Annual Report 2022-2023

Annual Report 2022-2023

06-11

Welcome

Letter from the Chairman Meet our Board of Governors Letter from the Principal

18-19 School Council & Parliament Primary School Council Secondary Student Parliament

In Memory of Mr James Roberts

14-17

School Highlights Primary School Highlights Secondary School Highlights

22-29 Celebrating our Community

A Multi-cultural Environment Staff Appreciation Learning Through Giving Friends of St George’s Empowering Community Events

2

Annual Report 2022-2023

32-39

54-59

Student Achievement

Finance

Income and Expenditure Accounts

Early Years Foundation Stage

Balance Sheet

Primary School

Luxembourg Government Subsidy Law

Secondary School

Stability and Building Fund Accounts

Results 2023

Budget 2023

University Destinations Where in the World are they Studying?

The Graduates of the Class of 2023 St George’s Alumni

46-53 School Updates

St George’s Eco School The Creative Arts Sport at St George’s Nurturing Talent

Annual Report 2022-2023

3

4

Annual Report 2022-2023

Welcome to Established in 1990, St George’s International School is an inclusive, dynamic international community of over 850 students from 3 to 18+ years. The school is dedicated to delivering an outstanding education and nurturing learning environment that enables students to grow into the best possible version of themselves.

Annual Report 2022-2023

5

Letter from the Chairman Stefan Ziegenhagen Chairman of the Board of Governors

A very heartfelt “Moien” to all of you, The School Year of 2022/2023 stands out as a year of change and impact. This is true for me personally too, as this is my first year as the Chair of your Board of Governors, and there have been a few challenges, both for the governing body and the School as a whole. However, these are nothing that we cannot overcome together, and we will grow, and are growing, ever stronger in the process.

2022 has seen the end of the mandated term of the School’s remaining ‘first generation’ of Governors, from its formation back in 2013.

My predecessor as Chair, Mr. Charlton, and my fellow governors, Mr. Morvilli, Ms. Munari, Mr. Sardelli, and Ms. Shtayeh, were all key contributors to the school’s governance since then, and I would like to extend a “grand merci” to them for their efforts and commitments.

Together, they helped make our School “the” school in Luxembourg that we all love and respect. They have been reinforced by a ‘second generation’ of Governors - Ms. Aouadi, Ms. Luchetta, Ms. Restivo and Dr Ziegler – whose addition has helped the Board of Governors to further improve the governance of the School. We also draw now on the support of the increasing number of parent volunteers for the Board’s various committees and work groups.

Without doubt, it has been a school year of enormous, geopolitical change, with the repercussions of the War in Ukraine reaching our doorsteps here in Luxembourg, at the heart of Europe, impacting our School financially and economically in the process. Inflation has been raising its head again after long years of stability, and with about 80% of the school’s budget consisting of our staff salaries, every mandatory, inflation-driven, Luxembourg index increase has a substantial impact on the school’s finances. Together with other steep cost increases such as heating & energy, this led to unavoidable school fee increases for the new school year 2023-2024, however the Board of Governors, in the interest of the school’s parents, kept them restrained within the limits of school’s financial circumstances.

The Board and the management of the School are working constructively with the school’s Staff Delegation when it comes to all staff related matters, their wellbeing and their remuneration. I am therefore pleased that the school and the Staff Delegation were able to negotiate and sign in June 2023 a new Collective Bargaining Agreement for the next 3 years, providing a stable platform going forward. I would like to commend every single member of the school staff for their dedication, enthusiasm and professionalism in making our school one of the best schools in Luxembourg, if not the world – even though I do accept that I am probably a little biased when I say that.

I am also particularly pleased that I could contribute over the past two years, initially in my role as chair of the Buildings & Projects Committee under the leadership of Phillip Charlton, and later as chair of the Board, to converting the School’s largest ever building project into a reality on the ground. I should add that the project is our new gymnasium and is 80% financed by the Luxembourg Government and is using the School’s ring fenced building fund for this purpose, with a neutral impact on the school’s budget.

I am really proud that our School, on completion of the project in 2024-2025, will finally have the outstanding sports facilities that our School and its students, parents and staff were looking forward to for so long and so thoroughly deserve. I would like to thank all students, parents and staff for their patience and understanding during the long wait, and the inconveniences of a substantial building site on the school’s premises, while we are all watching our new Elsy Jacobs Gymnasium take shape.

Turning to our students, 2022-2023 turned out to be another excellent year for our graduates, with deservedly strong results that will allow so many of them to go on to a University place of their choice. As they finally leave their school education behind, it was a privilege to see them off on their graduation day, at the doorstep of the life full of learning ahead.

In addition, as always, we say goodbye to a number of other St George’s students, who will complete their school education either here in Luxembourg or other countries. Hence, I would like to remind all former St George’s Students that, wherever they may go in life, they will always remain alumni of our school.

On a more somber note, the school experienced the unexpected death, in March 2023, of our brilliant science teacher, James Roberts, and this has touched our entire community, but, in particular, his students, deeply. I had the pleasure personally to appreciate Mr. Roberts’ dedication to our school and its students while my son was in one of his classes. He is sorely missed by all of us.

“Achieving potential through challenge and care” is our School’s motto and Mr Roberts really lived it. So, let’s all continue in his footsteps.

Kind regards

Stefan Ziegenhagen Chair of the Board of Governors

6

Annual Report 2022-2023

Meet our Board of Governors Mr S Ziegenhagen Chair

Mrs D Ries Vice Chair

Mr C Jacamon Vice Chair

Ms M Aouadi

Ms N Barrett

Mrs S Eriksson

Ms A Hayat

Ms P Luchetta

Mrs H Montague

Ms L Restivo

Mr P Schon

Mr P Schonenberg

Mr Y Somekh

Mr K Wilson

Dr G Ziegler

Introducing our Committee Members During the academic year 2022-23, the following individuals were committee members of the Finance & Resources; Learning & Standards; and School Infrastructure Committees: Committee Members of School Infrastructure:

Mrs O Akhibi-Okenyi Mr V Lekens Ms N Jancso-Sanderson

Committee Members of Learning & Standards

Mrs L Frank Mrs A Rujoiu

Committee Members of Finance & Resources:

Mr O Guerrero Luque Mr S Nye Mr A Tzanetis

Annual Report 2022-2023

7

Letter from the Principal Dr Christian Barkei Principal Dear parents and friends of the school, Welcome to the Annual Report for 2022/2023 of St George’s International School in Luxembourg.

This document serves as our formal report to our parents and the wider community on the activities of the school during the past year.

We were absolutely delighted to be able to return to our regular timetable after the constraints the Covid-19 pandemic had placed upon us as a school and our community previously. This meant not just that we could teach our students physically at school but we were also able to return to our regular extensive programme of curricular enrichment with performances in the artistic, musical and dramatic fields as well as a very wide range of day trips indeed and many longer residential excursions as well. Our more senior students of course also undertook their regular public examinations, and I am very pleased by the fact that they have chosen such a wide range of universities and courses after graduation. You will find full details of these in our report. Equally I would like to reach out to students of ours who may have left us for other countries or schools before graduation – we see you as an integral and vital part of the St George’s family and welcome you back to visit anytime you have a chance!

After extensive planning, I am pleased to announce that the school’s new gymnasium is currently in the construction phase and is set to reach completion during 2025. This state-of-the-art facility will open up exciting sporting prospects for our students, enabling us to host international competitions and engage in friendly matches with local and international schools on our site.

Our whole community enthusiastically supported charities and communities both locally and internationally – whether it was students volunteering at the Luxembourg Red Cross, our primary choir singing Christmas carols on the Place de Paris or in Echternach, students helping to host the first TEDx Luxembourg City Salon at the school or students and staff developing and enriching our Gambia Partnership Collective.

8

Annual Report 2022-2023

Everywhere they went students and staff tried manner to engage with every student in their care very hard to help, reach out and support; in and equally and just as importantly to help any our true St George’s fashion. Two particular child in need of support or encouragement. This highlights were of course the traditional Summer attitude was exemplified in no small measure Fayre in June as well as the opportunity to mark by our colleague Mr James Roberts who sadly the coronation of King Charles III and Queen passed away suddenly earlier this year. We Camilla a little earlier in the year. We were very were a community united in grief, but equally I pleased to be able to welcome students, families was heartened by the engagement and support and friends to celebrate on both students, staff and families occasions. showed in the days and weeks There is much to view in our following to both his family and Learning should annual report – and you may to each other. Our thoughts notice a particular focus on and remain with James’ family at be accessible to engagement with ecological everyone, with every this time, may his memory be a matters, the performing arts student able to reach blessing in the time ahead. and sporting activities. These We believe at St George’s that their full potential are all items and topics that within an environment learning should be accessible matter tremendously in helping to everyone, with every student that is positive and our students enjoy their time at able to achieve their full supportive. school, make sense of the world potential within an environment around them and develop and that is positive and supportive. strengthen their sense of duty This philosophy is at the heart and care. of everything we do and is exemplified in our The Governing Body is a body of individuals motto ‘achieving potential through challenge who work tirelessly and for little or no reward and care’. or recognition to support and develop the school. My sincere thanks and gratitude goes With my best regards, to all the members of the Governing Body who encouraged us this year under the leadership of Mr Stefan Ziegenhagen. Their care for the school allows us to make the School a better place, day by day.

