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BEPS extends its teaching philosophy for secondary aged students TEXT: ANNA VILLELEGER | PHOTOS: BEPS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
This September, the renowned BEPS International School in Brussels – currently catering for pupils aged two and a half to 12 – will expand with a new secondary department. We spoke to the head of school Pascale Hertay to learn more about how the establishment will extend its well-recognised educational approach, which advocates international mindedness and personal learning, from its primary school to the next level. “We will continue to promote our core values for the secondary school students,” explains Ms. Hertay. “These core values include creating a family-like environment, considering the individual needs of the student, using rigorous international curricula for each phase of development and providing them with the values and attributes they need to become global citizens.” At primary level, BEPS follows the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), a comprehensive, thematic, creative curriculum, offering a clear process of learning and specific learning goals for each 80 | Issue 52 | April 2018
subject. International mindedness and personal learning are high on the agenda. Deciding upon a secondary school curriculum that was in line with the school’s vision and values was fundamental, and the Middle Year Programme (MYP) and the Diploma Programme (DP) of the International Baccalaureate (IB) emerged as the perfect choice. “The IB is an ambitious curriculum offering access to renowned universities around the world,” enthuses Ms. Hertay, pointing out that it will be implemented in a way that fits in with the school’s ethos.
into the attributes of the IB Learner Profile for the students to become well prepared for adult life. For this reason, at BEPS ‘teachers’ are ‘learning facilitators, mentors or coaches’ who can challenge, support and guide students. This means students are encouraged to engage in authentic learning experiences. “For example, art classes will include visiting a working artist in his or her atelier and P.E. lessons will involve going on a real trek,” concludes Ms. Hertay. “This ensures students make sense of what they are learning.”
The width of the IB programme means students continue with subjects ranging from the arts and humanities to maths and science right up to the age of 18, as opposed to the British A-Level system, for example, where students reduce the number of subjects they study. In keeping with BEPS’ principles to develop the whole child not only academically, the IPC personal goals transfer smoothly
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