Looking Outward
"What do they know of England who only England know?" asked the well-travelled Rudyard Kipling of his narrow minded neighbours. When we have experiences beyond the familiar we not only learn new things about the outside world, but see our own assumptions more plainly as well.
At ISA we are very much in the world of international education, and that is where our assumptions rest; it is important not to forget how much we can learn from our host country. For example, our pastoral team often look at the practices and resources in Scotland’s Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC). Once a semester we invite the team lead from Aberdeen City’s social services to review how we deal with wellbeing and child protection issues and give us advice. Our school nurse helps families in need to access local child mental health and occupational health services. We have recently established links with a police liaison officer to keep abreast of issues in the area. We have good relationships with local charities such as Women’s Aid and Drugs Action, that keep us informed as a school and can also help individuals.
Engaging with the outside world is also an opportunity to see what we do well. Last month, I was at a presentation by Education Scotland’s strategic director. He was unveiling plans for the further development of education in this country. He highlighted three key ideas: a curriculum review cycle, concept based learning and interdisciplinary learning. I talked to him afterwards as these are all things that ISA already does: in August he will come and take a look at what we do at ISA.
The Council of International Schools has already asked us to share our work on student voice and agency with other international schools. When the CEO of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS) visited this week, she suggested that thinking behind our high school leaving certificate would enrich the Scottish government commission looking into this issue.
Being open to other perspectives can only ever be enriching - to learn about others is the best way to learn about yourself.
This week, Grade 4 ventured beyond our narrow shores, risk-taking discoverers of something new.
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