My colleagues across the whole School have Dr Barkei worked relentlessly and in a most professional Principal Annual Report 2022-2023

9

In memory of Mr James Roberts 1976 – 2023

You were the most amazing teacher and a great friend that I was so lucky to have. I always looked forward to your lessons as you made them enjoyable, and you were such an inspiration and great role model making me want to study biology in the future. You always supported every student no matter what. I will miss the crazy faces we would pull when seeing each other in the corridor and all the funny stories you would tell us during class.

- Mr Roberts’ Biology Student

10

Annual Report 2022-2023

Annual Report 2022-2023

11

12

Annual Report 2022-2023

School Highlights Annual Report 2022-2023

13

Highlights in Primary Ms Claire Nuttall

Headteacher (Primary)

It is always a pleasure to look back and see the many accomplishments of students across the school. This has been a year for enjoying the great outdoors, even when the weather has not been great. Students have made excellent use of our outdoor classroom, with our strong environmental focus celebrated on a national platform during our symposium. It is wonderful to see classes growing vegetables, working on outdoor projects, taking part in forest walks, and learning outside. Here are some of our highlights:

Talent Shows

Talent Shows were held in Mileposts 2 and 3. Lea won the MP3 show with her gymnastics routine, while Nunu came second playing the piano, and Federico, Marco and Maria were joint third. Manlin’s fantastic piano performance earned her first for Year 3 in the MP2 show, while Amelie took first for Year 4.

Book Week

Book Week was a highlight with students dressing up as their favourite book characters and attending workshops by authors including Thomas Schoos (Wooow!!! Luxembourg), Agathe Demois (Cache-cache Ville), Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet (SuperTato) and Nick Arnold (Science Horrible). There was also a secondhand book fair.

Bee Musical

Year 3 students highlighted why the world needs bees during their stage production of The Bee Musical in February. Parents and fellow students enjoyed the colourful and informative show and left with ideas of how they could help ‘save the bees’.

EYFS Shows

Nursery and Reception classes staged wonderful shows for their parents this year. Nursery classes performed Into the Woods, while Reception students staged two performances of Dream Big.

Primary students enjoyed day trips and residential trips this year. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) students took short adventures to the recycling centre and butterfly garden, while Year 3 went to Robbesscheier, Year 4 went to Bollendorf and Year 5 discovered the history and highlights of Trier.

Dinant

Year 6 students spent five days in Dinant at the beginning of October, orienteering, climbing, cycling and zip-lining, as well as visiting the Citadel and Adolph Sax Museum. There was also a quiz night, in which they discovered secrets about their teachers, and a disco.

14

Annual Report 2022-2023

Recycling Centre

Reception students visited a recycling centre in Strassen in March where they learned about the processes involved in recycling materials. The students helped sort materials for recycling and discussed the harmful effects of disposing waste into the environment.

Outdoor Learning

House T-shirts Competition

Artificial Intelligence

All Stars Maths Challenge

Andy Instone

Architect and Civil Engineer

Students were encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas about improving outdoor learning and each class was encouraged to ‘Invite Nature In’. Teachers were given additional training, a bank of online resources was compiled and outdoor learning boxes were created.

Year 12 students Laura and Morgan delivered workshops on artificial intelligence to Year 6 classes as part of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and maths) Week. The students learnt how information is given to computing algorithms using binary code and how images, text and data are converted into this code.

Students attended workshops and motivational talks in December with Andy Instone, a dancer who runs his own company Urban Strides. Mr Instone, a member of the creative team for Young Voices, helped the students prepare for their participation in the Young Voices musical event for primary school children at the O2 Arena in London on 19th January.

A competition was held to find designs for new house T-shirts in Primary.

Students from all year groups entered the competition and their artwork was displayed in the corridors before judging. The winners were Federico, Year 6, Fire; Alicia, Year 6, Water; Elena, Year 5, Earth; Layana, Year 3, Wind.

St George’s students answered almost 31,000 questions to finish 4th in the COBIS and Century Maths All Stars Challenge Competition in March. Heading into the final days of the competition, the students from Years 3 to 6 were excited to be in 7th place in their category. The students answered more than 30,800 questions correctly, which means that on average, each student answered 119 questions correctly.

Year 2 classes learnt about the construction of the school’s new gymnasium during a talk with the project’s architect, civil engineer and St George’s finance manager, Madame Kruten. The students saw renderings of the building, looked at floor plans, heard about the importance of the building’s foundations and asked a variety of questions about the construction and the finished building.

Our Gambia collaboration has been incredible this year. Our students have shared their knowledge in a global movement focused on sharing collaborative practices. The partnership was cemented when two of our teachers visited Batokunku School, organising live link-ups between students across the two continents. We are also proud that our fundraising not only supported resources in the local school but has also contributed towards the building of a maternity clinic in the local village.

My thanks, as always, go to the staff and students of St George’s, but also to the wider community for coming in and supporting us. All support and contributions to our curriculum have been much appreciated.

Best wishes,

Ms Claire Nuttall

Headteacher (Primary)

Annual Report 2022-2023

15

Highlights in Secondary Ms Claire Simmonds Acting Headteacher (Secondary) Our school values of achieving potential through challenge and care continue to guide our effective classroom practice which enables our students to achieve highly. It has been another excellent year for academic progress and curriculum achievement across the school. The academic outcomes and remarkable achievements of our students and staff explained in this report, demonstrate the very positive impact of our school on the future educational opportunities and life chances for our students. It was a very difficult task to pick the highlights, but here are just a few examples:

Night @ the Musicals

Students from Years 7 to 13 presented an evening of song and appreciation of musical theatre. Held in the Auditorium in November, the event showcased famous musical numbers of past and present. The event gave students an opportunity to perform in public with musical and theatrical direction.

Shakespeare Festival

St George’s hosted Luxembourg’s first Shakespeare Schools Festival for students aged 12 to 16 years at Neimënster Abbey on 12th January. There were six performances, including three by students from St George’s, two performances by ISL students and another by students from the European School Kirchberg.

Bucket Drumming

Year 8 students showcased their skills in ensembles during a unit on rhythm and bucket drumming.

Students attended a workshop with Ms Potin, one of the drumming teachers at St George’s, and then wrote, rehearsed and performed original multi-part beats.

Step Off Competition

The Year 7 Step Off Competition in December showed the highest skill level seen in four years of the competition. Students created routines, learnt complex rhythmic steps and rehearsed and polished them for the semi-finals.

The winners were Sofia, Isabel, Zayd and Adriana; second Maxime, Grisha, Vittoria, Stefan and Biasar; and third Nicholas, Alejandro, Maxim and Jamie.

Students in all Key Stages attended trips this year, whether for their year group, subject or special interests, such as sport, debating and drama. Destinations included London, Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, Stuttgart and more.

Porto

Sixth Form students had an action-packed week of activities in the mountains of the Gerês, north of Porto. Students did rock climbing, orienteering, kayaking and treetop assault courses, and spent two days exploring the cultural, historical and culinary delights of Porto.

16

Annual Report 2022-2023

Iceland

Year 10 students took in the sights and sounds of Iceland in the final weeks of the school year. Highlights included visits to Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Plant and Fridheimar Tomato Greenhouse, while seeing geysers, black basalt beaches, hot springs and more.

Competitions Generation Euro

St George’s teams came first and second in the prestigious Generation Euro economics competition in April. Ana, Stefan, Albert and Mathilda took first place, while Jermy, Pietro and Noe placed second. The students took on the role of the European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council members and proposed a monetary policy for the euro area. The students received prizes including gift cards, BCL collectors coins and paid internships at Banque Centrale du Luxembourg.

UKMT Intermediate Maths

Students from Years 9 to 11 participated in the Intermediate Mathematical Challenge (UKMT) in February, a 60-minute paper that tests problem-solving and logic skills. Eight students from St George’s were in the top 9 per cent, earning themselves gold certificates, 13 students were in the top 17 per cent, achieving silver certificates, and 15 students achieved bronze certificates (top 25 per cent).

Top of the Bench Chemistry

Alessandro FP in Year 10 received a bronze medal in the Cayleigh Mathematical Olympiad, putting him in the top 100 Year 9 to 11 students globally. Alessandro was in Year 9 when he sat the Olympiad, making his achievement even more remarkable. He was one of 600 students to qualify for the challenge.

