Different schools offer many different facilities to their students, making picking the right school incredibly difficult. Let’s explore how much facilities affect the academic outcomes of students, so you can pick the right school for your children.
What Factors Contribute to Academic Outcomes for Children?
There are many different factors that can affect a child’s academic outcome, some of which are more in our control than others. For example, a child’s early development and interaction with parents, other caregivers and their environment can have a significant impact, but these factors are not always completely in our control.
Other factors that can affect children’s academic success include:
- Socioeconomic family background
- Quality of the education received at school and home
- Social interaction with peers
- The engagement of the child with their learning
- Access to educational resources such as books, technology and extra-curricular activities
- Physical and mental health
- Community support and engagement
- Individual strengths and weaknesses and their recognition in their education so unique needs are met
- Educational practices such as funding, standardized testing and teaching methodologies
Each of these factors can have a large role to play in the academic outcome of your child’s schooling, so your child will need significant support at school, at home and in the wider community for a higher chance of successful results from their education.
School facilities can also have a big impact, let’s look at what way they can affect outcomes and what facilities are the most important for children.
Do School Facilities Affect Academic Outcomes?
School facilities can greatly affect the academic outcome of children of all ages, although the emphasis of the learning should evolve as children grow older.
Schools should ensure classrooms provide children with comfortable learning environments, including clean air, good light and comfortable spaces to learn, as well as access to resources to support their learning such as books, technology and other materials. Many resources and facilities, therefore, require adequate funding to be suitable, as well as designed, constructed and maintained well.
Well-designed and well-maintained school facilities can create a conducive learning environment that promotes concentration, engagement, and academic achievement. Factors such as classroom size, lighting, temperature control, noise levels, and ergonomic furniture can all influence student learning experiences, and are commonly seen across well-funded, modern schools around the world.
Having onsite libraries, science laboratories, computer labs, and recreational areas also enhances learning opportunities and supports academic success by facilitating research, hands-on learning experiences, and extracurricular activities. Modern school facilities equipped with up-to-date technology infrastructure, including high-speed internet access, computers, interactive whiteboards, and multimedia resources, can enhance teaching and learning experiences as it supports innovative instructional approaches, digital literacy and development. Moreover, with the increasing use of technology in the modern age, utilizing modern technology in the classroom prepares students well for their future careers.
At Dubai School of Modern Skills, we have two separate campuses for male and female students from Grade 5 to 12, as well as a whole range of separate laboratories to foster children’s engagement in the sciences. Our two libraries have a wealth of knowledge for children to independently support their studies and interests, while our activity room allows them to socialize and interact with one another.
How Is Children’s Wellbeing Supported at SMS?
Alongside comfortable classrooms to enable children’s academic success, at the School of Modern Skills, we support children’s mental and physical wellbeing through our sports programs, health facilities and canteen.
Participation in sports is hugely beneficial to children’s mental and physical wellbeing, which in turn can support their academic progress. Regular exercise has been linked to improved concentration, memory, and cognitive function, all of which are essential for academic success. Sports also provide opportunities for children to develop important social and emotional skills such as teamwork, leadership, communication, and resilience, which can contribute to positive peer relationships, increased self-confidence, and better mental health.
Physical activity has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, while also improving mood and overall well-being. Engaging in sports can help children manage academic-related stress and improve their ability to focus and concentrate on their studies, greatly improving their academic outcomes.
Furthermore, at Dubai SMS, we have a new canteen which provides children with freshly prepared nutritious meals every day to support their physical health, reduce sickness and allow children to be healthy and happy during their time at school.
Anybody taken under the weather at school can equally be supported in our health center by our expert medical practitioners, who can provide mental and physical support.
How You Can Help Your Child Achieve Academic Success
To support your child’s academic success, you can create a positive learning environment at home establishing clear expectations and goals together, fostering a growth mindset that values effort and resilience. This enables them to ask questions and seek help from teachers or tutors when in school, creating a love of learning and a thirst for knowledge that will reap rewards in education and later in their working lives.
But one key step that you can take to help improve your child’s academic outcomes, is enrolling them in the right school. As facilities, teachers, resources and curricula can have such an impact on your child’s academic success and later opportunities in life, choosing the right school is crucial.
Schools with well-equipped facilities such as libraries, laboratories, technology resources, and extracurricular activities provide diverse learning opportunities, allowing students to explore their interests, engage in hands-on learning experiences, and develop a deeper understanding of various subjects.
The availability of a variety of facilities and resources caters to different learning styles and preferences, so each child can be supported in the learning approach that best suits them, ultimately leading to better academic outcomes.
Schools with modern facilities and resources also prepare students for the demands of the future, including advancements in technology and changes in the job market. Exposure to cutting-edge technology, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) labs, and other resources equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in higher education and future careers.
Choosing the right school is crucial for providing a well-rounded education that fosters academic success, prepares students for the future, and supports their holistic development. It’s essential to consider these factors when selecting a school to ensure that your child receives the support and opportunities needed to thrive academically and beyond.
About American Schools in Dubai
There are several American schools in Dubai, each with different school policies, curricula, tuition fees and facilities. However, all American schools in Dubai are private schools, so they each charge for the students to attend and generally have excellent facilities to accommodate the students who are usually from international backgrounds and may therefore have more needs in terms of settling in and socializing.
Daily School Life
Some schools in Dubai have uniforms, although not all of them do, so you should check with specific school’s information when enrolling your child if you believe a uniform is important. At the School of Modern Skills, we believe the uniform helps students form a tight-knit community, so we proudly ask our students to wear a uniform.
School hours can also vary from location to location, although usually fit between 7.30 am and 3 pm. Young students usually have shorter hours although school hours can change according to student needs.
The Curriculum
The curriculum offered in American schools can also differ according to the accrediting boards, but will offer a standard American curriculum, which differs from the British curriculum, and in some cases also the International Baccalaureate. All classes are taught in English. In schools with a standard American curriculum, the individual lessons still differ, with some additional classes added to help students integrate into and further understand the culture in Dubai, such as offering Arabic classes as an option as well as the usual French and Spanish.
Grades are also scored from A to F, and a transcript of results is awarded at the end of each year detailing the GPA grades common in the US to help students with further education and careers across the world.
Guarantee Success with the School of Modern Skills
The School of Modern Skills offers students in Dubai a great future thanks to its remarkable facilities. Read more about our school’s vision and mission, as well as our parent inquiry procedures.
