Choosing a school: a checklist before the tour

This article is for parents who are preparing to tour schools before an overseas move or posting. Tours are short. If you settle your family's needs and questions beforehand, comparing schools becomes much calmer. What follows draws on official sources and guides. It does not recommend or rank any school.

Settle your family's needs first

Before you look at schools, write down your family's timeline.

• Check whether your move date fits the school's start of term.
• Note your child's grade and how many years you expect to stay in one country.
• If your employer offers an education allowance, learn its conditions early.

A 2015 article in the American Foreign Service Association's journal gives overseas-posting families several pieces of advice. International schools set their own admissions policies, so contact each school directly and complete its application. If the move is off-cycle from the school calendar, online or home-school programmes with rolling starts are an option. Some high-school students consider boarding for continuity. The article is old and is one publication's advice, so treat it as a reference only.

Enrolment differs by country and school type

If you are considering public schools, the way to enrol varies widely. These are examples from official guidance.

• US public schools: You enrol through your local school district. Schools may ask for proof of address, proof of age and immunisation records, and districts list the required documents online. (US Department of Education, as of 2026-10-29)
• English state schools: Hampshire County Council's 2025/26 in-year scheme says any parent can apply at any time. When moving house, parents send proof of the new address, such as a tenancy agreement. That document has no general rule for families arriving from overseas, and procedures differ by council. (Hampshire County Council)
• Canada: There is no federal education department; each province and territory runs its own system. You contact the local school board to enrol. Popular public schools have waiting lists, so the guide advises registering well before the end of August. Children entering for the first time are assessed for level and language support. (Newcomers Canada, as of 2021-04-22)
• Japan's public elementary and junior high schools: According to the MEXT guide, they accept foreign children who wish to attend free of charge. Tuition and textbooks are free, and families pay for lunches and supplies. Children enter elementary school in the April after they turn six. (MEXT)

Rules change often and differ by area. Before the tour, confirm the latest guidance with the relevant district, board or council.

Check the curriculum and learning support

On the tour, ask about the structure of lessons before the facilities. The AFSA article advises checking IB and AP offerings and the order of maths courses. It sees integrated maths as something that can complicate a transfer.

If your child needs learning support, your questions should be more specific. The article suggests asking whether support is offered, whether there is space and whether it will continue next year. It also warns that services can change when staff change.

If university is on your mind, learn the application timeline for the final years. For example, the National University of Singapore (NUS) says May 2027 IB candidates apply with school-attested predicted results, and the IB transcript must reach NUS by 6 July 2027. (NUS, as of 2026-10-29) Processes like this need the school's cooperation. Requirements differ by university, so check each university's own guidance.

Prepare documents and records early

The AFSA article advises keeping school records and lists of textbooks and syllabi at every move, so the new school can place your child and award credit.

For documents issued in Korea, note the following.

• Government24's education certificate service lists English-language graduation and enrolment certificates for primary, middle and high schools. School records (학교생활기록부) have no English version listed. If a school abroad asks for an English transcript, ask about translation and notarisation or a school-issued version. (Government24)
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains that a Korean public document with an apostille is accepted in Apostille Convention member countries without consular legalisation. For non-members, the destination country's embassy or consulate must legalise it. Private-school or personal documents go through notarisation first. Translation requirements differ by country, so ask the receiving school first. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

If recognition in Korea matters

If you may return to Korea, also think about how a school's study is recognised there. For foreign schools in Korea, designation as a recognised school differs from school to school. Korean nationals' admission carries conditions, such as three or more years lived abroad, and a limit on the share of places. (Ministry of Education guide)

The 'full-curriculum' route in special university admissions covers students who completed all primary and secondary schooling abroad. The benchmark is 12 years, and recognition depends on the school system. Each university's admissions guide decides eligibility. (Ministry of Education overseas education portal) This article cannot tell you whether your child fits, so confirm directly with the university.

Checklist

• I have compared our move date with the school's start of term.
• I have confirmed any employer education allowance conditions.
• I have asked each candidate school directly about its admissions steps and required documents.
• I have put IB and AP offerings and the order of maths courses on my question list.
• If my child needs learning support, I have prepared questions on availability, space and continuity.
• I have started gathering Korean English-language certificates, school records and lists of textbooks and syllabi.
• My family has worked out whether recognition in Korea matters to us.

Ask the school

• Can my child join mid-year, and is there a waiting list?
• Which documents are needed at admission, and what are the translation, notarisation or apostille requirements?
• If learning support exists, what is the capacity, will it continue next year, and how is it handled when staff change?
• In the final years, how does the school help with predicted results or sending transcripts for university applications?
• Is the school designated as recognised in Korea, and how are records issued when a student transfers?