St George’s teams performed exceptionally well at the Top of the Bench Chemistry Competition in Belgium in December. Team Fluorine, with Anastasia S (Year 11), Ivan K (Year 10), Giulio Z (Year 9) and Eva G (Year 9) finished second, with Team Copper’s of Luke F (Year 11), Sara G (Year 10), William H (Year 9) and Marta A (Year 9) finishing third.

Dr Guy Sutton

Prep for Life Day

Cayley Maths Olympiad

Workshops A-Level biology and psychology students attended workshops in October by Dr Guy Sutton, a leading authority in psychiatry and brain disorders. Year 12 students dissected brain tissue, while Year 13 students looked at the impact of drugs and their associated biochemical pathways.

Year 8 students attended the inaugural Prep for Life Day in June, learning valuable life skills such as cooking, how to vote in Luxembourg, ironing and laundry, first aid, how to fact check, smart food shopping, car maintenance and more. The event also introduced students to careers they may not have considered.

I am immensely grateful to all our staff for their enthusiasm, determination and perseverance in ensuring our school continues to transform the lives of our students and helping them to fulfil their potential. I would also like to thank all our students, who bring energy, curiosity and determination to school daily, and their families who continue to work in partnership with us.

Best regards,

Ms Claire Simmonds

Acting Headteacher (Secondary)

Annual Report 2022-2023

17

Primary

School Council The Primary School Council consists of a group of students tasked with putting forward initiatives throughout the Primary school.

Members of the Primary School Council at their stand at the Summer Fayre (left) and selecting the winners of the House T-shirt Competition.

Giving Primary students a voice

The Primary School Council was involved in several projects and initiatives this year. Among the highlights was helping to choose the designs to feature on the new House T-shirts in Primary, and working closely with the Gambia Collective Partnership and the Eco-Agents.

The students ran a stall at the Summer Fayre in June to raise money for the Gambia Collective Partnership and also made and sold Christmas decorations for the same cause. They voted for the winning Christmas door frames in a festive competition, and interviewed teachers and Dr Barkei for the Yearbook.

Another highlight of the year was helping to arrange a talent show for Milepost 3 students and making posters to promote events in school, including World Book Day.

The winning House T-shirt Designs

Earth: Elena, Year 5

Fire: Federico, Year 6

We are truly grateful for the exceptional education and support that St George’s has provided to our daughter throughout her time at the school.

The dedication and hard work of the teachers and staff has had a significant impact on her academic, social and emotional development.

- Parent of Reception student, 2023

Water: Alicia, Year 6

18

Annual Report 2022-2023

Wind: Layana, Year 3

Secondary

Student Parliament The Student Parliament is dedicated to making the school a place where everybody feels part of a community and comfortable to express their ideas.

Members of the Secondary Student Parliament

Student Parliament awareness campaign

Thirty-three committed students are allocated across five ministries:

Ministry of Careers Ministry of & Employability Climate Action

Ministry of Student Ministry of Health Learning & Achievement & Wellbeing

Ministry of Diversity & Culture

Focus on collaboration in 2022-2023

Fundraising activities and events were on the agenda for Student Parliament, keeping members busy throughout the year. The students raised €1,062 for their chosen charities, which this year included Kriibskrank Kanner and the Alzheimer’s Society. Fundraising events included a Halloween fancy dress, cake sale and face painting, Valentine’s Day rose sale, table tennis tournament, PTSC (parent-teacherstudent conference) healthy snack sale, Snack Attack, anti-bullying bracelet sale and thrift shop sale.

This year there was a focus on collaborating with the Student Leadership Team (SLT), which consists of the Head Boy and Girl and Deputy Head Boy and Girl. The Ministry of Diversity & Culture also worked closely with the Community Ambassadors from Sixth Form, while the Ministry of Careers & Employability worked with Careers Advisor Mrs Hudson and the Sixth Form SLT. Student Parliament had 33 members across five ministries, which support the school’s Improvement Plan.

They focused on diversity, wellbeing, careers awareness, fighting climate change, and acknowledging and improving the students’ learning and achievement.

Ministry-specific activities this year included a careers lunch and careers information board on nonuniversity options and routes from the Ministry of Careers & Employability; walking club and working on Anti-Bullying Week, Mental Health Week and SHARP awareness from the Ministry of Health & Wellbeing; assisting with the Beyond COP21 Symposium and sharing environmental news from the Ministry of Climate Action; reviewing the reward system in Key Stages 3 and 4 and helping with Taster Weeks from the Ministry of Student Learning & Achievement; and promoting awareness days and weeks, such as Autism Awareness Week, LGBTQ+ History Month and Universal Human Rights Day, from the Ministry of Diversity & Culture.

Annual Report 2022-2023

19

20

Annual Report 2022-2023

Our daughter is very happy at St George’s and we are delighted to witness the enthusiasm with which she starts each school day, her progress and the consistent positive feedback from her teachers.

- A current parent, 2023

Celebrating Our Community Annual Report 2022-2023

21

A Diverse Environment

Many students at St George’s have more than one nationality and the figures below reflect the rich cultural diversity within the school’s community. It is this internationalism that plays a fundamental part in making St George’s an outstanding learning environment. St George’s offers a world-class international education to more than 850 students aged 3 years to 18+ years from 73 countries.

1

Albania

10

Canada

1

34

Algeria

2

32 China

Finland

12

22

Argentina

6

Colombia

1

117 France

Israel

7

Australia

3

Croatia

Germany

18

160

9

1

Cyprus

1

Ghana

3

Ivory Coast

9

Greece

21

Jamaica

Austria

47

Belgium

India

Ireland

5

Italy

1

Bhutan

1

Denmark

10

Grenada

2

Japan

11 Brazil

Egypt

2

Hungary

12

Latvia

9

Estonia

5

Iceland

2

Lebanon

Bulgaria

22

Czech Republic

Fiji

Annual Report 2022-2023

3 2 2

St George’s has families from

Our daughter is very sad to leave St George’s and we will miss St George’s too. Thank you for the positive experience we have had during our children’s stay there.

73

countries

8

– Leavers Survey, 2023

Nigeria

3

Senegal

1

Switzerland

North Macedonia

1

Singapore

1

Syria

Malta

1

Norway

2

Slovakia

2

Thailand

Madagascar

1

Pakistan

1

Slovenia

3

The Gambia

Mauritius

4

Philippines

7

Turkey

2

Mexico

30

South Africa

Poland

South Korea

Ukraine

1

Moldova

11

Portugal

74 Spain

United Arab Emirates

1

Morocco

25

Romania

2

Sri Lanka

189

16

29

14

38

Lithuania

58

Luxembourg

1

Netherlands

3

Russian Federation

7 1

2

4

4

10 1

Sweden

United Kingdom

United States

2

NB: Figures above include all nationalities listed by students, including those with dual nationality.

Uruguay

New nationalities that joined St George’s in 2022-23

Annual Report 2022-2023

23

Staff Appreciation

8:1

42

220

Nationalities Represented

Staff

Student - Adult Ratio

Staff Seniority Awards (September 2022)

Gold

(10+ Years)

Ms Michlmayr (15 years) Ms Ramage (15 years) Mrs Bargache Mrs Crowther Ms Lagny Delatour Mr Plata Acevedo Mrs Tyrrell Mr Wicker

Silver

Mr Boniface Mrs Filko Ms Pillay Mr Stephenson

Ms Radcliffe (15 years) Ms Watson (15 years) Mr Colling Mrs Firth Mrs Pine Mrs Sparvell Mrs Van’t Hof-Buijs

Bronze

Ms Bloom Ms Frisch-Koopmans Ms Maillard Ms Simmonds Ms Valeikaite

24

- Parent, Staff Recognition Scheme, 2023

(5 Years) Mr Browne Mr Mills Ms Post Mrs Thiefain

Mrs Feminia-Flores Mrs Moura Mr Roberts

(3 Years)

Ms Bolhuis Ms Ghazaleh Mrs Mewha Ms Sostaric

Annual Report 2022-2023

My son’s teacher has been great. With his patience and positive attitude, he has helped my son in so many ways. He is caring and responsive, and always willing to help.

Mrs Crawley-Oakes Ms Jacob-Strachan Mrs Nkomo-Rusere Mrs Standring

Mr Ellison Mr Lemon Ms O’Doherty Mrs Van Dongen

Learning through Giving

St George’s is a caring and supportive community dedicated to making a positive impact on others.

Throughout the 2022-2023 school year, students of all age groups were actively encouraged to participate in various fundraising initiatives for the charitable causes of their choice.

The school’s charitable contributions surpassed last year’s contributions by more than double, they raised an impressive €44,553 for the following causes:

World Land Trust

A conservation charity that protects the world’s most biologically significant and threatened habitats, acre by acre.

Brummana School Lebanon

A private school in Lebanon in need of support.

Unicef

Works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives a nd to defend t heir rights.

LUkraine

Created in 2014 by Ukrainians living in Luxembourg, the association now focuses on providing humanitarian support for victims of the Ukraine war.

