Other News
World Cup fever hits Rumukoroshe School!
Rumukoroshe School is in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
In IPC the whole school has been learning about the Fifa World cup. The entry point for this topic was our own World Cup Challenge. Amid great excitement, teams prepared their football strips, flags, team chants and vuvuzelas. P 6—8 made the ’World Cup’ trophy and all the medals. Thursday, 10 June was the tournament morning and what a wonderful day it was, as you can read from the press release by our reporter, Mr Mvoko with photography by Maddy and Adanna.
Rumukoroshe World Cup
It all began with the formal introduction of the participating teams namely; Nigeria, South Africa, Australia, United States of America, Italy, England, with France and Korea as junior teams. Great weather awaited this spectacular event and the games began. There was excitement, determination and energy as the teams played against each other. The beating of the drums, singing and the blur of the vuvuzelas made for an electric atmosphere. Marianna, the Head teacher and Italy captain had this to say about the event “The idea of the World Cup came about as part of the IPC learning units. We also want
to continue with the unity of the different nationalities at the school.” She further predicted that Italy will win the Cup and Nigeria will be hard to beat. Each team played three times with each match lasting nine minutes. The results were: AUS 1 - 0 ENG, Italy 2 -1 Nigeria, USA 0 - 0 SA, Nigeria 2- 0 AUS, ENG 2 -0 SA, AUS 1 - 2 Italy, SA 2 - 1AUS, Nigeria 1- 2 ENG, Italy 1- 3 USA.
The USA was declared the winner of the World Cup, as they were the only team, which never lost a game. Their goalscorer Junior said after the first match “I enjoyed the game and scoring the goal was the best moment for me. I hope we will go all the way to win the Cup.” Korea and France were made up of 3-4 year olds and did not compete but rather played for fun. They played to a draw with every player scoring a goal and all joined USA at the podium as winners of the junior World Cup. The learners had a good time and were proud of their performances. The event was well supported by the parents who kept on cheering the children. The skills on display signaled a brighter future for the most popular sport in the world.
World Cup fever hits Rumukoroshe School Gallery
Eyes of the world on Wales IPC education initiative
Jun 3 2010 by Gareth Evans, Western Mail SCORES of teachers from across Wales attended a conference to discuss the workings of the National Curriculum. More than 250 education professionals met last week to share a common thread in their learning approach at Newport’s Glan Usk Primary School. They are all working with the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) as a way of delivering the National Curriculum of Wales in a cross-curricular, thematic and internationally-minded way. Headteachers and their staff from the length and breadth of the country attended the event, held at one of Newport’s brightest new schools. Built in the Glebelands area of the city, Glan Usk Primary is the long-awaited replacement for Durham Road Junior and Infants. Headteacher Jeff Beecher said: “It is phenomenal to see so many schools represented here, sharing a common focus on children’s learning.” Vaughn Thomas, head of nearby St Andrew’s Junior School, said: “We closed the whole school so that everyone from St Andrew’s, including our teaching assistants and support staff, could attend the conference. “The conference has enabled us to highlight some of the great things that have been happening in our school, thanks to the IPC, with other schools throughout Wales. “We’re all sharing a curriculum that helps to get children confident, excited and engaged in learning that is relevant and that focuses on developing skills as well as knowledge. “We’ve never seen so much enthusiasm for learning from our children than when they’re learning with the IPC. “That is rubbing off on the teachers and on our parents. It is a curriculum that is not only helping our children develop the right academic skills and knowledge necessary for their future success but it’s giving our children here in Newport an excellent understanding of their place in the world and of different cultures.” Huw Jones, headteacher at Albert Road Primary School, Penarth – the first school in Wales to introduce the IPC four years ago – was at the conference to talk about the school’s progression. “Our whole outlook as a school has changed,” he said. “The IPC has helped to transform our approach to children’s learning. “Confidence in your curriculum is critical for the success of your children, of your staff and of your whole school and I know we made the right move with the IPC. It’s spot on and our children are proof of that.” Conference organiser Gareth Coombes, leading school improvement advisor for Newport Local Authority, said: “It is certainly a curriculum that reflects the principles of the new Welsh orders, in particular, making the most of learning. “The National Curriculum for Wales is an aspiration and the IPC provides a mechanism for how that can happen.” As well as being used by schools in Wales, the IPC is being used by more than 600 schools in England and by schools in 59 other countries. It is considered to be one of the most up-to-date, learning-focused and internationally-minded curriculums in the world. Source: Western Mail
IPC curriculum gets top marks from pupils
May 25 2010, the Bolton News
YOUNGSTERS at a primary school in Great Lever cannot get enough of learning.
Not only are the pupils of SS Simon and Jude’s CE School enthusiastic about their lessons — in some cases teachers have been cheered as they walk into class — but they find themselves talking about what they have learnt with their parents and continue their learning independently at home.
For the school has become one of a handful of schools in the borough to introduce The International Primary Curriculum (IPC).
In the six weeks it has been adopted, teachers say they have noticed a difference in children.
Curriculum director Liz Peacock said: “The quietest child has become more confident and taking an active role in their learning.”
The IPC is described as a practical tool for teachers to help children learn, not only academically but socially, spiritually, emotionally and physically.
It is underpinned by ensuring children are knowledgeable as they would be under the traditional methods of teaching and learning, but are also developing skills which will help them through their education and work life.
