In an international education environment, the relationship between families and schools plays a central role in a child’s development. At Ermitage International School Paris, we see them as true partners in education, working together to support both academic success and personal growth.
In this article, Marta Essinki, Head of the IB School and mother of two Middle Years Programme (MYP) students, shares her perspective on how parents and schools can work together to support each child’s journey.
Parents: The First Pillar of a Child’s Education
As parents – or those who take on that essential role of guide and guardian – you are the first and most enduring educators your child will ever have. While schools provide structure, expertise and opportunities, it is at home that a child’s sense of identity, confidence and curiosity is first nurtured. This idea of being partners in education is not symbolic: it defines the way a child experiences consistency between home and school.
As both a school leader and a parent, I have come to see this partnership as something deeper than collaboration alone. It is a shared responsibility, built over time. And research consistently confirms what many families intuitively understand: when parents are engaged, students are more likely to succeed academically, develop strong self-esteem and remain motivated. In an international context, this role becomes even more significant.
At Ermitage International School Paris, our community brings together families from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds. In such an environment, a child’s ability to thrive globally depends first on feeling secure in who they are. This sense of identity is rooted at home, through language, values and everyday interactions.
Whether guiding a young child through the Primary Years Programme or supporting a teenager in the Diploma Programme, your role remains essential within the home-school-student relationship.
Working Together: 5 Practical Ways to Support Your Child’s Journey
1. Finding the Right Fit Through Understanding and Dialogue
It may seem banal, but doing your research and asking plenty of questions is essential. In International Baccalaureate (IB) language, this is your time to be an ‘Inquirer’. This skill is vital when choosing a school, moving countries, or deciding between schooling systems.
There is no definitive ‘best’ school, there is only the best fit for your child’s needs and your family’s values. You need a clear understanding of the school community, its philosophy, and its approach to learning.
At Ermitage International IB School, we view wellbeing and discipline as opportunities for learning, emphasising dialogue and reflection, through the framework of Restorative Practices. As this is such a core tenet of your child’s development, the approach must feel right to you.
In an IB education, the Learner Profile is also key to shaping character. Find out what this means in practice and how it is woven into daily life. Equally, being informed and satisfied with the school’s teaching methods, homework, and assessment are essential steps to an effective partnership.
2. Building Partnership Through Openness and Trust
A genuine partnership in education relies on openness from both sides. While families naturally expect transparency from schools, sharing your own context is equally important. Being open about your child’s needs, your family’s background and even your aspirations allows educators to offer more personalised support. In a holistic educational environment like Ermitage’s one, this context is invaluable.
In our Admissions process, students of all ages write a letter to introduce themselves, which helps us better prepare for their arrival. As a Head of School, I seek to meet every new family and am always enriched by their openness. I have always found that the moments when families choose to share their stories – whether during admissions or throughout their time at school – are the ones that allow us to truly understand each child as an individual. Trust is not built through processes alone, but through these exchanges.
3. Nurturing Independence and Curiosity at Home
In today’s competitive world, it is natural to wonder how best to support your child’s academic growth. IB programmes are built on inquiry and student agency, which can feel like a significant shift if you are used to traditional textbooks and rote learning. Yet understanding these progressive methodologies can be genuinely empowering for parents too. Most schools will signpost where you can see learning taking place, through Parent Guides, online platforms and more, allowing you to follow your child’s progress even without a traditional textbook.
When children drive their own learning, you can focus on enriching their curiosity rather than navigating the usual homework battles. In the Primary Years Programme, this might mean making real-world connections at home, or simply noticing how learning shows up in daily life. Encouraging your child to ask questions and sharing moments of reading and reflection goes a long way. As they move into secondary school, your role naturally shifts: less direct involvement, more support for organisation and independence, while letting them stay in the driver’s seat.
For the Middle Years Programme Personal Project, you become a sounding board for ideas, while the work remains entirely theirs, a rewarding shift in the parent-child dynamic.
With the opportunities and challenges of ever-changing technology, your role as a close partner matters more than ever. Helping establish healthy screen time routines, and supporting your child’s school in ensuring that AI is used securely, effectively and authentically, in line with school and national guidelines, is a shared responsibility we all navigate together.
4. Staying Connected to Your Child’s School Life
This is easier said than done. Parents often feel either insufficiently informed or overwhelmed by communication. Our ‘Friday Note’ at Ermitage brings all updates together in one weekly email, supported by well-managed parent WhatsApp groups. Carving out a regular moment to digest school information, even just fifteen minutes on a Friday evening , keeps you informed and ready for the week ahead. I am always moved by the parent who told me that reading our newsletter is her favourite Friday ritual after a busy week at the office. It is a small habit, but a meaningful one.
Showing up for school events matters too, whether boarding family welcome activities or regular academic and social gatherings. These moments are where community is truly built.
5. Using Your Voice to Strengthen the Community
Finally, remember that your voice counts. It truly does. While schools cannot be run by individual direction, your feedback as a parent is essential. Whether through formal annual surveys, smaller initiatives, a letter, or simply requesting a conversation with leadership, your perspective matters and is always welcome.
When shared in a spirit of partnership, these insights help us refine our school culture and build bridges. Parent input on our ‘Week Without Walls‘ residential trips, for instance, has made those experiences even more meaningful for our students. By sharing your view, you help ensure the school environment remains responsive and healthy, creating a stronger community for your child to thrive in.
When you consider that children spend the majority of their waking hours at school , an influence that only deepens through extracurricular activities and friendships, reflecting on your relationship with your chosen school becomes vital. Just as you invest energy into this partnership, please know that we are equally committed to making the journey as positive and fruitful for you as it is for your child.
After all, a thriving school culture is built on the wellbeing of the entire community. A topic, perhaps, for a future article. Thank you for your trust.
Marta Essinki, is the Head of IB School at Ermitage International School Paris. She has over twenty years’ experience as an educator, with expertise in language learning and community-building, and a commitment to holistic education that enables every child to grow, thrive and succeed.
Ermitage International IB School Paris welcomes students aged 5-18, for the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). The school is based in the small, leafy town of Maisons-Laffitte, just twenty minutes from the centre of Paris.