The Black Curriculum

Develops free resources for schools to teach students about Black history.

Save the Children

Puts the most vulnerable children worldwide first.

Malala Fund

With more than 130 million girls out of school today, the Malala Fund fights for them to have access to education.

Caritas

Supports vulnerable people, including single-parent families, refugees, the homeless, disadvantaged and victims of natural disasters and conflict.

Fondatioun Kriibskrank Kanner

Supports children with cancer and terminal illnesses in Luxembourg.

Alzheimer’s Society

Helps to end the d evastation caused by dementia, through dedicated support and research into life-changing treatments.

Croix-rouge Ukraine Appeal

Rosa Lëtzebuerg

Turkish Earthquake Appeal

Wildlife Conservation Fund

Relais pour la Vie

Funded an emergency response to help people in need in Ukraine.

Darkness into Light

Charity run held around the world to raise money and awareness of suicide and self harm.

Nomi Network

Aims to put an end to h uman trafficking by c reating pathways to s afe employment, empowering woman to b reak cycles of slavery.

Raises awareness of LGBTIQ rights and issues, and works to combat discrimination.

Established in 2010 to save wildlife and wilderness across the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Focuses on addressing t he needs of e arthquake affected families and communities as they work to rebuild a nd recover.

Gives support to those suffering from cancer.

Other charities include: Gambia Partnership Collective, Een Häerz fir kriibskrank Kanner Asbl, African Schools Assistance Project, Anxiety UK, Hamm Church in Luxembourg, Lauren Patterson Memorial School, Manup, Ukrainian Refugees and The Mérite Jeunesse.

Friends of S George’s t

The Friends of St George’s, commonly known as ‘Friends’, was founded in 2014 and operates as a parent association within the school community.

The Friends of St George’s is an active, warm and welcoming group of St George’s parents. Each member serves as an ambassador to new and established families and helps organise events to raise funds for the school’s chosen charities.

This year the Friends formed the Lëtzebuerger Frënn group to encourage parents to meet regularly and practise their Luxembourgish and learn more about the country and its culture. The Friends’ fitness offering was enhanced with the addition of a weekly jogging group and the continuation of the walking and tennis groups.

With the end of Covid restrictions came the return of regular fundraising events and activities, including the popular Chilli Quiz Night, P.E Kit Sale and Ski Gear & Outdoor Clothing Sale.

Weekly Walking Group

and P.E kits, along with baked goods, helped the Friends to raise €888, while the Chilli Quiz Night in November raised €1,270 (the proceeds of which were shared with the Relais pour la Vie/Fondation Cancer) and Garden Tea Party in May raised €587.

The Friends of St George’s completed 35 walks around Luxembourg, covering almost 175 kilometres in all conditions from crunchy snow in the forest to misty mornings in the vineyards. A post-walk soup brunch in October helped to raise €600 for the Lauren Patterson Memorial School.

Fundraising for Ugandan school

The Lauren Patterson Memorial School in Uganda was the beneficiary of the majority of the Friends of St George’s fundraising this year. In addition to paying teachers’ salaries and providing meals for students and teachers, this year’s fundraising also helped to buy desks. Sales of pre-loved ski and outdoor clothing,

26

Annual Report 2022-2023

Lëtzebuerger Frënn

The Friends of St George’s formed a new group this year aimed at helping families integrate into Luxembourg. The Lëtzebuerger Frënn meet regularly to practise simple Luxembourgish and learn about the country and its culture. The group went on outings to restaurants and cultural attractions, such as the Philharmonie and Christmas markets, to put into practise their language skills.

Annual Report 2022-2023

27

Empowering

Community Events

Supporting the community is an important part of life at the school and students, staff and families are encouraged to get involved. This year has been full of community events, both at the school and across Luxembourg, and opportunities to make a difference in the lives of people less fortunate.

Volunteering at the Red Cross

The Sixth Form Community Team raised the spirits of children at the Red Cross Ukrainian refugee centre in the lead-up to Christmas. The students appealed to the community for gifts and cash donations and were overwhelmed to receive more than €3,000 in cash along with gifts of games, dolls, Lego, craft sets and other toys.

Spreading cheer through song

Students in Primary had several opportunities to entertain and delight this year. Among the highlights were Year 4 singing carols at the Winterlights Christmas Market in Place de Paris on Saturday, 3rd December. Years 5 and 6 had their turn singing festive songs from around the world at the Winter Songs Around the Tree event in the Auditorium on Tuesday, 20th December, to raise money for the Gambia Partnership Collective. Year 5 students also ventured north to Echternach on Thursday, 8th December, to entertain residents at The Senior Hotel with their beautiful singing.

The residents were so impressed they invited them back.

TEDx Luxembourg City Salon

Seven St George’s Secondary students got first-hand event-management experience when the school hosted the TEDx Luxembourg City Salon talks on artificial intelligence and virtual reality. As well as working tirelessly on the day of the event to ensure it ran smoothly, the students also helped with the social media campaign, photography and videography.

28

Annual Report 2022-2023

King Charles’ Coronation

St George’s hosted the official Luxembourg celebration of the coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, of the United Kingdom, on Saturday, 6th May. More than 450 people attended the event organised under the auspices of the British Embassy and supported by several other British groups. The Coronation Service was shown on big screens, while stands and activities with a distinctly British flavour were offered by the British Chamber of Commerce, the British Luxembourg Society, the British Ladies Club, the Anglican Church of Luxembourg, Telstar Scouts and British Girlguiding Overseas Luxembourg. The embassies of Ghana and Pakistan, both members of the Commonwealth, also joined the festivities, and Luxembourg’s Minister for Family Affairs and Integration, Corinne Cahen, attended.

Summer Fayre

One of the biggest events on St George’s calendar, this year’s Summer Fayre in June attracted hundreds of visitors. Families and staff volunteered to run stands selling food and goods from their countries, while other attractions included face painting, sponge the teacher, bouncy castle and a tombola.

Gambia Partnership Collective

Primary students and staff continued their fundraising and collaboration with the Batokunku Lower Basic School this year as part of the Gambia Partnership Collective.

Primary teachers Mrs Crawley-Oakes and Ms Bermingham spent a week in the Gambia in February working with the children at Batokunku, modelling lessons, leading a staff meeting and learning about the country, before sharing their experiences back in Luxembourg.

A key focus was to research environmental initiatives across the country and strengthen the eco link between St George’s and Batokunku Lower Basic School.

The St George’s community worked hard fundraising to support Batokunku School and its wider community, and after establishing the priority needs, a range of equipment was sourced from the local market including workbooks, stationery, buckets, brooms and even a speaker for the school’s assemblies.

After witnessing the impact of St George’s fundraising and strengthening the link between the schools, Mrs Crawley-Oakes and Ms Bermingham have no doubt that this is a valuable and meaningful link that will be continued and strengthened for years to come.

Annual Report 2022-2023

29

30

Annual Report 2022-2023

100%

of parents say the curriculum is the most important factor when choosing St George’s

Student Achievement Annual Report 2022-2023

31

Early Years Foundation Stage

Each child is unique, which is why our teaching staff take an individualised approach towards each child, guiding them to reach their full potential in their own way.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Overview

The Foundation stage, for children aged 3-4, focuses on nurturing physical and emotional development and the foundation of literacy, numeracy, communication and language skills.

A primary objective of our EYFS curriculum is to empower children to become independent learners. Each topic is carefully crafted to inspire curiosity and intrigue. In our freeflowing, indoor/outdoor learning environment, children are encouraged to explore, fostering the development of their creativity and problemsolving abilities.

There are seven areas of learning that shape the EYFS curriculum. These include: Expressive Arts and Design Students have the chance to ignite their imagination every day, be it through building dens and castles with blankets, desks and cushions or through role-play and music.

Communication and Language Our approach encourages children to actively engage in their learning process, promoting the development of control, coordination, and movement.

Literacy St George’s offers a wide range of books catering to all interests. Children are encouraged to explore and discover their passion for reading.

32

Annual Report 2022-2023

Mathematics and Numeracy Early mathematics uses mathematical concepts whenever possible in communicating ideas.

Physical Development Children are provided the opportunity to be active and develop their co-ordination, manipulation and movement.

Personal, Social & Emotional Development St George’s supports children in developing a strong, positive sense of themselves and of others.

Understanding the World This area of learning encourages children to explore and investigate the world that surrounds them.

Primary School

Primary School Overview

Nursery

Reception

Foundation Ages 3-4

Year 1

Year 2

Key Stage 1 Milepost 1 Ages 5-6

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

Key Stage 2 Milepost 2 Milepost 3 Ages 7-10

Girls in Tech

St George’s is committed to narrowing the attainment gap of girls in maths and girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), an international issue. This year saw several initiatives in this area, including some inspirational visitors. Director, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and former Secretary General of the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA), Aarti Holla-Maini gave a presentation on satellites and their future, including the development of satellite dishes that can now fit in your hand. Ida Faal, a young Gambian female entrepreneur and remarkable figure in the automotive industry, who was named in the top 100 female mechanics in Africa, impressed with her determination to break down stereotypes. And, a group of Year 6,7 and 8 girls attended a ‘girls in STEM’ workshop with Vodafone. The work and initiatives are paying off as our data shows the gender gap is narrowing. We hope to encourage girls (and boys) to partake in STEM subjects to create an equal gender balance in the world.

