OVERVIEW & CONCEPTS
The notion that learning a second language improve your first, or that playing the violin deepens your reasoning skills, or that a game of tennis might even boost your mathematical ability are not naturally intuitive. Yet it is these ideas that are at the very heart of our curriculum. As children, our learning capability is extremely heightened. It is during childhood that we can pick up a second language, learn to pay an instrument, or develop our athletic ability with an ease that is difficult to match later in life. Our curriculum aims high and relies on exceptional teachers to motivate and inspire pupils to relish in their learning.
PERSONALISED
Teachers plan lessons with differentiated outcomes, allowing for a range of achievements. This enables teachers to match each lesson as closely as possible to individual needs whilst providing scope for pupils to be stretched academically.
CHILD-CENTRED
Teaching and learning is aimed at making the most of children’s natural curiosity to learn and inquisitiveness. In Early Years, learning takes place principally through guided play. As work gradually becomes more structured in Primary School, lessons are planned with a view to making them interesting and engaging. As they move into Secondary School children receive teaching by subject specialists and work toward their SAT exam.
RIGOROUS
Pupils who complete their education at JIS will attain a high level of competency across all subjects. Learning is largely enquiry-based with an emphasis on problem solving, aiming to build up a pupil’s ability to reason and thinking independently.
GLOBAL
A global vision is embedded throughout the entire curriculum and all subjects extend nation borders and become global. Our established network schools in America, Europe and Asia allows older students to develop cross-culture experiences through exchanges.
In addition to a rigorous and challenging academic programme, JIS also runs lively sports, music, art and drama programmes in which students are presented with many opportunities to develop their skills and interests outside the classroom.
Physical Education forms an integral part of the curriculum at the school and is also a major area of extra-curricular activity. It is considered a healthy way to develop pupils’ physical competence and confidence. It also promotes physical coordination, physical development and knowledge of the body in action. House competitions and after school clubs also provide the chance to learn and participate in sport. The important thing is to join in!
Our teachers deliver lessons designed to develop creativity using a variety of media and techniques in art and craftwork. An awareness of colour, shape, balance, focus and proportion are developed alongside the use of symbols to convey ideas and feelings. Students study a wide range of artists, craftspeople and designers. These studies do not remain solely in the classroom as we invite artists every year to hold workshops in their field.
Drama includes dramatic play, story enactment, imagination journeys, theatre games, music and dance. Whilst not every child can be expected to be a natural performer, through plays and performances we aim to help every pupil develop a sense of ease in public situations. Our whole school productions also contribute to fostering a strong sense of community within the school.
Educational excursions provide the opportunity to learn more about the world around us and provide pupils with the opportunity to develop their group and social skills in different settings. All pupils including those in the Early Years and Primary School go on local excursions for the day, usually relating to an aspect of the curriculum being covered.
Music has a fundamental place within the curriculum at JIS.