REVIEW OF Braemar House School BY parent, Lola Akinyemi

(5) Student Experience

Braemar was a great school for my children, and they certainly flourished. The learning experience was a complete package. The small size of the classes and dedicated teachers provided personalized attention, which ensured that teachers got to know each individual student well. This helped them excel academically while fostering confidence. The small class size also allowed for a close-knit group of friends. The Braemar staff were very friendly and would always say "hi" in the hallway. There was also a very healthy dose of lessons in respect, leadership, and responsibility, which shaped their growth. Braemar strikes a good balance between academic challenge and personal development. Our children came home excited, which was a win for us because it was exactly what we envisioned for them.

(5) School Leadership

The school leadership and administration were very good. There was always appropriate communication between the school administration and parents regarding school activities and critical events, and we found this to be very well coordinated. The school principal was very friendly, and she always interacted with students. She was kind to staff and parents and always had a positive demeanor. As parents, we found the school administration, as well as the leadership, to be very welcoming, proactive, and responsive on issues.

(5) Teaching

The quality of teaching, homework, and interaction between the instructor/teacher and my children was great. There was one-on-one teaching where necessary. Their experience in Grade 7 was excellent. Their teacher was very passionate about history, and they learned a lot about real-world issues. The teachers are definitely passionate and knowledgeable about their subjects. Those skills were built on in Grade 8. Their experience in Grade 8 was even better because their teacher allowed them to be independent while trusting their judgment to be responsible, which helped them a great deal. We believe life-long skills were imbued into them that will serve them both in academics and in their personal lives. Overall, the teaching experience was great, and our children learned a lot from their teachers. Our kids will miss the teaching at Braemar.

(5) Academics

The curriculum leveraged at Braemar was a perfect mix of academics, hands-on activities, group projects (i.e., encouraging collaboration and consensus building), and independent projects in order to help build confidence. The STEAM program was very interactive and hands-on. Students got to work with new coding tools such as Breadboard and Microbits, which they enjoyed. The teachers were always very helpful and would coach students one-on-one whenever needed. This helped my children excel in their studies and also built their confidence. Students were also always encouraged to speak up to ask questions or seek clarification on any topic, which the teachers were always happy to respond to. Assignments were also very appropriate for the courses, and they challenged my children and encouraged critical thinking.

(5) Extracurriculars

Braemar offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities, including sporting events, volunteering in and outside of school, visiting historical sites, and other fun activities. This allowed them to explore their passions beyond the classroom. All events were open to all students, and our children certainly took advantage of this. It has helped them with team building, collaboration, life skills, and personal strength development.

(5) Students

One of the selling points of Braemar was the small class size. This fostered a better and closer student–teacher relationship. Each student's special needs, strengths, and weaknesses were identified. It also felt like a big family. The various achievements of my children were celebrated as a community, even when those achievements occurred outside of school. The students themselves were a close-knit and supportive group where healthy competition was encouraged. The overall student community was uplifting and inclusive. My children especially enjoyed the Reading Buddy program because it helped them connect more with the younger students. This program gave them the opportunity to spend time with and support the younger ones. The buddy system encouraged meaningful friendships. Our children have said they will miss all of their friends, and the teachers, too.

(5) School Life

Our children loved going to school. They thoroughly enjoyed their experiences and adored their teachers. The school blends academics, creativity, and play in a way that keeps them engaged and excited to learn. Lessons were always interactive and encouraged curiosity, whether through take-home science projects, experiments, lively debates, or hands-on math activities. There was always outdoor time and nature-based learning, giving students the chance to burn energy and explore. Specialist classes like art, music, and physical education added variety to their learning, sparked new interests, and helped them build valuable skills. All in all, I believe Braemar creates a balanced school life and experience, where kids feel both challenged and cared for.

(5) Community

Braemar has a welcoming community that fosters a supportive environment and creates lasting friendships. The level of parental involvement was superb. As parents, we weren’t just welcomed—we were encouraged to be active participants, collaborating with other families, teachers, and students to make learning both meaningful and fun. We had opportunities to volunteer as chaperones on field trips and to help plan social events. We were also encouraged to attend family fun days and student plays or performances, which always brought the community together. Parents cheered not only for their own children but for others as well. There is truly a family spirit at Braemar, where each student’s achievements are celebrated as a community. This created a vibrant and connected school environment.

(5) School Location

The school is perfectly located in the Brantford area. Commuting was never an issue for either pick-up or drop-off. It is situated in a quiet part of town, which was great because there was no traffic congestion or distracting noise. The school also has a large, well-maintained green area where children can run freely while still being visible to supervising adults.

(5) Admissions

The admission process was seamless for us. Since it occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, most steps were completed virtually. At the same time, we were relocating from another province, which added complexity to the process. Despite these challenges, our requests were handled with great care, and Braemar ensured that everything was thorough and well-organized. Based on our experience, we felt confident that we were making the best choice for our children.