Bespoke Curriculum

Underpinned by the National Curriculum for England and Wales, the Primary section of St George’s has devised a bespoke curriculum ensuring that learning is tailored to the school context. This takes into account the local context, with many opportunities to weave in the Luxembourgish culture and history, while also including an international flavour, recognising the broad and varied backgrounds of the students.

From the moment we enrolled our daughter at St George’s, we have witnessed remarkable growth and development in her academic, social and personal skills.

The dedicated and passionate faculty, along with nurturing environment, have contributed immensely to her progress and overall happiness at the school. We appreciate the outstanding efforts made by the teachers and staff to create an engaging and enriching learning environment.

- Parent of Reception student, 2023

Annual Report 2022-2023

33

Primary School Academic Achievement

Aside from the termly assessments in English, mathematics and science, students are also evaluated using standardised assessments on an annual basis. St George’s conducts the Progress Test in English (PTE) and the Progress Test in Mathematics (PTM).

What is the Progress Test in English (PTE)?

The Progress Test in English is a series of tests of English for students from age 5 to 14.

The tests are differentiated according to age and students are tested from Year 1 to Year 6.

The test for the youngest children comprises a short section that assesses phonic knowledge and skills with a reading comprehension exercise based on a single passage.

Children aged 6 and 7 are tested on their English skills and comprehension.

The older Primary students are tested on their English skills (spelling, grammar and punctuation) with a test of reading comprehension based on a narrative and linked non-narrative text.

English

St George’s test results surpass the national average in the UK, with percentages exceeding 77% in the categories of average, above average, and very high.

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

2023

90%

91%

93%

95%

97%

100%

2022 2021

95% 89%

81% 95%

97% 98%

100% 97%

99% 96%

99% 99%

34

Annual Report 2022-2023

What is the Progress Test in Mathematics (PTM)?

The Progress Test in Mathematics (PTM) is a series of age-appropriate tests to ensure that students are making and maintaining good progress in mathematics. Each test assesses aspects of mathematical skills and knowledge, together with the key process skills of fluency, mathematical reasoning and problem-solving.

The PTM series consists of 11 tests: 10 tests covering the age range 5 to 14+ years (Progress Test in Mathematics 5 to 14), plus an additional test for students aged between 11 and 12 years, which can be used as a transition test for entry to secondary education (Progress Test in Maths 11T).

For the youngest children (PTM5, PTM6, PTM7 and PTM8) the teacher reads the questions and the answer options aloud so that the need to read is minimal.

PTM8 to PTM14 tests are in two parts: Mental Maths, and Applying and Understanding Maths.

Mental Maths questions are timed and played from an audio file (or read by the teacher).

Mathematics

St George’s test results surpass the national average in the UK, with percentages exceeding 77% in the categories of average, above average, and very high.

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

2023

100%

96%

96%

94%

97%

100%

2022 2021

94% 95%

93% 94%

97% 96%

100% 98%

91% 98%

98% 94%

Annual Report 2022-2023

35

Secondary School

Secondary Overview

St George’s Secondary School provides its students with a nurturing and supportive learning environment, both within and beyond the classroom. With a student body of over 300, it strikes a balance between being small enough to cater to individual student needs and large enough to offer a diverse academic curriculum enriched with outstanding educational resources and opportunities.

St George’s Curriculum

St George’s International School offers the National Curriculum for England and Wales. This curriculum prepares students to be confident, compassionate and inquisitive individuals, enabling them to take their stand in an increasingly challenging and rapidly changing world. It also includes opportunities for students to develop personally through daily form time, regular assemblies and weekly Personal Development lessons. Our curriculum leads to IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) examinations which are taken at the age of 16 and later A-Level examinations, comprised of A/S Level then A2 Level, taken at the age of 17 and 18. These qualifications are recognised and highly valued by universities worldwide.

I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Examination Classes of 2023. Your achievements are a testament to your hard work, determination, and unwavering perseverance. I would also like to recognize and express my gratitude to our dedicated staff who have played an instrumental role in guiding and supporting our students throughout their educational journey.

– Ms Simmonds, Acting Secondary Headteacher

Exam Results 2023

During the academic year of 2022-2023, students achieved excellent results in IGCSE, A/S and A2 Level exams. The graduating students will be taking up places at universities across Europe, in the United Kingdom, and Asia.

IGCSE (Years 10-11) A/S Level (Year 12) A2 Level (Year 13) 36

Annual Report 2022-2023

Entries

Subjects

A*-C Grades

408

18

96%

134

17

85%

111

14

95%

Overview of the Results 2023

The results achieved by students at St George’s serve as a true indicator of both student achievements and the school’s overall performance. Notably, St George’s consistently performs above average, demonstrating its commitment to academic excellence and high educational standards. To further enhance the bespoke learning experience to individual needs, St George’s also conducts standardised testing. These assessments help establish specific learning targets for each student, ensuring that their educational journey is personalised and effective.

IGCSE 2023 2022 2021

A/S Level 2023 2022 2021

Pass Rate

5 Grades 9-4 (A**- C)

4 or above (C+)

9-7 (A**/A)

100% 100% 100%

98% 95% 98%

96% 96% 98%

56% 67% 74%

Pass Rate

C or above

A/B grades1

99%

85%

75%

100%

95%

84%

100%

83%

71%

1 There is no A* grade available at A/S Level. Therefore the percentages shown represent A/B grades for A/S level exams.

A2 Level 2023 2022 2021

Pass Rate

C or above

A*/B grades

99% 100% 100%

95% 95% 99%

81% 85% 93%

Annual Report 2022-2023

37

University Destinations Where in the world are they studying?

The graduating class of 2023 secured places at the following universities:

University

Degree Course

Bocconi University

Mathematics and Computer Science

Boston College, USA

Liberal Arts

Bristol University

Aerospace Engineering, Mathematics

Brighton University

Business Management

Durham University

Geography, History

Erasmus University Rotterdam

International Economics & Business Economics

ESSEC Business School Paris

Global Business

Glasgow University

Computer Science

Instituto de Empresa Madrid

Business Administration & International Relations, Law & International Relations

Kingston University

Cyber Security

Monash University Malaysia

English Literature, Sports and Exercise Psychology Civil Engineering

Nottingham University

Engineering & Physical Science

University of the Arts, Central St Martins

Product and Industrial Design

University of Sheffield

Electronics and Computing Engineering

Loughborough University

Maastricht University

Global Studies

Oxford University

Politics, Philosophy & Economics, German

University of Surrey

Veterinary Science

University of College London University of St Andrews

English, History, Medical Innovation and Enterprise Medicine

Utrecht University of Applied Science

International Business

University of Kent

38

Annual Report 2022-2023

History & Politics

S George’s Alumni t

over

Over

400

98%

of graduates go on to university

Asia University of Hong Kong Yonsei University, South Korea Monash University, Malaysia Australia University of New South Wales, Sydney Austria University of Vienna Belgium Brussels Business Institute College of Advertising & Design KU Leuven Ghent University Canada McGill University Czech Republic Charles University France American University of Paris Ecole Superieure de Commerce Paris LISAA, School of Design, Paris ESSEC Business School Paris Germany Trier University University of Freiburg Ireland Trinity College Dublin Italy Accademia Italiana University of Genoa University of Milan Universita Bocconi (Milan) Luxembourg Lunex University

120

graduates since 2010

universities wordwide

50

different nationalities

University of Luxembourg Malta Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology Netherlands Amsterdam Fashion Academy Conservatorium Van Amsterdam University of Technology Delft Eindhoven University of Technology Erasmus University Hotelschool The Hague InHolland University of Applied Sciences Leiden University Maastricht University The Hague University of Applied Sciences Universiteit Utrecht University of Amsterdam University of Groningen University of Twente Utrecht University of Applied Science VHL University of Applied Sciences Vrije University Amsterdam Scandinavia Aarhus University, Denmark (2) Haugetun Folkehøyskole, Norway International People’s College University of Copenhagen, Denmark University of Iceland VIA University College (Horsens, Denmark) Spain GBSB Global Business School, Barcelona Geneva Business School (Madrid) Instituto de Empresa Madrid Switzerland Geneva Business School

