Boutique Schooling

What is a ’Boutique School’?

Quality should be one of the most valued standards in education. In a society that tends toward mass production and consumption, there are still those whose primary concern is content and authenticity. Such is the idea of ‘boutique schooling’.

The quality over quantity concept applied to education calls for smaller class sizes and fewer pupils in the community, which enhances the experience in several important ways. Community spirit is encouraged in the boutique school environment. This ‘boutique’ model is unique in its emphasis on relationships – moving beyond the standard of teacher to student and extending a focus on teacher to parent, student to student, parent to parent interaction, not forgetting school administrators who are far more involved with individual students than they could be in a larger school situation.

A smaller community allows for more intimate and tailored attention to individual needs. Teachers are more likely to notice any changes in emotional stability or performance immediately and can take the necessary steps to address these educational capabilities right away. Smaller classes allow teachers to tailor their lessons and styles to meet the needs of individual students. With a low student to teacher ratio, area for growth and potential are quickly identified. A smaller scale and nimble academic organisation can provide the proactive quality assurance that many parents seek for their children and their own relationship with a school.

In a boutique school, a smaller student body offers a greater opportunity for each student to experience participation and leadership growth. Literally everyone must participate to make a project a success. This promotes among students a sense of belonging, of pride in their community, their school, and themselves.

A quality concept facilitates communication, nurturing and a more personalised experience. Boutique schooling, hence, offers a smaller model that allows for more depth and personal focus.

Boutique Schooling at Sagan Academy

At Sagan Academy classes are made up of a maximum of ten learners per subject class, with class size down to five students in A-level classes.

Questions or concerns that parents have about their child’s learning can be quickly resolved and successes encouraged through informal channels of communication. We can chat to parents on a daily basis. In terms of partnerships, Sagan Academy can collaborate on numerous programmes and activities such as tutorial exam preparation sessions for May/June and Oct/Nov Cambridge International Exam sessions, Science practical sessions, study skills sessions and subject specific workshops.

We can adapt according to many different factors: If the sun is shining our learning can be taken outside. If a child is struggling with a certain aspect of mathematics we can re-visit this in a small group. If a child needs to take an accelerated programme, this can supported fully. Keeping with the relationship-centric model of these ‘boutique’ schools, and the community integration this model calls for, both the Director of Studies and Dean of Studies at Sagan Academy teach the students in addition to administrative duties.

Many parents appreciate getting involved in school life. Parents are also a great resource to each other on the local area, activities and often being a surrogate family in times of need. A full life is not necessarily synonymous with one that is crammed with as many activities as possible; and a full and rewarding education does not mean as many classrooms and peers as you can bring together.