Despite the April showers, it’s been sunshine and smiles over at our primary school this week – with students across all year groups getting their teeth into new projects and exploring the great outdoors.  Here are a few highlights:

• Exploring the great outdoors

This week, years 4, 5 and 6 and PYSE had the opportunity to take their learning outside of the classroom walls. Based down in Tunbridge Wells, the Bowles Outdoor Centre gave our students the opportunity to explore and learn in a fun environment.

Students participated in a whole host of activities such as climbing, zip-wiring, kayaking and swimming and enjoyed an evening 'Earth Walk' – all of which encouraged a number of vital life skills, particularly team working and problem solving. 

The students continued to show great development, and the trip has provided new challenges to every single participant. It was a fantastic trip and one which will be keen to replicate in the future.

• Demonstrating an artistic flair

Our Year 6 class has been hard at work over the past few weeks, preparing for their upcoming Exhibition, which will be held 30th - 31st May. The Exhibition is a significant event in the life of the students and for the school and we can’t wait to see the finished article.

• Welcoming a new face

Last but not least, we are extremely excited to announce the appointment of our new principal for August 2012 - Liz McLaughlin.  Currently working as the Improvement Coach at an inclusive school in Boston, USA, Liz is a certified PYP workshop leader and school site visitor, having previously worked as a Principal Intern and PYP co-ordinator both in the US and Italy. 

We look forward to welcoming Liz into our community in August!

Following an “outstanding” Ofsted inspection of our welfare and care of students back in December, we are planning to open a full Central London residence. This would make us the only IB boarding school in London.

This is a really exciting development for those students studying at ICS.  It would not only help their acclimatisation to life in the UK, but also enhance their learning by providing pastoral care specially designed to support their studies.

Being based in a secluded area of Central London would also offer our IB students access to cultural life in one of the world’s great capital cities, regularly host to spectacular global sports, arts and cultural events.

Preparing for your diploma

We are also extremely pleased to announce two additions to our current educational offering – the enhancement and development of two key preparative stages of the diploma programme that will help students reach their full potential and prepare for their university careers, either in the UK or elsewhere in the world.

Up until now, we have offered the IB Diploma to students aged 16-18+ and so far, this has been an extremely popular option for our overseas students as it offers a more transferable qualification than A-Levels. 

This form of education offers students a more comfortable transition into living within the UK.  Since introducing the course two years ago, we have identified even more ways to help prepare our students for the Diploma – through developing not only their English language skills but also their academic skills.

As a result, we have decided to extend our Diploma preparation programme into two strands - an English language preparation strand and an academic preparation strand. 

For example, it may be the case that some students kick off their studies with the English language programme and then move on to the academic prep course too, whereas others who have stronger English language skills might choose to simply take the academic prep course prior to working their way through the Diploma.  In addition, the IELTs English Language qualification offers an appealing option for our older students. Once they have completed their qualification, they will be able to apply for a foundation course at a University, working with those of the same age.