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Essential guide

How to choose an international school

42-page PDF. The complete decision framework. 12 factors that matter, 4 traps to avoid, the questions to ask on a tour, and a downloadable comparison checklist.

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Essential guide

How to choose an international school

The 12-factor decision framework
42 pages · PDF · v2026.1
Inside the guide
42 pages of decision framework, no fluff
Built from 200+ family interviews and 1,200+ schools tracked. Updated for 2026 with current fee data, new visa pathways and curriculum trade-offs.
01Start with the family, not the school
02The 12 factors that matter (in order)
03Curriculum: choosing between 10 systems
04Reading accreditation properly
05Fees: the 30% rule and total cost
06Faculty stability and turnover
07Class size and student-teacher ratio
08Pastoral, SEN and ESL provision
09How to tour a school properly
10Questions to ask the head
11Reading inspection reports
12The 12-month admissions timeline
13Four traps to avoid
14The final decision matrix
15Comparison checklist (printable)
16City-specific guidance

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