From the Head of Secondary 31.10.2020
As we tick off another month on the academic calendar, it is a good time to reflect on the past few weeks. We find ourselves in a situation that we would never have chosen to be in, and there are challenges. Some might say that with challenge comes opportunity, and whilst it may be difficult sometimes to focus on the bright side, what we can say is that we have all had to learn new ways of working, students new ways of learning and teachers new ways of teaching. We had our ‘practice run’ earlier this year, and we got through that together. We learned a lot from it. This time around the going is smoother. Last time we were thrown into a situation that we could never have predicted and we were all learning how to manage it as we travelled through it. We acted on feedback from parents, students and teachers and made changes for the better. This time around we carry that awareness forward and we use it. We work together with a determination that the learning process will continue, and so it does, strongly. Feedback in the latest community survey suggests that we are doing much that is right. We will never be complacent and we are all aware that the stresses and strains are there. We continue to be watchful and most of all, caring, towards each other. KIS’ mission and values have never seemed more relevant and important. I would like to thank our staff, our students and our parents for everything you are doing at this time.
The CIS re-accreditation process is progressing. We aim to have a good draft of our report finalised by the end of November and the Domain teams are working hard to meet that deadline. This is not about passing an exam set by the Council of International Schools. Much of the value of the process lies in the school carrying out its own self–review. Schools are very busy places and sometimes it is practically impossible to just pause, breathe, and look at what we are doing, how we are doing it, and what we can do to improve. We have that opportunity this year, and in March we will have a virtual visit by peer evaluators who will look at our report, look at our school, and pose questions that facilitate a deeper dive into the way we do things, and develop our ideas moving forward.
There are some important events coming up in Secondary, not least the Year 9 Options Talk on the 17th November. We will be sending out more information about this in due course. It is the start of our Year 9 students choosing their subjects for Year 10/11, and the talk will cover all aspects of the process and information about the IGCSE courses, and it will be compulsory for Year 9 students. Parents will also be invited and we will be using the Zoom platform. Also in November, we have the A Level Fair. This is where Year 10 and Year 11 students get to know more about our A Level programme, and again, parents will be invited. Normally we hold this in a packed-out school hall but we will adapt as necessary to provide a virtual experience which will be equally beneficial. Keep an eye out for these events moving forward.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Mrs Renshaw
Deputy Principal/Head of Secondary
