VIEW FROM THE CLASSROOM
Developing skills and application of knowledge rather than rote learning
Tell us about your school Impington International College is a non-selective state sixth form located on the outskirts of Cambridge, educating students aged 16 – 19, who study with us from all over the world. We have been offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes for over 30 years and were one of the first state schools in the UK to do so – something we are very proud of. What has allowed our sixth form to stand the test of time is our impactful study options that focus on the development of the whole student, our wide range of extra-curricular activities and our emphasis on outstanding pastoral care.
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n our ever popular View from the classroom series this month, we are
delighted to speak to Jo Sale, Vice Principal at Impington International College, who discusses the school’s ethos, the importance of inclusivity and the benefits of developing the whole student.
What does an inclusive education mean to you? At Impington International College, a fundamental aspect of inclusion is making sure that we can admit as diverse a cohort as possible. To us, being an inclusive college means that we aren’t just looking at a student and their examination grades, because we believe that grades do not always accurately paint the picture of the true potential of a student; particularly for those joining from countries where examinations are not sat. During our induction process we place a large emphasis on students’ needs and
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expectations and how we can meet these. This is why I think it is extremely important to offer educational programmes of study that have a holistic focus, meaning that all features of an individual are paid attention to, rather than just academic achievements.
How do you promote inclusivity at IIC? At Impington International College, we arrange guidance meetings with every student who meet our entry requirement, which are lower than most schools for students wanting to study the academically rigorous IB Diploma Programme (DP). During these meetings, we reflect on the qualities of the whole student. We want to get an idea of what each student wants to achieve from their sixth form education and experience. As well as educational experience, we talk about the social and emotional needs of each individual and this is a key part of being an inclusive college; we want our students to be as open with us as we are with them. All of these different elements allow us to get a clear picture of the whole student, with the initial focus being on what the student wants and how we can help them get there. These meetings are a way to ensure that students are choosing the right subject combinations to study with us. By understanding
April 2021
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