Education, testing
The world presents a new edition of the supplement 100 SCHOOLS. And you are 10. A decade developing a special one of a kind and a classic in the education sector continues with the same calling with which he was born: to guide families to choose the best school for their children. To celebrate these 10 years, we have by first time with the view of some experts who, by profession or indirect linkage, are closer to the world of non-university training and offer a snapshot of the Spanish educational landscape.
In the 2008-2009 academic year note is the significant increase of 2.7% enrollment (193,325 students), due to the increase in births from 1999 and the incorporation of foreign students. Reasons that hinder further the task of finding a place in a school. Of the 7,419,989 students enrolled in this course, 32.6% studying in a private or concluded. Reason enough to continue to provide a collection of schools with the scheme. Many are those who would be eligible for a place in this ranking. However, it is necessary and essential to meet criteria for selection being over 10 years of experience, all levels of education and more than 300 students. Configuration issues that do not imply that no other excellent schools in the Spanish territory that are not reflected in these pages. Everything begins with the receipt of the completed questionnaire (below) and a visit to many of the schools to witness first hand the information provided. A further objective and rigorous analysis possible to establish the final ranking year after year. A decade supports the success of this supplement and demonstrates, once again, the interest of parents and schools in this work.
The 27 criteria
GROUP A / teaching model
Nine criteria. Their sum must have a maximum rating of 39 points.
1. Educational model: We analyze the teaching model and the key methodological distinguish the center from the rest. It also takes into account the ideas, methodologies and plans for educational innovation. (8 POINTS MAXIMUM)
2. External recognition: A good indicator of prestige and the level of the center are the awards and who may have received. (4 POINTS MAXIMUM)
3. Quality models: There are several management models (EFQM, ISO), whose implementation is to improve its internal functioning. (3 POINTS MAXIMUM)
4. Education coverage: The supply of all levels is committed to ensuring the comprehensive training and allows long-term planning. (5 POINTS MAXIMUM)
5. Evaluation of students: We describe the center if, in addition to qualifications, taking into account other variables in the evaluation. (3 POINTS MAXIMUM)
6. Price: We paid attention to the quality / price. Also other services such as dining, hiking, uniforms, etc. (6 POINTS MAXIMUM)
7. Supply-demand relationship: the existence of waiting lists and number of applications to take place in the center. (3 POINTS MAXIMUM)
8. Loyalty Index: Percentage of students who concluded their school life at school, and how many alumni bring their children to school. (3 POINTS MAXIMUM)
9. 'Care' Teacher: The quality of its teaching center is: What percentage of these are permanent staff? Is it stimulates their training? Teachers participate in innovation and educational research? Are there training courses for teachers in your school? (4 POINTS MAXIMUM)
GROUP B / Educational offer
Nine criteria. Their sum must have a maximum rating of 34 points.
1. Language: One of the key criteria is the number of languages that the school supply and consideration as a subject or as the language of teaching. It also took into account the option to international examinations within the center and the possible supply of programs exchange. (4 POINTS MAXIMUM)
2. Teacher: It has taken account of the degree, the existence of native teachers for languages and faculty access to refresher courses. (4 POINTS MAXIMUM)
3. Number and qualifications of teachers support: We evaluated the number of teachers who are dedicated to strengthening, individually or collectively, foreground. (4 POINTS MAXIMUM)
4. Number of hours spent tutoring students, number of dedicated teachers and guidance department to operate. (4 POINTS MAXIMUM)
5. Reinforcement for needs or special abilities: To allow proper development of children's abilities should adapt to the different rhythm of some students. (4 POINTS MAXIMUM)
6. Selectivity: Here is the success of the center in the entrance examination to college, students presented the total enrollment in the last year and the percentage of students able to study their first choice. (4 POINTS MAXIMUM)
7. Non-academic activities: An evaluation workshops and social activities. (4 POINTS MAXIMUM)
8. Extracurricular Activities: The variety and price have enabled us to assess the richness and diversity of formal training. (4 POINTS MAXIMUM)
9. Medical service: its existence is valued positively. (2 POINTS MAXIMUM)
GROUP C / Media Materials
Nine criteria. Evaluation of 0-3 points each. Maximum: 27 points.
1. Number of students per classroom: A figure greater than 25 students precludes attention to the needs of the child and makes the dynamics of the course.
2. Number of students per teacher: A good ratio ensures better specific and individualized work with students.
3. Square feet: it is important to have enough space to accommodate the material needs that may arise.
4. Space in the classroom: Their function is to facilitate the work of the teacher and the group, while ensuring that children have the necessary conditions in class to develop their skills.
5. Hardware: Children must get used early age to the computer and become familiar with an environment useful in the future and higher education and the professional world. It welcomes the existence of new technologies for educational use.
6. Transportation: For your situation, some schools require the supply of transport, and has paid attention to their cost does not involve excessive in relation to monthly price.
7. Dining: It takes into account various criteria such as price, the squares, the option to use it eventually or the possibility of bringing food from home.
8. Laboratories: The specificity of certain materials requires a proper infrastructure and proper context to give them.
9. Sports facilities: For a complete training is crucial to a specific space and conditioning for physical activities and creative.
The school is adapted to the social demands
Jesús Núñez Velázquez
Firstly congratulations to the World on the tenth anniversary of the 100 SCHOOLS. Ten years he has been promoted as valuable to the quality of teaching, encouraging parents to become more involved in the search for the best center for their children. Education is facing ever-changing challenges. The technological revolution, globalization of information, financial and economic migration flows, religious and cultural pluralism, the need to curb fundamentalist ideas and cultivating democratic values are some of the features of the complex environment in which schools must develop educational activity. The role of family has changed with the incorporation of women into the work and the need to reconcile work and family life, so there is a growing demand for school adequacy of these family demands. Today, we face a new generation of students, information and internet, where their demands and values change very quickly. Therefore, the school should be able to adapt with the same agility in this new context. The indiscriminate use control at increasingly early ages, the communication technologies and information used as tools to enhance their entertainment and social networking is another matter that the school and the family should not be overlooked. Moreover, in response to recent educational reports, the Spanish education does not cross its best. The lack of political consensus, school failure, dropping out at ESO, the lack of student motivation or low academic standards are some of their deficits. A study published by the Community of Madrid last November on the 2005-06 academic year shows that graduation rates at ESO in private centers is around 87%, while in the low 70% public. In high school, students are awarded the title at private schools are 85%, while 64% are public. These data, although relating to Madrid, be extrapolated to the rest of the country, where the private centers are characterized by a higher academic level. One characteristic of these private schools to be extended to the whole education system is that every day there are more that are subject to external controls and systems of quality improvement, which reversed in better education and optimization of resources. Reaching a consensus among political parties, the greater involvement of schools to improve results, more involvement of parents, building on educational innovation, increased workload in instrumental areas and languages, enhance the effort and creativity and introduce new technologies the classroom as a teaching tool are other areas to work to alleviate the deficits of our education.
Jesus Nuñez is president of Academic (Association of Private Education Centers Autonomous).