The new curriculum is also designed to raise aspirations of young people by opening their eyes to a bigger world.
Instead of dividing the day up into different lessons on different subjects, the school now has one theme running through different lessons.
The theme of holidays was chosen to pilot the curriculum in school with the older children. The geography, history and art of the countries were learnt — with young people enhancing their study outside school and in their spare time. Teachers said homework had never been so popular with children fulfilling all tasks set. The unit ended with a travel show where children had to organise their own stands, using their own initiative to sell holidays to the “public”.
Mrs Peacock said: “Through learning like this, children are learning important skills such as research, speaking and listening, working as a team as well as being enterprising. Every single child has got involved.”
She added that the children’s enthusiasm is rubbing off on their parents. Mrs Peacock said: “Parents are becoming more involved in their child’s education which impacts on academic standards. We had 90 parents at the travel event and the children had to work hard to convince parents to buy the holidays, mums and dads did not necessarily go to their child’s stall.”
Headteacher Simon Bramwell believes its introduction will help raise standards at the school.
He said: “The national curriculum fits in with the IPC and it can take account of changes made by the new government.
“This school was given a good mark when it came out of special measures and in three years it will be outstanding.”
The IPC will be rolled out to all years in September.
Children say they are enjoying their new way of learning.
Lily Cameron, aged 10, said: “We researched the different countries. I really enjoyed learning about the history of the countries I had chosen. It was a lot of fun, and I remember a lot of what I have learnt.”
Jugal Chevli, aged 10, added: “I learnt how to do research using the computer. We did work in class and on our own. This really helped me learn.”
source: The Bolton News
International School of the Hague Achieves IPC Accreditation
The International School of The Hague (ISH) in The Netherlands has been awarded IPC Accreditation; the first ever school to receive accreditation and, not only that, but they achieved it at ‘mastering’ level.
ISH opened its doors five years ago and has been using IPC as the curriculum from day one. Pascale Hertay is Team Leader for curriculum coordination and she tells about the steps the school took towards accreditation: “During our five years we’d followed trainings from IPC to help us develop as a learning-focused school so good learning was already taking place at ISH. After the Good To Great IPC conference we were motivated to focus even more on learning being at the heart of the school.”
In aiming for IPC Accreditation, the school set up a self-review committee of management and teachers. The team evaluated where they were within the IPC’s nine accreditation rubrics, identifying areas requiring extra focus and including them in their school development plan. A pre-accreditation visit from IPC’s Howard Marshall helped the committee to move some themes of accreditation from ‘developing’ to ‘mastering’.
John Holmes of the IPC carried out the accreditation review. “What this school has done is brilliant,” says John. “I spoke to six groups of children and they were the real eye-openers. All the children talked about knowledge, skills and understanding. They approached a large part of their work in a collaborative way, choosing a project and identifying individual roles and responsibilities based on skill strengths enabling the other children to develop skills from their peers. The Senior Management team was the driving force and had embedded the aim of IPC Accreditation within everyone which had created a strong passion amongst the team and, as a result, throughout the school. Without the hard work, dedication and passion of the teaching staff, ‘mastering’ level would not have been possible – they were and are the ones who put IPC into action day in, day out. For ISH it’s a process with many results, not least huge kudos within a competitive market but above all, helping and improving children’s learning.”
Principal of Primary School at ISH , Graeme Scott says “Of course it is very satisfying to be the first IPC school to be accredited, but much more important is the way we have achieved this and the level at which we were judged to be working. The accreditation process was rigorous, so to be judged as ‘mastering’ in all levels is of course a great achievement, but there is still much to be done. ‘Mastering’ does not mean ‘mastered!’ The accreditation process has helped us become a real learning community.”
Chris Woodhead Agrees with the IPC
Chris Woodhead made some interesting comments about the IPC last week, particularly focused around subject teaching and subject rigour. He's made the same comments before so we just want to surprise him (and perhaps you) with our response. Here it is, in three parts:
First - and here's where the surprise might be - we agree with Chris about the importance of subject rigour. He is right.
Second, you already know that subject rigour is a crucial part of IPC; you know how the IPC has been designed to make sure that each unit of work focuses on the independence and interdependence of subjects. Unfortunately, we don't think that Chris has rigorously looked at the IPC so he doesn't really get it.
Third, as you may know, Chris is part of a group that runs schools. What you may not know is that amongst our nearly 800 members you'll find part of Chris's school group too. In making their choice, they have done the rigorous work that Chris hasn't.
Chris can be a challenging man. On this occasion, though, please don't let any stereotypical views affect your judgement. The issue Chris raises is an important one and the IPC provides an answer in a way that is rigorous and stimulating to children. We're writing to Chris to invite him to look at the IPC more closely.
IPC on Teachers TV
Teachers TV visited Warren Farm Primary School in Birmingham, UK this summer to see the difference the IPC has made to the school. The programme will be aired on Teachers TV in early 2010. In the meantime, the programme is available for viewing here through the Teachers TV website.
The Latest News from Harvard on the Future of Learning
Director of the IPC, Steven Mark attended the Future of Learning Conference 2009 in August at Harvard Graduate School of Education in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Here, on the Teaching Times website, Steven talks about some of the thinking coming from the conference.