Teaching & Learning

At GIS, we believe that effective learning is where the learner is engaged and motivated to explore and investigate, develop skills, knowledge and understanding and can apply these with a sense of purpose, progress and achievement in different contexts.

We are guided by our GIS Learning Statements:

Effective learning will take place when:

• Learners understand what they are learning and why
• Skills and understanding are being developed
• Learning is engaging, challenging and motivating
• Learners feel safe, supported and valued as part of a learning-centred environment
• Learners are engaged both independently and collaboratively
• Learners know how well they are doing and how to improve

To ensure that effective learning takes place, our teachers are engaged in continuous professional development using the best practice from around the world – we push boundaries to challenge the status quo, engaging the latest technologies to transform learning.

Learning is at the heart of everything that we do; we are committed to developing our students as adaptable lifelong learners and global citizens. To enable this we design our programmes around our key GIS Learner Skills:

The Skills Ladders

Each of our skills has a five step ladder attached to it. These steps represent what we believe progression may look like in each area. The top end of the ladders are highly aspirational and we do not expect all students to reach the top step of all ladders by the time they leave the school. The ladders are not age restricted and any student can be at any point on any ladder at any given time. The school curriculum provides students with opportunities and challenges to develop these skills.

GIS Students

Garden International School students can utilise these ladders in many ways. They are a guide for personal development. By identifying and actioning ways of moving up the ladders students will become more skillful, empathetic, and well rounded people. Through the evidencing of personal progress, and considered reflection upon this process, our students will be genuinely prepared for the wider world that awaits them.

GIS Teachers

The skills ladders are a guide to aid the continued development of our learners across the length and breadth of the school. They are common goals that transcend the individual areas of the curriculum and unite us in a shared belief of what young people can, and should become. They are a tool to help teachers plan and deliver meaningful skills based learning opportunities.

GIS Parents

The skills ladders demonstrate to parents our aspirations for their children. We hope and intend for parents to read them and use them at home. The creation of opportunities to develop these skills and qualities are all around us. We believe that our parents join us in a shared responsibility for the development of these skills, and the value we place in them.