Sotogrande International School is a World IB School offering the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (3 – 11 years old). The curriculum is inquiry-based and concept-driven which equips students with the skills needed for their future. For our youngest students (4 months – 3 years) we have a separate Reggio Emilia inspired Early Years Centre, Fundamentals.
At Sotogrande, not only do we strive for academic excellence, but we focus on the development of the whole child, using a multitude of exciting learning environments. Classrooms are modern and equipped with the latest Apple technology, allowing teachers to be creative and prepare interactive and fun lessons. Outside children have access to playgrounds, woodlands with play areas and even a bug hotel!
Our established, passionate and experienced teaching teams offer a personalised approach to learning, providing extraordinary educational experiences that allow our students to connect with, and explore their passions and purpose. Within Primary this is supported by teams of homeroom teachers, teaching assistants and specialists in Spanish, music, drama, sports and technology. In addition, we have dedicated Student Support Services, an English Language Development department and a peripatetic music team.
We offer a full and varied extra-curricular activities programme providing many opportunities for students to explore their unique interests, gifts and talents. Activities range from music and expressive arts to STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths), chess and sporting clubs.
Emma Butler
Head of Primary School
Maths
At SIS our Mathematics Curriculum provides a sequential, activity-based program which enables student learning through the provision of meaningful experiences that relate to real-life situations. In the PYP, mathematics is viewed as a vehicle to support inquiry, providing a global language through which we make sense of the world around us. Our maths programme is divided into five strands:
- Data Handling
- Measurement
- Shape and Space
- Pattern and function
- Number
We help children to develop a positive attitude and appreciation of mathematics as part of everyday life, that is useful, relevant and enjoyable. Our personalised approach provides for children’s individual needs and builds upon prior experiences. Through flexible groupings and regular assessments, we develop the skills, concepts and strategies necessary to be successful in mathematical situations. It is intended that students become users of the language of mathematics, appreciate it’s beauty and the crucial role it plays in the world, and reach their full potential.
English Language
Language wraps itself around, in, through and between everything that we teachers and learners do in the classroom. (Ritchhart 2002: 141)
At SIS we create a challenging and motivating multilingual environment where the language of instruction is English. The PYP Language Scope and Sequence identifies language within three strands:
- oral (speaking and listening)
- visual (viewing and presenting)
- written (writing and reading)
Through our English language programme, we aim to develop confident, curious, highly proficient and enthusiastic readers, writers, viewers, presenters, speakers and listeners.
English is always taught meaningfully and in context. We advocate the learning of language through inquiry, allowing students to make connections with context, to explore and investigate. In Primary School, English is integrated into the units of inquiry and also organised into stand-alone language sessions.
For our Early Childhood students who are learning English as an additional language, it is introduced through our immersion programme. A more specialised programme is followed in Primary School. To ensure all students meet their true potential and accelerate progress to the highest level, we offer personalised learning, flexible language groupings and extra English Language Development classes with specialist highly qualified English teachers.
IT and Technology
We are proud to be an accredited Apple Distinguished School, serving as a “lighthouse” for other schools who regularly visit us to find out more about how we creativly integrate technology into our curriculum to support and enhance learning.
IT encompasses the use of a wide range of digital tools, media and learning environments for teaching, learning and assessing. Technology provides opportunities for the transformation of teaching and learning and enables students to investigate, create, communicate, collaborate, organise and be responsible for their own learning and actions. Through the use of technology, learners develop and apply strategies for critical and creative thinking, engage in inquiry, make connections, and apply new understandings and skills in different contexts.
Within our curriculum, students are encouraged to use technology as a tool for learning. Throughout Primary, we run a 1:1 iPad programme and students have access to a MacLab. Teachers and students are supported by a team of IT specialists who help to integrate technology throughout the curriculum.