United Kingdom Aberystwyth University Abertay University, Dundee Aston University Bath Spa University Birmingham City University Bournemouth University Brighton University British & Irish Modern Music Institute Brunel University London Canterbury Christ Church University Court Theatre Training Company Heriot Watt University IDI Hertford University Kingston University Lancaster University Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts London Academy of Freelance Make Up London School of Journalism Loughborough University MetFilm School London Northeastern University Northumbria University Norwich University of the Arts Nottingham Trent University Plymouth University Rose Bruford College (Brighton) Royal Holloway, University of London Southampton Solent University Swansea University University for the Creative Arts University of Aberdeen University of Bath University of Birmingham University of Bristol University of Hull University of Kent University of Liverpool University of Loughborough University of Portsmouth University of St Andrews University of Stirling University of Surrey University of Sussex

University of the Arts London University of Winchester University of Wales Trinity Saint David UWE Bristol University of Oxford University of Cambridge Cardiff University Durham University Imperial College London King’s College London London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Newcastle University Nottingham University Queen’s University Belfast Queen Mary University of London University College London University of Edinburgh University of Exeter University of Glasgow University of Manchester University of Sheffield University of Southampton University of Warwick University of York USA AMDA College of the Performing Arts Los Angeles Bates Boston Brigham Young University, Idaho Boston College, USA Clark University (Boston) Hofstra University, New York Fashion Institute of Technology (New York) Florida International University Northeastern University (Boston) The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute

Annual Report 2022-2023

39

The Graduates

of the Class of 2023

Laurine University: UAL Central Saint Martins Course: Product and Industrial Design

The strongest memories of my time at St George’s have always been from external trips, such as Mérite Jeunesse, Top of the Bench science competition in Belgium, Mediterranean Cup in Verona and residential trips.

My teachers always guided me to achieve my best potential, while remaining understanding of the way I work.

40

Annual Report 2022-2023

The best thing about St George’s is the supportive school environment and element of challenge in classes, which has allowed me to explore my subjects in greater depth beyond the standard syllabus.

The school allows you to drive your academic journey from the start.

Amna Plans after graduation: I will take a gap year, travelling and gaining work experience for my application to study Medicine in 2024.

Our graduates, many of whom have been at St George’s since the early years of their education, are a true testament of the school’s high-quality teaching, a nurturing environment and robust community.

We believe it is important to maintain an ongoing dialogue with the students to ensure the school is still reaching its goal of ‘achieving potential through challenge and care’. This is why each year we ask our newly graduating class about their time at St George’s. Below, you can read some of the insights shared by our students.

My favourite subject at St George’s was maths and the best thing about the school is the teachers. I’d especially like to thank Mrs Radcliffe for making every lesson enjoyable.

Mohamed University: Monash University Malaysia Course: Civil Engineering

I have loved my experience at St George’s, especially because of my friends and teachers. A highlight was this year’s trip to Porto. The best thing about St George’s is the close community.

Anais University: Loughborough University Course: English Literature

Annual Report 2022-2023

41

STG Alumni Association

The school holds immense pride for its alumni and takes every opportunity to applaud their achievements no matter when they left the school.

St George’s maintains a close connection with its alumni through a private Facebook group, facilitating the school’s ability to send updates, communicate upcoming events, share interesting facts, nostalgic photos and more. This platform provides our alumni with an opportunity to network and share their personal achievements.

In January 2023, we had the pleasure of hosting an Alumni Lunch and were thrilled to reconnect with many of our former students who’ve left the school over the years.

Ellen

What I miss most about St George’s is hanging out with my friends and my overriding memory of my time at the school is the graduation.

Beatrice Graduated: 2022 University: University of St Andrews Course: Financial Economics

Graduated: 2020 University: London School of Economics and Political Science Course: International Social and Public Policy

42

Annual Report 2022-2023

St George’s prepared me for life after school by helping me to become self disciplined and ambitious. My advice to current students is not to stress so much.

There’s always a way to reach your goals.

Throughout the school year we saw fewer than 100 students leave the school for various reasons. Among these departures, more than 30 students relocated abroad, while over 30 students successfully graduated. The remaining students opted to transfer to other schools within Luxembourg. We are proud that we can give our students the platform to continue their education whether that be in another school in Luxembourg or abroad.

Luca Graduated: 2015 Company: Lux Aviation Course: Pilot / Business Management Aviation

My overriding memories of St George’s were spending time with my friends and the trips.

What I miss the most is the teachers. Their support prepared me for life after school.

My advice to current students is to study more and do what you enjoy.

St George’s for me was calm and peaceful and I miss the small community.

Ruslan Graduated: 2019 University: University of Dundee Course: Biomedical Science

Sean pictured with Artist, Jeff Koons

Sean

During my time at St George’s, I forged lifelong friendships, gained invaluable knowledge, and developed the skills that continue to guide me on my journey beyond the school’s gates.

Sean left St George’s following the completion of his IGCSEs in Year 11 and is now pursuing a Diploma in Photo & Media Design with Deutsche Pop Akademie in Munich.

Riya

Riya has been with St George’s since EYFS. She has built a sense of belonging at school, comfort with her teachers and has a good circle of friends.

St George’s School has also given her incredible opportunities that helped her to grow and develop both emotionally and intellectually.

Riya departed in Year 6 after completing Primary school. During her time at St George’s she was an Eco-Agent, House Captain and in the school Choir, she is looking forward to applying the valuable skills aquired at St George’s in her new school.

Annual Report 2022-2023

43

44

Annual Report 2022-2023

School Updates Annual Report 2022-2023

45

S George’s Eco School t

St George’s is a proud member of Eco-Schools, a global network that empowers students, raises environmental awareness and improves the school environment while engaging the wider local community and linking to the school curriculum.

This year St George’s hosted the Beyond COP21 Symposium, an event aimed at empowering students to take positive action on climate change.

Beyond COP21 Symposium

St George’s hosted 150 students from seven schools in Luxembourg for a sustainability symposium in April to learn about climate change and develop practical skills to take action.

The Beyond COP21 Symposium, held in Luxembourg for the first time, featured workshops, discussions and networking on sustainability, climate change and the environment.

St George’s hosted the 34th symposium in a global series, which began in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 2016. It was opened by the British Ambassador, Fleur Thomas, and attended by representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development, and the British Chamber of Commerce.

Sustainability Coordinator Anne-Marie McHugh said: “The Beyond COP21 symposium offers an opportunity for us to come together as a school community to build hope through sharing concerns and ideas to help support students on our journey in sustainability.” The workshops and exhibitors were selected to teach practical tools 46

Annual Report 2022-2023

and inspire students to make positive change.

Students engaged in workshops on upcycling clothing, producing films on sustainable topics and building pollinators from recycled materials.

They also attended an interactive exhibition showcasing 11 companies and organisations in Luxembourg that promote sustainability.

Guest speakers included Filip Westerlund, CEO of Our Choice Fashion, and Dr Claudia Hitaj from the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development.

2022 Arch Summit

A group of Secondary students attended the 2022 Arch Summit at Lux Expo in October where they heard Luxembourg’s Minister of Economy, Franz Fayot, give an introductory speech on sustainability and how Luxembourg still has improvements to make. The students met with 20-year-old Sophia Kianni, the United Nations’ youngest member in the Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change, and asked her about her work and climate activism.

Earth Day 2023

Primary students celebrated Earth Day in April and supported the school’s first Sustainability Week with workshops, a dress-up day and more.

Primary staff participated in carbon literacy training from Dr Claudia Hitaj from Luxembourg’s Ministry of Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development, who shared a presentation on ways to reduce emissions as a school and as Luxembourg citizens.

Ms Nuttall officially opened the Primary Greenwall tree nursery, which was inspired by St George’s partner school in Batokunku in The Gambia, which introduced us to the UN project “The Great Greenwall of Africa”.

The Earth Day dress-up theme “Nothing New, Green and Blue” raised more than €330 for The World Land Trust, a charity chosen by Primary’s Eco-Agents.

Students from Years 1 to 5 enjoyed a variety of workshops, including “The Story of Stuff: What a load of rubbish!” by Target4Green, “The Great Treasure Hunt” by SDK (SuperDrecksKëscht) and “Biodiversity and Bird Workshop” by Natur Emvelt.

Year 3 students also took to the garden for the annual planting of sunflowers to help pollinators and birds around the school.

Lët’z Refashion

GCSE and A-level art students learnt about the problems associated with fast fashion and unwanted clothing waste during a visit to Caritas Lët’z Refashion in October. The space hosted an exhibition by The Revival, a movement founded in Ghana to raise awareness of the problems the country is facing with unwanted clothes going to landfill and polluting beaches. The movement promotes reusing and repairing clothes to give them a new purpose. The students had discussions about consumerism and fast fashion, and the need to slow down the effects of climate change. Students then learnt techniques to transform old T-shirts and jeans into new clothes and accessories.

Forest School

Forest School sessions for younger students started this year, allowing students to benefit from the hands-on learning opportunities of a woodland environment. Outdoor learning builds on skills taught and acquired inside and gives students a chance to take on new challenges and risks to investigate in different ways. The sessions were led by Mrs Thomson and took place in the local woodland or on the school field.

