As previously mentioned in my Blog, Chris Binge and Gareth Stevens are coming to present at Peak School on the evening of the 8th of May starting at 6pm. This presentation is mainly aimed at the parents of our Year 4-6 children but anyone is welcome.
The agenda will be;
1. Island School Building Redevelopment. What will happen in the next few years?
2. Curriculum Development at Island School. What are Island Time and Island Futures?
3. Questions
An invite letter from Chris Binge, Principal, Island School;
Dear Parents,
You are invited to an information evening on various aspects of the changes to Island School. The evening will be presented by Chris Binge, the Principal and Gareth Stevens, the Vice Principal. We will describe the developments that have taken place and those that are coming up in the future. These will be grouped around two headings: Buildings and Curriculum.
As you will know the current Island School buildings are on Borrett road in Mid Levels. These school buildings are approaching the end of their useful life and it is an ESF priority to build a new Island School. However this raises several questions such as where a new school should be, what it should look like and how large it will be. Some of the answers to these questions are out of our hands, as we await Government decisions, but we have already engaged architects who are involved in the first study. We will explain where we have got to so far, and what the prospects are for the future.
Like all the secondary schools in ESF, the Island School curriculum has changed significantly in recent years. The introduction of the IB Diploma, and the BTEC applied learning courses has given a coherent and successful final two years to the curriculum resulting in excellent results and university entrances. As you know the Primary schools have also changed their curriculum, adopting the IB PYP programme. This raises the question of what and how we should be teaching in between the IB PYP and The IB Diploma, and this has been an exciting debate at Island School, as it has in all ESF schools. This year we introduced the cross disciplinary course Island Time. This will be developed further next year, and the year after will see the introduction of Island Futures for years 9 to 11. Exactly how this will look is yet to be finalised, but we hope to give you a view on the aims of a new programme.
There will also be time for you at ask questions on both issues. We look forward to seeing you.
Kind Regards
Chris Binge
Princpal
Island School