An Update on the International Section of

An Update on the International Section of the Lyceum Alpinum

The past academic year has seen the International Section of the Lyceum grow and develop in leaps and bounds. Having a great team of like-minded people has helped us here. The newly honed DIS office led by Marie-Louise Brown, assisted and supported by David Ardley and Erna Romeril, work fantastically well together as a supporting and guiding mechanism to the team of teachers in our care, but also in contributing to whole school development.

Im vergangenen Schuljahr ist die Internationale Abteilung des Lyceums gewachsen und hat sich weiterentwickelt. Ein grossartiges Team von Gleichgesinnten hat uns geholfen, das neu geschliffene DIS-Büro perfekt einzustimmen. Marie-Louise Brown als Leiterin, David Ardley und Erna Romeril arbeiten als unterstützender und lenkender Mechanismus für ihr Lehrerteam, aber auch als Beitrag zur Entwicklung der gesamten Schule sehr gut zusammen.

We have been fortunate that for the first time in a while, our teaching team has remained constant, without much change. This year saw one new addition to our teaching team (Andrew White as our BTEC and Business teacher) and Mark Ross came in to the mix following a re-shuffle within our Mathematics department where Diana Maxwell has taken over the Head of Department role. This staff stability gives students at the Lyceum consistency and a continuum of learning that in many international schools is sometimes difficult to achieve or maintain. It also gives colleagues a chance to get to know each other, develop, and work together – all vital to the continuing development of a good school and honing the quality of our ‘Teaching and Learning’ and our whole school community.

On the back of this, our IB results this year were the Lyceum’s best to date with regard to our overall average. All but one student gained their IB Diploma, and our pioneering Certificate Student achieved a double starred Distinction with his work and passed his Diploma subjects with high grades. This was, as many of you have read and seen across news and social media,

amidst a truly chaotic and upsetting ‘non exam’ situation where algorithms and internal assessment grades tipped the grading process on its head. All of us in the DIS office team worked through the summer pushing for remarks and reviews of results. The commitment paid off, and 27 appeals saw grades go up. In a few cases, this meant students either securing their Diploma and/or getting into their first university of choice. It was not all a bed of roses, but given the global upheaval and frustration with the grading policy and method with this May 2020 subject awards, the Lyceum has eventually fared better than many.

With regard to internal initiatives, we have had both the Council of International Schools (CIS) re-accreditation visit and an International Baccalaureate review. Both were very helpful, positive and supportive and as I write this, we are addressing the areas highlighted by the CIS to submit back to them to show that we are not complacent in addressing any areas where we can improve – and improve with aplomb.

We are delighted to announce that the Lyceum has passed the accreditation process to offer the International General Certificate of Education (iGCSE) suite of examination courses as provided by Cambridge International Education (CIE). The postponed team visit from last year happened in September. This allows our students to follow a suite of subjects through to externally moderated and assessed examinations. This not only serves as a firm foundation for entry into our two International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) programmes (Diploma and Certificate) but it will also serve as an attractive proposition to potential clients globally who see the CIE iGCSE as a robust academic and creative standard. Our ‘pre iGCSE’ programme (DIS1-3) will serve as preparation years for the qualification. We believe it will give our students and teachers a strong focus and will help prepare our students for the rigorous, creative, challenging and rewarding iGCSE award recognised globally.

The DIS is also applying for accreditation with the World Academy of Sport (WAoS) which is an exciting and unique opportunity. In brief, the aim with the WAoS is not to turn schools into arenas of sporting excellence, but offer opportunity for schools to work in supporting students across a myriad of sporting and academic endeavour. For example, Dr Wittmer has already shared the success of one of our elite athletes who is a skier with the Chinese National Olympic squad. Accreditation with the WAoS allows us to work with the IB Organisation in developing a hybrid three year Diploma course of study to allow him to weave his training in with his academic studies. Accreditation will also allow us to develop initiatives with Olympic athletes who can visit to coach and give talks to students and staff. In addition, our teaching staff can receive help with Continued Professional Development (CPD) and work on business and entrepreneurial opportunity for students who want a career in sport, sport management or any of the businesses that circulate sport (branding, HR, PR, marketing, sponsorship and so on). At the time of writing, we are in the middle of the process but it is an exciting opportunity that will offer another string to our curriculum bow of growth and opportunity for students at the Lyceum, Zuoz.

We are looking forward to the rest year and the exciting opportunities on the horizon. We are committed to helping the school move forward from being simply a «good» school, to being an outstanding one. This requires a team effort, and a combined focus, from all stakeholders and we believe that we have that in place. Exciting times ahead!

DIS Office David Ardley, Assistant Head International Section