Annual Report 2022-2023

47

The Creative Arts The Creative Arts thrive across all the year groups and students benefit from ample opportunities for creative expression through a variety of mediums. Older students engage in projects that empower them to showcase their talents, while younger students are encouraged to explore and experiment freely with their creativity.

Drama

Three Year 8 classes from St George’s participated in the first Shakespeare Schools Festival in Luxembourg in January. The festival was organised by drama teacher, Clare Williams, and involved more than 60 students from St George’s, International School Luxembourg (ISL) and the European School, Kirchberg. St George’s classes performed versions of Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth. The event gave young people the opportunity to play with Shakespeare’s texts, to make them relevant, and to tell the stories their own way, Mrs Williams said. “Studying Shakespeare is a challenge for anyone,” she said. “The old language can be a barrier to understanding the stories, but when performed on stage, these old stories still entertain and enthrall an audience. Even now, 400 years after Shakespeare’s death, the themes of love, ambition, death, fate and free will are still relevant.”

Art

The art departments in Primary and Secondary staged an impressive art exhibition in June with hundreds of parents and VIP guests attending over two evenings. The event was an opportunity to showcase the students’ creativity and individual artistic talent across all year groups.

Students across the school also entered their work into the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) Art Competition, while Secondary students participated in the Inktober Challenge.

48

Annual Report 2022-2023

Music

Music is a key part of school life at St George’s. With state-of-the-art facilities, students of all ages have the opportunity to practise and perform to a high standard. The level of musical talent at St George’s is exceptional and continues to grow each year. Students benefit from class music lessons in Primary and Secondary, and have the opportunity to enrol in private music lessons during class time too. This year 260 students took individual music lessons.

A highlight in Primary this year was performing in Young Voices, a spectacular concert of 8,500 children at the O2 Arena in London in January. On the afternoon of the concert the students rehearsed with the conductor and musicians, and guest performers including the Beatbox Collective, Heather Smalls and violinist Anna Phoebe. The students also participated in workshops with Andy Instone, a member of the Young Voices creative team, in the lead-up to the concert.

143

Piano lessons

17

Voice lessons

20

Percussion lessons

4

Clarinet lessons

22

Violin lessons

1

Trumpet lesson

1

Trombone lesson

2

Flute lessons

3

Recorder lessons

4

Cello lessons

59

Guitar lessons

1

Music theory

The individual music department held recitals in November, March and June to showcase the achievements of the students. Two students in Year 8, Tsipora and Jayani were also invited to sing the British and Luxembourgish national anthems at the celebration of King Charles’ birthday at the British Ambassador’s residence in June.

Twenty students took part in the AMIS (Association for Music in International Schools) online competition. Four students received the top rating of I+, 14 students received the rating I, and two students received II+. Fifteen students undertook the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music examination.

The individual music lessons department introduced a music literacy and musicianship training programme for all students taking instrumental lessons. This training is part of the weekly lessons and allows students to gain a greater understanding and ability of the music they are performing.

Annual Report 2022-2023

49

Sport at t S George’s

Sporting tournaments and competitions had a renewed focus this year, after being limited during the Covid years. Not only did students compete in sports days at school, they also had the opportunity to compete against other schools in Luxembourg and across Europe.

New School Gymnasium

St George’s staff and students are eagerly anticipating the completion of the new gymnasium. The construction is underway and is due to be completed in Summer 2025.

The gymnasium will be named Elsy Jacobs, in honour of a Luxembourgish road bicycle racer who became the world’s first-ever women’s Road World Champion.

The gym will feature a double-sized gymnasium hall, changing rooms, classrooms and office spaces.

Primary

There were several changes in Primary this year to give students opportunities to compete. For the first time, students competed in their houses (Earth, Fire, Wind and Water) on Sports Days, and St George’s football and basketball teams competed against ISL and Michel Lucius.

In physical education (P.E) lessons, new units included street-style dance and gymnastics. The students thoroughly enjoyed exercising their bodies and brains in new and creative ways.

50

Annual Report 2022-2023

Secondary

Secondary students had several opportunities to compete in sporting tournaments and competitions in Luxembourg and across Europe.

From football, basketball and volleyball, to futsal, swimming and cross country running, St George’s entered teams in three international sporting competitions and took part in more than 25 domestic competitions.

A team of students from Years 9 to 11 competed in the Under 16 Mediterranean Cup in Verona.

The footballers played exceptionally well, making it to the final where they were defeated in a penalty shootout. The boys were also nominated for the Fair Play Award.

Six months later, a younger team was in Verona to compete in the Under 14 Mediterranean Cup. Again, St George’s performed very well, with one student being named the top goalscorer of the competition. The girls’ team qualified for the Elite Tier and finished 4th out of 28 teams. Federica received a trophy as the Top Goalscorer overall in the tournament, while the boys’ team ended the week as Champions of the Europa competition, taking 17th place of 38 overall.

Thank you for all of your help and support over the years. Our son has had the most wonderful time at St George’s and we are so proud of his progress.

- Parent of Year 3 student 2023

Twenty students ventured to Rome in March for the COBIS Secondary Games, where St George’s performed very well and came fifth overall. The students competed in swimming, athletics and football.

Locally, the students made the most of opportunities to flex their sporting spirit against other schools in Luxembourg. The students competed in basketball, football, futsal, cross country running and volleyball matches and competitions.

Annual Report 2022-2023

51

Nurturing Talent St George’s provides a wide array of clubs, groups and activities, giving students the opportunity to develop new skills, forge new friendships and cultivate sportsmanship.

During the 2022-2023 academic year, St George’s offered a number of extra-curricular activities, as well as several new clubs including breakdance and street dance. Parents used a new automated booking system called SOCS to book clubs, which were allocated according to preference.

71 clubs were offered, the most popular being football and dance.

Primary 55 Clubs

Sports, Dance and Games

St George’s offered Primary students 25 options in this category and 5 in Secondary, including athletics, badminton, ball sports, basketball, board games, breakdance, chess, cricket, dance theatre, dodgeball, field hockey, football, Mérite Jeunesse, rugby, running, street dance, table tennis and ultimate frisbee.

10% Academic & Languages

44% Sports, Dance & Games

46% Art & Music

Arts and Music

Primary and Secondary students were offered 17 art-related clubs, including design drawing, digital photography, drama, eco-nature art, sewing and storybook writing. 15 of the clubs offered were music based, including choir, string and percussion ensembles, karaoke, music production, orchestra and Mini Maestros.

Sports, Dance & Games Academic & Languages Art & Music

Secondary 16 Clubs

Language and Academics

Students were able to learn a new language or brush up on existing ones with 4 language clubs, including Mandarin and French. St George’s also offered 5 academically challenging clubs or afterschool activities, including maths competition, debating and robotics.

52

Annual Report 2022-2023

47% Art & Music

24% Academic & Languages

29% Sports, Dance & Games

Dance

Dance is consistently one of the most popular clubs and 2022-2023 saw the introduction of two new styles – breakdance and street dance. St George’s dance clubs introduce students to a variety of genres of dancing, improving body coordination and elevating self confidence by performing in front of an audience.

The culmination of the year’s work was seen in several performances at the Summer Fayre.

Football

A total of 56 students from Reception to Year 9 joined seven football clubs this year, making it the most popular club offered at St George’s.

School Services

Canteen meals

558

hot meals daily in the canteen

64%

of students had a hot lunch daily

Mathematics

A new Secondary maths competition club proved very popular with 30 students enrolled for the launch. The club was so successful there are plans to increase the offering next year.

Kitchen Garden Club

Members of Secondary’s Kitchen Garden Club were very active this year, helping to build a greenhouse out of 1,500 plastic bottles, organising cooking competitions, growing seasonal plants and making birdseed feeders.

After-school Care / Homework Club

After-school Care was attended each day by 100 students from Reception to Year 6. The students participated in activities including science and cooking, while others were included in the Primary Choir. Secondary Homework Club was also well attended with 35 students enrolled.

School Buses

200 + students take a school bus each morning + afternoon

Bertrange, Canach, Kirchberg, Hesperange, Niederanven

School Buses

St George’s school buses are free for parents and have a supervisor onboard. Luxembourg also offers free public transport throughout the country.

Annual Report 2022-2023

53

54

Annual Report 2022-2023

Finance Annual Report 2022-2023

55

Finance

January – December 2022 Income Government subsidies 31% Tuition and Fees 69%

Like all international schools, St George’s relies on tuition fees as its main source of income.

However, the school also benefits from the generous support of the Luxembourg Ministry of Education. The amount of assistance received for operating costs varies each year and is proportionate to the number of students in the school.

Further details on the amount of subsidy received can be found on page 57 of this report.

Buildings 6% Furniture & equipment 3%

Educational expenses 6%

Other 3%

Expenditure

Great staff make for a great school and that is why salaries and related personnel costs account for the main expenditures of the school.

