrance examinations, teachers and psychologists assess not only the level of personal development of each child but also determine the conditions for his future progress, the characteristics of physical and psychological growth, his interests and hobbies. For more information about the process of admission, you can check the official websites of the schools.

This detailed examination at the early stages of admission to the British International School allows parents to choose the right educational programmes, taking into account individual characteristics of the child, which in the future will help to reduce the level of stress that a child may face. By estimating the level of a child's preparation for education, parents would be able to see whether their child is ready to study at the BIS.

If you are worried that your child needs a preschool course, then BIS offers several programmes of preschool education at the International and Russian branches of the school. As an example, applicants to the international programmes who are aged 3–4 years have an opportunity to study at the Foundation Stage, which enables the process of adaptation at the school.

In private schools, much attention is paid to providing a comfortable atmosphere within the school walls. What is more, they provide children with a full and varied diet, and qualified doctors and security guards to create a safe environment for children of any age.

Another important advantage is the organization of extracurricular activities, various school trips, including language trips abroad to foster speaking skills.

What similarities do private and state schools have?

At first glance, they might seem similar, since both are educational institutions accredited by the state and have the right to issue state-recognized certificates. Students of both systems also take the Unified State Exam and study according to federal standards at the Russian branch of BIS.

However, when we look deeper into if public and private education are the same, it becomes clear that the difference lies in the quality and variety of educational options. Unlike a state institution, private education can include international courses and offer students the opportunity to obtain globally recognized qualifications.

For parents who want their children to study abroad in the future, the British International Education offers a huge advantage — the A-Level, which meets international standards. The results are accepted not only in the UK but also in universities around the world.

BIS has international recognition and is accredited by the Council of British International Education (COBIS). It is one of only two educational institutions in Moscow with this accreditation. From this perspective, private education can be considered the most modern and high-quality form of learning, designed to meet each student’s individual needs.

While state education often faces overcrowded classes and a shortage of teachers, students may struggle to achieve the desired results. If a child cannot fully absorb the material during lessons, parents are frequently forced to turn to private tutors for additional support.

Advantages and disadvantages of private schools

If you have not yet made a decision in this difficult and crucial choice, let's summarize the "pros" of private education:

1. High-quality education and effective training programmes. The future of the child's development depends on the correct choice of training programme. The British International Education provides two options — Russian and British programmes. The basis of the Russian programme is the Federal State Educational Standard, the classes are taught by experienced Russian teachers while additional English classes are provided by native speakers.
2. Control over the quality of education in private education is stricter as the institution is accredited every 4 years. The British International School is accredited not only by the Department of Education of Moscow but also has an international accreditation issued by the Council of International Education (CIS).
3. A comfortable atmosphere in the classrooms. A small number of students with a supportive and attentive attitude to everyone — these are the main priorities of private education in the organization of the educational process. With an individual approach, there are significant opportunities for developing the potential and strengths of an individual student. This highlights the difference between public and private education, where private education creates optimal conditions for each child, whereas public education often faces overcrowded classrooms, limiting these opportunities.
4. Modern facilities. The classes at the BIS are equipped with new equipment and comfortable furniture. The education also has gyms, a protected area, and medical support in order to make the child's stay at education safe.
5. Educational methods. The educational process is built in such a way that each child develops individually. At the international programme, instead of the usual tests, students develop and defend their own projects. Game materials are often used in the lessons so that children can perceive information and new material easily and not just memorize topics.
6. Qualified teachers. It is important that teachers are professionals in their field, always ready to help students. At the British International School, future teachers undergo a complex selection process. At the moment, all teachers of the international BIS programme are qualified specialists from the UK, other English-speaking countries and Russia with impressive work experience.
7. Extracurricular activities. Extracurricular activities help students broaden their mind, increase erudition, and deepen their knowledge. Learning through educational games, holiday activities, hobby clubs are one of the main things that await your child when entering the BIS.

However, a non-state educational institution also has its drawbacks. A key issue during studying at private education, of course, is the cost of tuition. Nevertheless, a number of education institutions, including BIS, offer various loyalty programmes for early admission or for the payment for the education of two or more children of one family.

Moreover, at the admission stage, many parents may think that private education imposes requirements that are too high and might worry that their child will not show the best results during examinations. However, individual testing is more an advantage than a disadvantage. The core task of the interview and the test is to introduce teachers to the future student and the possibility of adaptation of the training programme depending on the knowledge that the child possesses.

The choice of private education should be made carefully, paying attention to its licence and reputation, material and technical base, teaching staff and variety of educational programmes.

After all, graduating from private education and receiving a high-quality education is always an opportunity to enter world-famous universities both in Russia and abroad. And the key advantage of the British International School is an individual approach and friendly atmosphere for each child.

To learn more about BIS, you can click on the link.

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