The Priceless Education SupplementAs part of its CentenaryCurriculum, Benendenhas unveiled the ElectivesProgramme – a vibrantnew addition offering lessons andlectures designed to captivate andinspire without the usual pressures ofexamined subjects.Students throughout the JuniorSchool and Sixth Form have beenexposed to an exciting new rangeof courses and lectures designed tofocus on learning for its own sake.They go beyond the confines ofthe traditional syllabus and expandthe students’ horizons. Looking atnew issues, topics, and perspectiveschallenges students to think differently,question their assumptions and learnnew skills. Many are cross-curricular– demonstrating that comprehensiveunderstanding can only come fromseeing an issue from different angles.New ideas can be tested, challenged,and debated without fear of failureand in the knowledge that engagementand deep thought are end goals inthemselves. Topics are diverse, withmore than 70 titles inspiring and addingauthentic extensions to the conventionalcurriculum. The Arts are wellrepresented with lessons such as Womenin Philosophy, and African Literature.Sciences sessions include Astronomy,The Science of Happiness, and CodingThrough Minecraft. Elsewhere,Electives give an opportunity to exploreinternational and cultural themes suchas Global Politics, Francophone Culture,and British Sign Language.The Sixth Form provision is equallyenticing, pupils relish the opportunityto learn for learning’s sake. Bringingcultural capital and a love of learning(combined with excellent Oxbridgeinterview preparation) the students’excitement for Benenden’s enhancedcurriculum only continues to grow.Learn more at benenden.schoolistockphoto.com/ Pimpay & Anna DrozdovaMarymount InternationalSchool tells us how the IBfuture-proofs their students.As educators, rarely does a year, aterm or even a week go by withoutreflecting on the extent to which theeducational experience we are providingis fit for the world our young people will“Students are taughtto become reflectivepractioners”enter, especially when there is so muchuncertainty about what that world willlook like and need. So, how do we ensurewe are educating for a changing world?The International Baccalaureate (IB)champions a pedagogical approachdesigned specifically to respond to theneeds of a changing world by prioritisingthe acquisition of key skills, attitudes andattributes, rather than focusing solely oncontent coverage, memorisation and highstakestesting. The intended outcomes areto help learners to become increasinglyself-regulated, autonomous and reflective,and are best articulated in the IB LearnerProfile, a set of ten attributes or charactertraits, the possession of which are deemedessential in order to successfully navigateand make a positive difference to theworld in which our students will live.Through all aspects of school life,IB schools design meaningful andauthentic opportunities for students tonot only become knowledgeable, butalso inquirers, with a natural curiosityand the skills to find things out forthemselves, thinkers, capable of critical,creative and analytical modes of thought,communicators, able to articulate theirthoughts, ideas and feelings in more thanone language, and risk-takers, with thecourage and determination to face andovercome challenge. In IB schools, timeis taken to consider what it means to beprincipled in one’s thoughts and actions,and why it is important to approachdifference and the existence of multipleperspectives with an open mind. Studentsare encouraged to become caring andcompassionate, and to develop vitalcommunity-building qualities, such asempathy, altruism and respect, and growto appreciate the importance of balancein all aspects of life so as to remain happyand healthy.Finally, and perhaps most importantly,IB students are taught to becomereflective practitioners who make andtake time to honestly identify their areasof strength and weakness and set personalgoals and targets that will enable them tobecome the best version of themselves.marymountlondon.compriceless-magazines.com76
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