Discover Germany | Special Theme | Top International Schools
Grades 1 and 2 presenting Jack and the beanstalk play. Ukulele Club after school activity.
English class reading time grade 3.
Global thinking and local action from the International School Mainfranken School director Brandie Smith explains to readers of Discover Germany how the International Baccalaureate (IB) works and why she believes her school stands out from the crowd. TEXT: STIAN SANGVIG I PHOTOS: CLAUDIA SCHWEIGER
Beautifully situated between Würzburg and Nuremberg amongst the hilly forests and the wine-growing regions of Franconia, Northern Bavaria, one can find the International School Mainfranken. Home to a team of multilingual teachers and staff from five continents, the learning community aims to teach its 110 students, who themselves are from 26 different countries, the essential skills of life and the modern world from an international 70 | Issue 43 | October 2016
perspective. “Our goal is to prepare each student to think globally and act locally whilst teaching maths, languages, sciences and the other essential subjects,” head of school and Canadian national Brandie Smith explains. The school’s curriculum is based on the globally recognised International Baccalaureate (IB). Discover Germany is keen to understand the difference
between this approach and the local state systems, most of which in Europe are known for their high standards. “The IB stands out through its education philosophy,” Smith says. “With the students at the centre, our methodology ensures they can move on to the next level by focussing more on the development of their intellectual and personal skills,” she elaborates. Rather than taking what the teachers tell them at face value, students are encouraged to question their teachers to get to the heart of the matter in a way that encourages positive and constructive debate. “Students learn that different is different and not wrong,” Smith continues.