56

Annual Report 2022-2023

Salaries + Related Expenses 82%

1.

Summary of Income and Expenditure Accounts 2020 – 2022 (EUR)

Jan-Dec 2022

Jan-Dec 2021

Jan-Dec 2020

Net Tuition/Application 11,002,868 Fees + Ancillary Activities

10,104,819

9,488,138

Frais de Scolarité/Admission et Activités Annexes

Subsidies from the Luxembourg Ministry of Education

5,170,890

4,834,550

4,475,645

Subventions du Ministère de l’Education Luxembourg

3,191

-3,470

3,237

Fonds levés par les parents

Transfer from Stability Fund

271,236

89,187

23,930

Transfert du Fonds de Roulement

Other Income (2)

- 5,326

17,021

2,347

Autres Produits

TOTAL INCOME

16,442,859

15,042,107

13,993,297

TOTAL PRODUITS

EXPENDITURE

Jan-Dec 2022

Jan-Dec 2021

Jan-Dec 2020

CHARGES

13,415,828

11,604,151

11,434,915

Salaires et Frais Liés

Educational Expenses

980,878

639,578

560,016

Matériel Didactique

Buildings (Utilities, Maintenance, Sports Facilities, etc)

1,000,364

1,101,418

883,856

Immeubles (Entretien, etc)

Furniture + Equipment (including IT)

488,079

1,012,812

521,483

Mobilier et Equipement (y compris Informatique)

Other Expenses

557,710

684,148

593,027

Autres Charges

TOTAL EXPENDITURE

16,442,859

15,042,107

13,993,297

TOTAL CHARGES

INCOME

Parents Fundraising - Net (1)

Salaries + Related Expenses

PRODUITS

Notes : The School’s 2022 accounts were audited and approved by the Luxembourg Government in March 2023.

(1) The accumulated net amount raised by parents is ring fenced and planned to be used in 2023.

(2) The Other Income includes both the Income and the Expenses linked with the Erasmus projects.

Annual Report 2022-2023

57

2.

Balance Sheet as of 31st December 2022 (EUR)

ASSETS

31st Dec 2022

31st Dec 2021

31st Dec 2020

Land

264,999

264,999

264,999

Terrain

Buildings and Equipment (Net Cost)

833,103

196,899

277,954

Bâtiments et Equipement (Coût Net)

1,098,102

461,898

542,953

Total

FIXED ASSETS

Total CURRENT ASSETS

ACTIF

IMMOBILISATIONS

ACTIF CIRCULANT

Subsidy Receivable

14,275

8,454

8,454

Subventions à Recevoir

Other Current Assets

34,304

37,112

51,308

Autres Créances

Bank - Stability Fund Accounts

3,363,413

3,288,714

3,149,205

Banque - “Fonds de Réserve”

Bank - Building Fund Accounts

877,423

1,715,592

1,034,979 Banque - Comptes “Building Fund”

Bank - Current Accounts

See below

66,153

115,666

Banque - Comptes d’Epargne et Courants

10,860

5,686

12,561

Caisse

Total

4,300,275

5,121,711

4,372,173

Total

TOTAL ASSETS

5,398,377

5,583,609

4,915,126

TOTAL ACTIF

Petty Cash

LIABILITIES

PASSIF

EQUITY

CAPITAUX PROPRES

Retained Earnings

-151,506

-151,506

-151,506

Report à Nouveau

0

0

0

Résultat Exercice

Stability Fund

3,092,199

3,199,649

3,126,662

Fonds de Réserve

Total

2,940,693

3,048,143

2,975,156

Total

Current Year Profit/(Loss)

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

PASSIF A LONG TERME

BCEE Loans

0

1,362,955

1,549,445

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Prêts à Long-terme PASSIF CIRCULANT

Refundable Deposits

384,675

386,925

390,525

Cautions Remboursables

Other Current Liabilities

130,536

1,313

0

Autres Charges à Payer

Deferred Building Fund income (3)

1,942,473

784,273

0

Produits constatés d’avance (Building Fund)

Total

2,457,684

1,172,511

390,525

Total

TOTAL LIABILITIES

5,398,377

5,583,609

4,915,126

TOTAL PASSIF

Notes : (3) Starting 2021, the Deferred Building Fund income reflects the amounts allocated to ongoing future building projects.

58

Annual Report 2022-2023

3.

Luxembourg Government Subsidy Law

The school receives three types of subsidy that have been in force since 1st January, 2004: 1. Operational subsidy, per student to support annual operating expenditure for all students age 3+ on 1st September and enrolled as of 31st October.

€ 4,001 (increase of 3.2% vs 2021) € 9,369 (increase of 3.0% vs 2021)

These amounts for 2022 were: Primary students Secondary students

2. Maintenance subsidy up to a % of the standard government cost per m³ for school buildings.

For maintenance of building infrastructure only. The school started to receive this Subsidy in 2010.

Since 2014, the maintenance subsidy has amounted to 1% of the standard cost per m³ for school buildings.

3. Investment subsidy covering up to 80% of government-approved quotes for new buildings.

4.

Stability Fund Bank Accounts

The law does not allow for the subsidy to permit the school to make a surplus. If a loss is made, the government does not provide any further support. However, negotiations with the government have resulted in approval for a Stability Fund.

Contributions to this Stability Fund are invoiced as a separate item to parents and the amounts received are held in a separate bank account. If the school suffers a loss, the amount of the loss can be recovered from this Stability Fund.

The Stability Fund is currently capped by law to 50% of the salaries and related charges in 2018.

The school considers it should hold the equivalent of 3 months’ salaries and related charges as the minimum permanent reserve.

Transfers into, and out of, the account (EUR): Year

Amounts In

Out

Balance

2006-2010

1,129,598

-449,759

679,839

2011-2015

1,221,718

-682,985

1,218,572

2016-2020

2,525,722

-595,089

3,149,205

2021

163,458

-23,950

3,288,714

2022

163,886

-89,187

3,363,413

Annual Report 2022-2023

59

5.

Building Fund Bank Accounts

Building Fund contributions have been in operation since 2003.

The account has two principal uses. First, it provides a short-term credit facility for the financing of any new building. Once the total cost of the new building, net of government subsidy payments, has been finalised, the net cost of the building may be transferred to a long-term loan. The repayments on this loan are then financed by drawings on the Building Fund.

Transfers into, and out of, the account (EUR): Year

Amounts In

Paid for Constructions (Net)

Loans (Net)

Balance

2003-2007

682,307

-1,915,057

1,645,530

412,780

3,187,915

-5,050,473

1,572,673

122,895

2013-2017

6,042,436

-5,005,448

-1,127,475

32,407

2018

503,398

-208,331

-222,659

104,816

2019

825,065

-21,528

-217,070

691,283

2020

860,420

0

-516,724

1,034,979

2021

1,176,410

-308,671

-187,126

1,715,592

2022

1,158,200

-533,863

-1,462,506

877,423

(Hamilius Building)

2008-2012

(Hamilius, Lentz, Barthel and admin Buildings) (Zinnen Building)

60

Annual Report 2022-2023

6.

Budget Jan-Dec 2023 (EUR)

INCOME

Jan-Dec 2023

PRODUITS

Net Tuition/Application Fees + Ancillary Activities

11,758,102

Frais de Scolarité/Admission et Activités Annexes

Subsidies from the Luxembourg Ministry of Education

5,561,552

Subventions du Ministère de l’Education Luxembourg

Parents Fundraising - Net

0

Fonds levés par les parents

Other Income

0

Autres Produits

17,319,654

TOTAL PRODUITS

TOTAL INCOME EXPENDITURE Salaries + Related Expenses Educational Expenses Buildings (Utilities, Maintenance, Sports Facilities, etc) Furniture + Equipment (including IT) Other Expenses TOTAL EXPENDITURE NET RESULT

CHARGES 14,642,776

Salaires et Frais Liés

898,081

Matériel Didactique

1,167,632

Immeubles (Entretien, etc)

512,705

Mobilier et Equipement (y compris Informatique)

579,500

Autres Charges

17,800,694

TOTAL CHARGES

-481,040

RESULTAT

Annual Report 2022-2023

61

62

Annual Report 2022-2023

Our son has just competed in his first chess tournament. His energy and attitude throughout the tournament displayed a true sportsman spirit, despite his age. He was disappointed but more determined when he lost and excited however more optimistic when he won. These qualities were not usually noticed among the other participants after the matches. This behaviour is a result of the attributes taught at school – discipline with a positive attitude. We are really thankful to St George’s for such life lessons.

– Parents of Year 4 student, 2023

Annual Report 2022-2023

63

Achieving potential through challenge and care.

St George’s International School, Luxembourg ASBL 11, rue des Peupliers L-2328 Luxembourg Phone: +352 42 32 24 Fax: +352 42 32 34 E-mail: reception@st-georges.lu www.st-georges.lu